PO3-620 PSU SWAP (SUCCESFUL) If you decide to do this upgrade

messer89
messer89 Member Posts: 54 Devotee WiFi Icon
edited April 2023 in Predator Desktops
So as it says in the title I managed to do a PSU swap in my PO3.

It would take a really looong time to write why I decided to do this, so I'll just skip that part of the story. 

I am not saying this upgrade is necessary and I'm not saying original PSU's are bad - Despite many people complain about that "weird clicking sound" I think these units are quite good as for OEM product (105C capacitors, pretty silent fan, new ATX12VO standard).

To the point - Most ATX power supplies have 24 pin main power connector that won't fit the PO3 mobo cause it uses 2 four pin power connectors for CPU and one 6pin for the mobo, discs are powered from the mobo, not from the PSU like in other PC's.  Basically all you need is this little 24 pin to 6 pin ATX PSU adapter from Amazon, It is supposed to work with Dell mobo's and as it turned out today (I don't think anyone did this before) it also works for Acer. Do not buy that HP 6+6 pin adapter, It won't work.

As for the PSU I decided myself for an overkill option and bought an XPG Core Reactor 850W, cause it has only 140mm lenght/depth, screw holes in right places, the entire set of security, 80+gold certificate, fully modular, 105C capacitors and a CWP platform. XPG is a new subbrand of ADATA.

With the PSU you get a bigass bag with many different cables, you connect only 3 of them - main 24 pin, one 4+4 pin and one 8 pin for the GPU.

Other 24pin ATX PSU's should also work, but that model is the only one I found that fits PERFECTLY to the case.

Many people on PC upgrade forums will tell you such adapters will burn your mobo but I've been using this for a good 3 days playing games and working, I measured the temperature of the cable with a laser thermometer and it was 25C, I touched it to make sure but it wasn't even warm, the temp in my house is 24C.

As for now the cable management is a mess but I'll take care of it later.

If you decide to do this upgrade, wish you luck with that!

Here are the photos:
[Edited  the  thread  to add  issue detail]


«1

Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer
    It looks like XPG doesn't give specs on individual voltages, so we can't tell if their +12V is on a single rail or dual, and we can't tell what amperage is available there as well. Since it's working that is a sign they are likely single rail and have at least your stock wattage on just the +12V. I'd be more comfortable with a PSU that gives those specs though. We had another user who was looking at a 1000W supply that gave 850W of +12V on a single rail, so overkill for now, but potentially needed for a 4090 in the future. :)
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • messer89
    messer89 Member Posts: 54 Devotee WiFi Icon
    edited February 2022
    billsey said:
    It looks like XPG doesn't give specs on individual voltages, so we can't tell if their +12V is on a single rail or dual, and we can't tell what amperage is available there as well. Since it's working that is a sign they are likely single rail and have at least your stock wattage on just the +12V. I'd be more comfortable with a PSU that gives those specs though. We had another user who was looking at a 1000W supply that gave 850W of +12V on a single rail, so overkill for now, but potentially needed for a 4090 in the future. :)
    It is single rail and it gives 850W on +12. More info here.

    Stronger PSU would be just worse bc as you probably know a PSU is most efficient when it works on 50%, and my current components use around 250-350W max. so that would be just a waste of energy. Idk, maybe I'll upgrade it somewhere but honestly as for now it's even much more than I need.

