SuperNotebook
| SuperNotebook | |
| Slogan | Quality Products |
|---|---|
| Type | [[Company_Type:=Private|Private]] |
| Founded | |
| Headquarters | Template:Country data USA Haughton, [[State_Name:=Louisiana|Louisiana]] [[Country_Name:=United States|US]] |
| Industry | Electronic Shopping NAICS: 454111 453998 |
| Contact | Two Point Exterprise Haughton, US 800.458.1606 [mailto:sales@kershaw-knives.net Email] |
| Reference | SuperNotebook is n online retailer specializing in computer parts and accessories and client of Page Creations |
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SuperNotebook is an online retailer specializing in computer parts and accessories. SuperNotebook also contains a wealth of information to help you decide exactly what parts you need to get the job done, from choosing the best computer case, to choosing which power supply will meet your specific power demands. SuperNotebook offers competitive pricing on power supplies, computer cases, carry cases, computer accessories and a host of other electronic equipment.
Product Guides and Information
Computer Cases
Below is a list of key questions to as yourself before buying a computer case. The majority of computers and computer parts are made to support standard ATX cases such as this silver mac inspired case.
- Does it have front USB? It almost doesn't make sense to have a computer case without front usb. Front USB ports come in handy for hooking up digital cameras and downloading images. This enables you to avoid pulling the computer out to search for the usb ports in the back. Almost all motherboards have ports for front usb as well as rear usb. Other uses of front usb ports are: memory stick insertion, mp3 player docking, portable printer docking, and temporary networking between computers.
- How does the motherboard install into the case? If possible try to find a case that has a removable backplane for mounting the motherboard. The backplane is able to be removed from the case to mount the motherboard. Using this method it is possible to install the motherboard out in the open where there is plenty of room to work. Installing a motherboard in a computer case without a removable backplane can be cramped. You also run the risk of cutting your hands on the surrounding case chassis. Of course, if the computer case is large then it may not be necessary for it to have a removable backplane. The removable backplane feature becomes more important if the computer case is small sized.
- What form factor is your motherboard? There are several form factors that motherboards are usually manufactured. The major form factors are: Micro ATX, Full ATX (commonly referred to as ATX), and Extended ATX. Every computer case should denote which motherboard form factors it accepts. If the case doesn't describe which motherboard form factors it accepts then it's best to move on; you run the risk of buying a computer case that doesn't fit your motherboard. Physical measurements of a motherboard are mostly unimportant. As long as the form factors of the case and motherboard match then you should have no problem with installation.
- What size power supply does the computer case have? (See Below) Ask yourself this important question because most companies that sell computer cases will include a small power supply that is, most of the time, too small for your application. Having an undersized power supply can lead to erratic computer operation, most often denoted by frequent rebooting. Most cases come standard without a power supply. People have different needs so we provide the opportunity for the customer to add whichever size power supply they need in their case.
- How many device bays will your computer need? It is necessary to know how many 5.25" and 3.5" bays you'll need in your computer case. If you're installing four cdroms in your computer then it will be necessary to have a case with at least four 5.25" bays. You'll also need a certain number of 3.5" bays. Floppy drives and hard drives fit into 3.5" bays. For floppy drives the bays should be external, meaning that they are accessible from the outside of the computer case. Hard drives are mounted in the internal 3.5" bays. The bottom line is to be sure you have enough bays for all of your devices.
- Will the physical dimensions of the computer case fit into your location? Be sure to pick a computer case that fits inside whatever space you have designated for your computer. Pay close attention to the overall height, width, and depth.
- Does your space provide for ample cooling of your computer? In most applications where the computer is set in open space the fans in the power supply and on the cpu are enough to cool the computer. In places such as cabinets you might want to add one or two fans to aid in the cooling process. Another application that might call for additional cooling fans is when overclocking of the processor is performed.
Power Supplies
The first question to ask yourself is, "Is what form factor is my power supply?". The most common types are ATX and Micro ATX.[1] The majority of desktop computers sold use the ATX form factor since its introduction by Intel in 1995.
