I need some nerdy help from my European brothers/sisters.

[OregonNative]

Fellas/ladies,

I have a series of interviews next month in the UK, Germany, Austria, and France. Without sounding arrogant, I'm pretty damn sure that I have a job lined up and will soon be moving into the EU.

I've got a nerdy question. I've got an expensive PC that I've built myself, and I don't want to have to rebuild a new one. Am I able to just switch out the PSU (power supply unit) cord, or will the different voltage require the PSU to be replaced? I'm not technologically gifted, so I'm sorry if this is a dumb question.

Cheers!
Oregon

[lxskllr]

All modern PSUs I'm familiar with will automatically switch. You'll need to get an adapter, or buy a cord so the prongs work in the wall though.

Edit:
You might want to research your specific monitor. I'm not sure how flexible their power supplies are.

[OregonNative]

All modern PSUs I'm familiar with will automatically switch. You'll need to get an adapter, or buy a cord so the prongs work in the wall though.

Edit:
You might want to research your specific monitor. I'm not sure how flexible their power supplies are.

I appreciate the advice! If an cord/adapter is all that will be needed, that's no big deal. I'd be willing to replace the PSU itself if necessary, but if it adjusts the voltage, that's fantastic news.

As far as the monitor is concerned, it's a Samsung 550 27" LED. I'll do a bit of research into this model. It's not a very "high-end" monitor, so it may need to be replaced unless an adapter will work. I'll do some searching & reading.

Thanks again for the advice, cheers!

[lxskllr]

If this is the correct part for your monitor, and the ad is accurate, it looks like your monitor has a switching supply, so you'd just need a wall adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AI193OK/...SIN=B00AI193OK

[devilock76]

All modern PSUs I'm familiar with will automatically switch. You'll need to get an adapter, or buy a cord so the prongs work in the wall though.

Edit:
You might want to research your specific monitor. I'm not sure how flexible their power supplies are.

+1, this is most likely the correct answer...

Ken

[Skell18]

Like LX said, just get an adapter, thats what I did for a few years when I bought my first iPod in the US when I was on holiday, when I got back just slapped an adapter into the wall and bingo.

[muddyfunkstar]

Or just buy a suitable power cable to plug into the back of the PC and/or monitor, like this (for UK)

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/23068...f13=80&ff14=65

[OregonNative]

If this is the correct part for your monitor, and the ad is accurate, it looks like your monitor has a switching supply, so you'd just need a wall adapter.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AI193OK/...SIN=B00AI193OK

You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman! I'll order that right away. I really appreciate you going out of your way to help look that up for me.

+1, this is most likely the correct answer...

Ken

Glad to hear it!

Like LX said, just get an adapter, thats what I did for a few years when I bought my first iPod in the US when I was on holiday, when I got back just slapped an adapter into the wall and bingo.

Excellent! Thanks for the feedback Mr. Skellard! I've lived abroad quite a bit, but since I never took my big tower PC with me it's never been an issue. I wasn't sure if a simple adapter would work for a 1200w PSU. I guess it's not an issue though eh? I love it when things work out and the solution isn't complicated.

Or just buy a suitable power cable to plug into the back of the PC and/or monitor, like this (for UK)

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/23068...f13=80&ff14=65

I'll look into those PSU cables! Thanks for the link. I'll see if they have something that will work for my PSU.

Thanks fellas!

[Skell18]

You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman! I'll order that right away. I really appreciate you going out of your way to help look that up for me.



Glad to hear it!



Excellent! Thanks for the feedback Mr. Skellard! I've lived abroad quite a bit, but since I never took my big tower PC with me it's never been an issue. I wasn't sure if a simple adapter would work for a 1200w PSU. I guess it's not an issue though eh? I love it when things work out and the solution isn't complicated.

Thanks fellas!

You will be fine, but your electronics are weak and can't handle our uber manly amounts of mains power haha

[OregonNative]

You will be fine, but your electronics are weak and can't handle our uber manly amounts of mains power haha

That's what I've heard mate! I've heard weak American electronics will grow a beard in an attempt to compete for manliness, but ultimately fail.

[lxskllr]

You, sir, are a scholar and a gentleman! I'll order that right away. I really appreciate you going out of your way to help look that up for me.

I wouldn't order that. That should be what you already have. See the two exposed prongs in the socket? That's where the wall cable fits in. An EU cable will look different at the wall than an American cable, but will fit into that socket. I'd look for that cable, or just get a generic adapter when you find where you're going. As long as the appliance you're using works with EU power, you only need something to change the plug that goes into the wall. I'd expect you could find something for a few dollars. Something like this...

http://www.amazon.com/Grounded-Ameri...adapter+europe

[Skell18]

Remember, the UK and Ireland use a 3 prong plug, the rest of Europe use two prongs. You can get US - UK or US - EU plugs at airports.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stepdown-240...+to+uk+adapter

Thats the power inverter so you can use the computer and there are a plethora of converter plugs on there for about £1.

[squeezyjohn]

Just to be clear - apart from the plug fittings being different, UK mains runs at 240v and 50Hz AC - Most other EU countries use 220v and 50Hz AC - but the difference has never been a problem. US mains is 110v and 60Hz.

If the PSU you built in to the PC is not dual-voltage then you cannot simply place a cheap adapter on the plug and plug it in here. However if it is dual voltage then you should be fine. If it is 110v only then you will need to buy something called a stepdown converter that Skell linked to above. If you get one of those then in order to use it in the rest of the EU (Germany etc.) you'll need a further UK to EU cheap adapter available at any travel shop or airport here.

The place where the power goes in to the PC should have the voltage written on it - or if you built it yourself it may have come with the documentation of that component part.

Cheers

Squeezy

[Snusdog]

I've got an expensive PC that I've built myself,

I'm not technologically gifted.

Cheers!
Oregon

So let me see if I have got this straight.....you built an entire computer system....but you don't know how to plug it in




See....

THAT........is exactly why we on the east coast..........think everyone on the west cost........is from another planet

[muddyfunkstar]

So let me see if I have got this straight.....you built an entire computer system....but you don't know how to plug it in




See....

THAT........is exactly why we on the east coast..........think everyone on the west cost........is from another planet

I think it was a typo. He said "built", but he meant "bought"