New PSU, How many Watts should I get?

Guttboy · Jan 22, 2007

Hi Everyone,

I havent taken EE classes in over 20 years so I need some of you power guru's to lend me a hand.

I will be building a computer here in the next few months (summertime) and I am looking at PSU's.

How many watts should I be looking for with some of these specs for the system?

-2 or 3 HDD's prob 7200rpm or so
-graphics card (ATI/Nvidia...not sure which but I MAY try putting more than one in way down the line)
-2 optical drives (CD and DVD)
-multicard reader
-soundcard
-usb hub?
-some lighting effects, cold cathode or LED
-misc fans mx of 6
-fan controller
-may attempt liquid cooling
-will DEFINITELY be OVERCLOCKING!!!!

Thanks for the help everyone!!!!

Regards,

TLH · Jan 22, 2007

Add it all into this and see what you come up with http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

then we can help you choose a capable psu if you give us a budget.

Guttboy · Jan 22, 2007

WOW.... I never realized that I would need soooo much power according to this calculator! It is showing me I need over 1100 watts.....hmmmmm.....

AshenSugar · Jan 22, 2007

look at my system specs, thats all run on a 400watt psu (listed) let me find my psu post and add it back to my siggy

zekrahminator · Jan 22, 2007

Watts are worthless when considering a PSU, be a lot more careful about the amperage of the 12 Volt rail (aim for no less than 30, with a system like that go for dual 20 amp rails).

AshenSugar · Jan 22, 2007

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=22882

Guttboy · Jan 22, 2007

I have done the reading back and forth, up down, left right....and it has just confused the hell out of me....LOL....

For the system I quoted above....thoughts on a PSU???
Budget for PSU under 200 bucks....of course the cheaper the better....LOL!

Namslas90 · Jan 23, 2007

If you are shooting for a newer build with the Next new genneration graphics cards then I would reccomend a PSU with between 600 and 800 watts. However be sure to ckeck the detailed specs for the 12v rail amperage rating- it needs to be over 22 amps per rail (duel rails for sli/crossfire) with a max draw of around 40-45 amps. If your thinking about using the 'big boys' from nvidiea(8800 series) or the new not yet released ATI R600 series then plan on needing 24-30 amp 12v rails with a max of around 60-75 amps.

An Enermax Galaxy is a top tier PSU that shoud support your needs; as long as you get one above 600 watts. Don't forget to check the detailed spec sheet for the 12v rail amps.

Guttboy · Jan 23, 2007

Thanks Namslas90.....why the name...kinda unique!

I was thinking about PCPOWER & Cooling the 610 silencer...but still in the infancy of research for this rig I will build summer/fall.....still in my data gathering stage....

I used to live in Rancho Cordova when I was stationed at Mather AFB outside of Sacramento.

Track · Jan 23, 2007

If you want me to tell u what to buy i need something from u.

Download this - http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

And reply with the report.

Namslas90 · Jan 23, 2007

Guttboy said:
Thanks Namslas90.....why the name...kinda unique!

I was thinking about PCPOWER & Cooling the 610 silencer...but still in the infancy of research for this rig I will build summer/fall.....still in my data gathering stage....

I used to live in Rancho Cordova when I was stationed at Mather AFB outside of Sacramento.

Wait a couple more months and see what AMD/ATI has new to offer. It may just change your whole set-up. At the least it will drop the prices of the C2D's and you may decide an entirely different route.

Google Namslas - "It's a family name", and there are lots of us, so I took 90 because nobody was there yet.

Guttboy · Jan 23, 2007

Track...thanks for the help, however I am building one from scratch and Everest (which I have) will not be of much help in this situation.

Ashen and Zeh....I have been boning up on this and do realize that the amp's are a big necessity.....

Ashen...nice rig...and NICE OC! What supplemental cooling are you using on the CPU? So far I have my 3000+ up to a nice 15% oc without supp cooling on the chip itself (just stock cooling)...and I finally figured out my multiplier (it is called cpu freq in the bios...not clock multiplier and it makes me do the math...LOL)...so this weekend is trying to push it more!

