Computer Question - Power Supply

[AgsWin]

If I need to replace my power supply and my current one is 250 Watts, is it an absolute must that I replace it with another 250 Watt or would it hurt to go with a 300 Watt power supply?

Thanks

[Daimyo]

You should probably check the documentation for your motherboard to be sure what types of power supplies it can take, but I don't think it will matter at all.

[sterlingice]

What kind of CPU and mobo are you using? Also, how many goodies (IDE devices) and what kind of graphics card? If you have a lot of IDE devices, a pentium 4 or high end Althlon, and a new graphics card, you may want to look at a 350 or 400W power supply.

SI

[Airhog]

the Wattage wont make a difference. Wattage is the amount of power that the PS supplies to your motherboard. It wouldnt hurt to pop a 300 or even a 400W power supply as you never know how much power that new card is going to run like sterlingice reccomends.

[Samdari]

And more important than the nominal power rating (which is a lie - always) is the quality of the supply. Buy something from a name manufacturer (Antec and Enermax are two off the top of my head) and from a reputable vendor.

[Alf]

I'd recommend Enermax because they usually make less noise than other brands.