hey i need a pretty inexpencive small PSU.... the computer runs very little, just the essentials and a NIC. its used as a firewall/router
would like to make it as efficient as possible to save on power consumption. suggestions on what i should do for a PSU

A list of system specs would be handy.
Either way, there are a few small efficient power supplies around that may be suitable.

right now its just 1ghz PIII, 640mb ram, 1 100/10 NIC, 1 gigabit nic, CF card (no hard drive), if it is possible i am going to remove video as well, no optical media, no external periferials, all onboard options (sound, usb, etc) are disabled....

Does it even need a power supply, maybe just a big battery

All jokes aside, I don't know much about any of the companys selling stuff under 350W, but an Antec Earthwatts 380W is a great PSU. Too bad for that systems its major overkill.

The smallest and cheapest PSU that should be pretty efficient would probably be the FSP Green 300W

If you could find the Sparkle SPI250EP anywhere that would also be a good option. Not sure how much it would cost though.

I assume your system doesn't have any weird old style power connectors for the motherboard? (I can't remember the last time I saw a PIII system).

It should be fine with a 20 pin connector. It's more or less the same as newer boards, obviously, with fewer pins and didn't require the extra 4-pin connector that the P4 started to use.

The Pico PSU works with mini ITX boards ... kinda cool ...

http://www.mini-box.com/s.nl/it.A/id.417/.f

not sure if the pico would do, but to name a few, seventeam and seasonic make ultra small power supplies

I assumed small in OP meant small in wattage terms.. but maybe they want small in size as well?

Might be both

normal size is fine.... its just a power thing... for this small computer thats going to be running 24/7 so the less power it uses the better

the problem with that pico one is its DC-DC.... im running this in my house so we have to assume its goimg to be on an AC power supply... that would be wicked for running a computer in my car or something tho

The Pico PSU's are meant to be used with an AC-DC adapter, much like those for a laptop. If you scroll down on the page that Silverfox linked, you'll find them there for sale. They're not very expensive but you're going to want to somehow find out what the PC is going to be pulling under load so you don't accidentally buy a Pico PSU with not enough power behind it.

This should be plenty http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817104903 your system looks like it should only take about 150 watts