Guttboy · Jan 23, 2007

Cool Namslas! Yeah I am waiting to see what comes down the pipe.....just researching now and learning as I havent built a rig in a LONG time

System Name	First Build 2009
Processor	Intel E8400 (E0) 3.0GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P
Cooling	Xigmatek HDT S1283 (120mm)
Memory	G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Video Card(s)	EVGA GTX260
Storage	WD Caviar Black 1TB 7200rpm 32MB SATA
Display(s)	LG W2600H-PF 25.5" (1920x1200)
Case	Cooler Master CM690
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
Power Supply	Corsair 750TX
Software	Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit

Processor	AMD Athlon FX60
Motherboard	Asus A8N-E
Cooling	Stock Copper heatpipe
Memory	2x1gb Kingston Hyper X
Video Card(s)	ATI1950xtx
Storage	80gb Seagate 7200.7 for OS,2x250gb + 320gb for storage
Display(s)	Samsung 930bf
Case	Tt Kandalf (black,steel)
Audio Device(s)	N/A
Power Supply	Silverstone OP650
Software	XP home SP2

System Name	First Build 2009
Processor	Intel E8400 (E0) 3.0GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P
Cooling	Xigmatek HDT S1283 (120mm)
Memory	G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
Video Card(s)	EVGA GTX260
Storage	WD Caviar Black 1TB 7200rpm 32MB SATA
Display(s)	LG W2600H-PF 25.5" (1920x1200)
Case	Cooler Master CM690
Audio Device(s)	Creative Labs X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
Power Supply	Corsair 750TX
Software	Windows Vista Ultimate 64bit

Processor	Athlon64 3500+(2.2gz)@2.94gz(3.03gz)
Motherboard	Biostar Tforce550 (RMA) (m2n-sli delux)
Cooling	PIB cooler
Memory	2gb ocz 533 +1gb samsung 533 4-4-4-12
Video Card(s)	x1900xtx 512mb+zalman vf900 cooler(kicks stock coolers arse)
Storage	80gb,200gb,250gb,160gb
Display(s)	20.1 in dell 2001fp + KDS visual sensations 19"
Case	Codegen briza seirse
Audio Device(s)	ADI SoundMax HD audio onboard,using Ket's driver pack
Power Supply	FSP 400watt SAGA seirse w/noise killer
Software	Windows 2003 ent server as workstation(kills xp in perf and stab)

Processor	AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane @ 2.8GHz (224x12.5, 1.425V)
Motherboard	Gigabyte sumthin-or-another, it's got an nForce 430
Cooling	Dual 120mm case fans front/rear, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro, Zalman VF-900 on GPU
Memory	2GB G.Skill DDR2 800
Video Card(s)	Sapphire X850XT @ 580/600
Storage	WD 160 GB SATA hard drive.
Display(s)	Hanns G 19" widescreen, 5ms response time, 1440x900
Case	Thermaltake Soprano (black with side window).
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Live! 24 bit (paired with X-530 speakers).
Power Supply	ThermalTake 430W TR2
Software	XP Home SP2, can't wait for Vista SP1.

New PSU, How many Watts should I get?

Guttboy

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TLH

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Guttboy

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AshenSugar

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zekrahminator

McLovin

AshenSugar

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Guttboy

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Namslas90

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Guttboy

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Track

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Namslas90

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Guttboy

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Guttboy

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Processor	Intel Pentium 4 (prescott) 3.0Ghz 1M L2 cache 800Mhz FSB w/HT
Motherboard	Asus P4GD1
Cooling	Zalman VF900, Zalman 7700, 1x AC 80nm
Memory	1024 MB DDR400 PC3200
Video Card(s)	X1900XT (512Mb) @ 745/1660
Storage	1x WD 80GB 8M cache 7200 RPM, 1x WD 250GB 8M cache 7200RPM
Display(s)	Viewsonic VA712 LCD 17"
Power Supply	500W
Software	Windows XP SP2 Gold Edition