    billsey said:
     I'd be more comfortable with a PSU that gives those specs though. 
    Yeah I got your point of view and doubts but XPG despite being a pretty new brand makes really decent stuff, I have no reason not to trust them. I've watched many reviews of their PSU's made by guys who really know their job, and they say it's actually pretty good, even comparably with Seasonic while being half it's price.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer
    Interesting, they must have some additional access to specs, since the XPG site didn't have that info. Those numbers look good to me.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Skipper0526
    Skipper0526 Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer
    This is awesome and so helpful. If you dont mind me asking what is the exact kind of ram you have in your pc that are shown in the pics above? Im  trying to find some 3200mhz ddr4 ram non xmp and havent found any. i would love to know what ram you are using. You did a great job and thank you for sharing!
  • messer89
    messer89 Member Posts: 54 Devotee WiFi Icon
    edited February 2022
    Skipper0526 said:
    This is awesome and so helpful. If you dont mind me asking what is the exact kind of ram you have in your pc that are shown in the pics above? Im  trying to find some 3200mhz ddr4 ram non xmp and havent found any. i would love to know what ram you are using. You did a great job and thank you for sharing!
    Thanks for appreciation, 

    The shiny LED RAM I am using is an XMP one, it's Kingston FURY 16GB (2x8gb) 3600Mhz CL16 Renegade RGB and it can run even on 3600Mhz but it's lowest base speed is 2700, so I decided to buy it cause it was on discount and looked good plus I don't really need much faster RAM cause I use my PC for 3D modelling, video editing and RTS/RPG games so in my case the amount of RAM is more impotrant than it's speed.

    If you install an XMP RAM on a non-XMP mobo, the RAM will work, but it will always run on it's lowest base speed. You can also mix XMP with non-xmp RAM sticks if you want, I know such combination works in dual channel, idk for single channel but should also work.

    I also saw some opinions like "if you mix RAM's working on different speeds, the speed of all sticks will reduce to the speed of the lowest one" but it is not truth, at least not for this mainboard, because when I check my speeds in CPU-Z and Crucial system Scanner, it show two sticks (the LED ones) work on 2700 and two others on 2400.

    I also have I7 10700F CPU and it doesn't use RAM faster than 2933Mhz (I mean it will ofc work with for example 3200 RAM but there will be no difference compared to 2933 one), and the difference between 2700 and 2933 is not that much, I don't really think you would get more FPS in games with 2933.

    The original RAM I got with my PO3 was Kingston Fury Beast 16GB (2x8GB) 2666Mhz CL16, (Idk if it is this exact model but looks like it) and it is also an XMP RAM which is ridiculous, because Acer says the RAM speed in PO3-620 is 2666Mhz and the lowest base speed of these sticks is 2400. 

    It looks like they don't give a F and just install the RAM that is available at the moment, same with GPU.

    I am planning to sell it in the future and buy a twice pair of same LED Kingston's I already have.
    As for I have seen on this forum others got some Crucial JEDEC standard RAM with their PC's, and this RAM looks worse (doesn't have a radiator, only a raw green integrated circuit), but it actually runs on 2666Mhz.

    If you wanna find a JEDEC RAM, check your PC in Crucial System Scanner and it will show you their non-XMP RAM models, or just type in the browser "JEDEC RAM".

    If you wanna pay a bit more but have a better looking RAM, which is mostly XMP, just find some which has a high lowest base speed like me.

    If you are also interested in my CPU cooler, I am using a Cooler Master Hyper H411R, but if you don't like the fan lighting just buy a H412R (same price I believe). Idk if it's better or worse than Noctua that most people use, for sure it has one heat pipe less but direct contact + a little bigger radiator. I've been using it for half a year and the temps don't rise above 74-75C while in my house I have like 24-25C as I said before.

    Wish you luck with upgrading

  • Robm1493
    Robm1493 Member Posts: 1 New User
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/660754/po3-620-psu-swap-succesful

    Hey I am thinking of upgrading to a evga 3070 and will need a new psu as the recommended is 750 watts just wanted to ask how has your performance been in the last few months after your psu swap

  • GotBanned
    GotBanned Member Posts: 654 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon

    The 750w recommendation by nvidia(?) is a bit unoptimistic. RTX 3070, even the ones made my EVGA, has a suggested PSU wattage of 550w.

    https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-3070.c3674


    I used to have a PO3-620 that came with a OEM RTX 3070 (most likely made by Zotac) and a "clicking" 550w PSU and had no problem with power.

