Several questions regarding replacing stuff.

[Flarecobra]

Ok. First thing's first. When I get this storage container back, I'll have access to my desktop again. However, before it was put into storage, the power supply on it died. (It was running then suddonly it went down. No scorch marks were on any of the parts.) Thus my questions are as follows:


1: Where can I get a cheap power supply for a gaming desktop?
2: Is it better to get a professional to put it in? I've managed to install some parts of it togeather myself...

Finally, I'm going to have to replace this laptop soon, as it's seriously starting to show it's age (Got it in 2007) and wear (It's been in a desert warzone, bumped around a lot going around the world several times, and moved around a lot.), plus the only thing really running is it's CPU and Hard Disk.

So any suggestions for an inexpensive laptop would be much apprecated.

[synkr0nized]

Power supplies are easy to put in. The only problems arise when you don't have enough connections for your parts/have the wrong ones. You'll need to know how many power connectors you need for IDE drives and case fans, SATA power connectors for other drives (as they are different), if you need one for a floppy drive, how many you need for the video card(s), and if your motherboard is 20- or 24-pin for its power connection (most modern motherboards have a 24-pin plus a separate 4-pin connection, but older ones just have the 20-pin).

Also never go cheap with power supplies. Stick with a respectable company like Corsair, Antec, or perhaps Rosewill and CoolerMaster.

[Flarecobra]

Well, seeing as I don't have a lot of money to play with...

[akaSM]

Talking about PSUs Synk, what's a 80 plus PSU? I found a cheap PSU that has a (legit) silver 80 plus certification but, it's from a brand I havent heard of before (asides for a keyboard I got some time ago). Maybe Flare could get one of those.

[synkr0nized]

It's basically a certification that the PSU is efficient at load.
Here's the website! (http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspx)

As far as I understand it, this is of course a good thing but doesn't not guarantee that the PSU is of good quality. It should be a good indicator of performance, but I am not versed enough to know if my assumption that it's not a direct relation is correct. That said, there're far more names in their list than I was even aware of, so brand recognition may be a factor obfuscating my opinion of build quality.