Dimensions
Perhaps the most common method to use in selecting a power supply is comparing the physical dimensions. Make sure your computer case can accommodate the the Height, Width, and Depth of the power supply. (See chart to the left) If you are replacing an existing power supply then take measurements of it before you discard it. Take a look at the graphic above to gain a better understanding of Height, Width, and Depth. If your power supply is considerably smaller than the typical dimensions of our atx power supplies then it could be possible that you have a micro atx power supplies.[2]
Power Requirements
You need to know how much power you're going to need. It's okay to buy a power supply that is larger than necessary because the power supply will step down to your power requirements. Power supplies typically deliver only the amount of power demanded from them. On the other hand, buying a power supply that is too small for your requirements will be annoying. Many times people will complain of their computer rebooting for no reason at all. Nine times out of ten the reason for this is an undersized power supply. [3]
Below is a sample specification chart that should be printed on the sticker on your power supply. Before you buy a power supply make sure the power specifications are equal to or greater than your need. This way you'll avoid trouble down the road.
| Processor size | Hard drives | Disk drives | Suggested Wattage |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1.0 Ghz | 1 | 2 | 300 |
| 1.0 - 1.5 Ghz | 2 | 2 | 350 |
| 1.5 - 2.0 Ghz | 1 | 2 | 400 |
| >2.0 Ghz | 2 | 2 | 450 |
| >2.0 Ghz | >2 | >2 | 530+ |
Connectors
After you have chosen your power supply based on physical dimensions you need to take a look at what connectors you need on your power supply. Different power supplies have different connectors so it's best to choose one with connectors that meet your every need. It's okay if you buy a power supply and not use some of the connectors. You can just leave them hanging unconnected. Below is pictures of some common connectors found on atx power supplies:
| Connector | Description | Picture |
|---|---|---|
| 20 pin ATX Connector | Shown in the picture is the 20 pin ATX connector that inserts into an atx motherboard. If your motherboard has a slot for the 20 pin connector shown in the graphic then you can be almost certain that an ATX power supply is required for your motherboard.[4] | 
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| 24 pin ATX Connector | Some motherboards require a 24 pin ATX Connector. Check out our 430W power supply and 500W power supply, both with the 20 and 24 pin connector built in. | 
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| P4 Connector or (4 pin cpu) | Take a look at the 4 pin cpu connector shown in the picture. Most motherboards that have Intel Pentium 4 processors will have a slot on the board for this P4 connector. If your motherboard has this slot then make sure you get a power supply with a P4 connector on it because it will not run without it. If your motherboard doesn't have a slot for this connector it is still okay to purchase a power supply with this connector, and leave the P4 connector unconnected. All of the power supplies on this website have P4 connectors. |
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| 8 pin cpu connector | On some motherboards, rather than have the 4 pin connector, they'll have this 8 pin connector as shown in the graphics. We have several power supplies that carry this connector. One of them is the 500W Assassin power supply with 8 pin cpu connector. | 
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| 4 pin molex connector | This is the IDE connector that supplies power to your hard drives and cdroms. Most atx power supplies have connectors of this type included, and some have more than others. If you need more connectors you can either get a power supply with more connectors or purchase y-splitters to increase the number of connectors. | 
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| 4 pin floppy connector | The 4 pin floppy connector supplies power to floppy drives that may be on your computer. Other devices such as card reader drives commonly use this connection also. Most atx power supplies have at least one of these connectors included. | 
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| 6 pin aux connector | Look on your motherboard and see if there is a slot that accepts the 6 pin AUX connector. If there is a slot for it then chances are you're going to need it. | 
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| Sata connector | Hard drives and other devices with sata connectors as shown here are becoming more common. We aren't sure exactly what the advantages are to this technology, but if you have any devices in your computer that use the sata connector you're going to need a power supply with sata connectors. We have several power supplies on our site with the sata connectors on them. One of them is the XPower 550 Watt Power Supply. | 
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| PCI Express connector | Some video cards are powered separately from the power supply rather than through the motherboard. We expect that in the future more devices will get supplemental power from connectors like this. If you have a device that calls for a pci express connector then you'd better make sure that connector is on your power supply. Several of our power supplies have pci express connectors on them. An exmpale of one is the 500W Assassin power supply. | 
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Carry Cases and Accessories
Super Notebook offers a case for every need to protect your valuable electronics.
Notes and References
- ^ If you have this information available then the selection process is much easier. The information is sometimes stamped somewhere on the power supply or may be contained in the manual for your existing computer. If you're looking for an ATX power supply make sure the power supply is an ATX form factor, not micro ATX or any other.
- ^ If you feel you might have a micro atx power supply then you could compare its dimensions with our 300W atx power supply or our 230W micro atx power supply.
- ^ Many companies that sell computers will install an undersized power supply to save money and increase profit margins. Buyer beware!
- ^ Be sure to pay close attention to the number of pins. On some computers we've found that this connector contains 24 pins instead of 20.
External links
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