  • CharleyTX
    CharleyTX Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/660754/po3-620-psu-swap-succesful

    I've just finished this update of the PSU using the linked 24 to 6 pin adapter.

    Everything works, but when the sytem is put in sleep the PSU, the case fans and GPU fans are on.

    The MOBO does not tell the PSU to go to sleep so it is powering components.

    Anyone that has done th ePSU swap able to pix this problem? I will start a new post hopefully get some answers/help.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer

    So I'm thinking the adapter is leaving the PS_On signal set, even when the power button isn't pressed.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • CharleyTX
    CharleyTX Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1182260#Comment_1182260

    reviving this old thread. i am having the same issue. The PSU works but the PC goes to sleep but fans stay on.

    Any solution? Thanks

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer

    As above, the adapter cable isn't quite right.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • CharleyTX
    CharleyTX Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1196548#Comment_1196548

    Any Solution? to place a larger PSU?

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer

    I don't think we have a pinout for that adapter cable, so it's not easy to figure out where they went wrong. My guess is they have an active signal on the PS_On and it's return rather than the momentary contact it should provide.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Game0nGamer
    Game0nGamer Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer

    After being really happy with the results of changing my PO3-650 fans to be all Noctua, and getting Corsair Vengeance RAM to work, I'm going to give this a go tonight with a 750W Corsair PSU. I have my eye on the 4070 Super for a future purchase, which seems to be in a real sweet spot of performance and price. I'll report back!

  • Game0nGamer
    Game0nGamer Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer

    So…it is 2am in the morning and I am very tired….HOWEVER, this has also worked for me 😁

    signal-2024-02-09-020935_003.jpeg

    I managed to get the cables relatively tidy; but it is a really tight fit and you need a LOT of patience!!! I am now going to just enjoy the PC and leave it alone for a while!

  • CharleyTX
    CharleyTX Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter

    does the cooling fans turn off when the machine goes to sleep? Mine does not.

  • Game0nGamer
    Game0nGamer Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer

    Hi there, I tend to shut my machine down when not in use; but I will check for you once it has finished transferring my data to a backup disk. I should probably have done this before attempting the PSU swap…ooopsy. Oh well, reckless approach worked this time 😂

  • CharleyTX
    CharleyTX Member Posts: 15 Troubleshooter

    So my Acer predator 3000 is barely ACER anymore. My dislike started with this ACER board was that it has no USB headers on the MOBO, the spot is there but nothing is soldered in place. I need it for the corsair watercooler. I installed a PCI USB card with headers and it was ok. l Sold the 3070 card and got a 4070TI, I play PCVR games. Installed a corsair 750W PSU and later an MSI MPG A850G 850W PSU. it has corsair CPU watercooler, all this went into a HYTE computer case. Then I got fed up with the MOBO not recognizing external hard drives half the time. I pulled the MOBO and now has a new ASUS Z790 Tuff gaming board w/64GB DDR5 ram.

    in the end what is from the ACER is the CPU and the MS windows licence.

    To be far, I used a Kill-A Watt to measure how much amps/watts the PC draws with the 4070TI video card with the OEM 500W PCU nocture air cooled fan… and it was still hovering around 400Watts.

    lesson learned, build from scratch, no more ACER prebuilds.

    Who wants a an ACER MOBO?

  • Game0nGamer
    Game0nGamer Member Posts: 13

    Tinkerer

    Hi, everything seems to be working fine. The fans go off when the PC is put to sleep and the PSU makes no noise at all. I know this may sound patronising; but it is not meant to be….have you tried removing and adding the cables back into the mobo? I found mine were extremely fiddly and fixed in very tightly. It took quite a bit or force to get them out and also clip them back in. Hope that helps :-)

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,219 Trailblazer

    @CharleyTX, with your system, the Windows license is also no longer good. OEM licenses are tied to the MB, not to the user like retail licenses.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Categories