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Someone I know is offering me his HP 110-430 computer for a very reasonable price.
But I am really ignorant about how strong a decent computer power supply should be.
I presently have an eMachine with an internal power supply of only 250 Watt and it is very limited in what it can handle.
As I looked at the specs of the HP I saw that the Power Supply was 65 Watt external adapter.
Is there a way to tell how strong the internal power supply without opening up the HP computer?
Judging from the reviews this gets on Amazon it seems capable of doing the basics, however this is the first time I've seen a tower with an external PSU/adaptor.
Myles, you say your e-machines PC is very limited. Does that imply that you'd like it to do more?
If that's the case then I would consider something more upgradable.
Hi Myles
In my humble opinion the eMachine would be an easier machine to tweak with a few hardware changes. I did a topic on an eMachine I upgraded to W10 over in the W10 forum called "eMachine Model 6409 W10 Upgraded". It can be done but their are always limitations to these off the shelf PC's. Give the topic a read and decide if you might want to proceed. Daniel.
Here I am, posting to another OLD thread, but....
The HP in question is not a true Mini, because it has a full size DVD drive opening on the front panel. It definitely has an internal PSU, which could be upgraded to one of higher wattage.
Even the true 'Mini' which is only about four inches wide and a foot deep, can be fitted with a higher wattage PSU.... I only know that, because I've done it. That Mini did have a 65 watt PSU (internal) and I was able to replace it with an After-Market PSU of just over 100 watts. It's all together do'able, but it's not cheap. But with a larger PSU, the little Mini can be a good performer for many years.
Likewise the eMachine comes with just enough power to get it out the door of the store. It too can get a much higher wattage PSU. I've done that too. And, in most cases, that's advisable, because the OEM eMachine PSU is very apt to fail in the first few years of service. Quicker if you add extra hardware to it.
I've been given several eMachines, over the years, and in every case one of the first things I've done is to upgrade the PSU. It's a small thing, to greatly extend the life of the PC. With a PSU upgrade, the eMachine is not a bad little PC. I have one that I use as my Graphics PC.
If a customer gives me a desktop PC, (usually because they've bought a new one) one of the first things I do is open up the PSU, to clean it out an check for Bulging Capacitors. Even one bulging cap means the PSU in not long for this world. If I find bulging caps, that PSU get swapped out, ASAP.
Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
TechnoMage 
A man with experience is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.
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