Advice on buying a new PSU

[JSK07]

I am in the process of building a new system.

Q6600 (plan to overclock to around 3.0ghz)
4gb (2x2gb) G.Skill DDR2 800
Abit IP35 (regular, not Pro or -E)
EVGA 8800GT KO
WD 320gb sata hard drive
ASUS DVD sata drive
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro 92mm cooler
2-3 case fans


Right now I am looking at the Raidmax Smilodon case that includes a 500w PSU. I am assuming the PSU is Raidmax as well. I was wondering if that will be suffice to power this system. According to Newegg's PSU calculator this system is estimated at 507w. But I question how accurate that is?

The price is right since the case including PSU is $89 with an additonal $20 MIR. But I don't want to take any unnecessary risks. If it means spending a little more money for quality I'm willing to do that. I just don't want to get into spending a ton of money for a new PSU and case.

 

[MarcVenice]

Glad you posted here, most definately don't use the raidmax PSU, and 500w will be enough, but that means a QAULITY 500w PSU. Least you should buy is a antec earthwatts 500w PSU, for 60$ AR. For roughly 60$ you can also buy a 450vx, and with some luck clubit.com has a 550vx for 65-75$ AR. Corsair 520hx, which is modular, which I like, can probably be had for as little money as 80$ AR.

 

[JSK07]

Thanks for the input MarkVenice.

I actually realized after posting that my current PC has a OCZ ModStream 520w PSU. That might be good enough for this new build. For some reason I was thinking it was only 450w.

Regardless it will mean that I still need to buy a PSU. My current PC is being passed to my wife as a huge upgrade for her. And an excuse for me to build new.

 

[MarcVenice]

Pass the OCZ to her, and buy one of those I recommended

 

[JSK07]

Actually, I went ahead and ordered an Etasis 750w from Newegg. $99 AR. I figure it's money well spent. So instead of getting an expensive case and midrange PSU I flip-flopped and decided to go with the CoolerMaster 690/Etasis combo.

Thanks again!

 

[MarcVenice]

Hehe nice, the coolermaster is still a pretty decent case, and the etasis is a server grade PSU. Only downsides I know of are the 80mm fan, but since it will barely be stressed, I doubt it will heat up much, so the fan won't have to make many rpm's. And it doesn't have any 6+2 pci-e connectors, needed for 2900xt's and 8800ultra's I think. No problem for a 8800gt though

 

[JSK07]

Actually, I ended up canceling my order with Newegg. Only because I had started 2nd guessing my decisions. I started looking at better cases and decided that the Coolermaster 690 wasn't right for me. Although the price was right.

Now I'm back at the drawing board but I've been doing alot more reading here on the forums. I decided to budget $300 for a PSU and case. So that gives me alot more flexibility in my options. I realize this is the wrong forum for case advice though.

I'm still looking at Antec for a PSU. Probably one of their 650w-750w units.

 

[MarcVenice]

Just go with the etasis, it's a fine unit. If you want more quietness, go with a corsair 520hx, for roughly 80$ after rebates. It's modular, has ALL the power you need, and it's very reliable and stable. Case, well, I love the p180b/p182, which fit well within your budget.

 

[JSK07]

Unfortunately since it's the 1st of the month Newegg's rebates have changed. The Etasis is no longer available with the rebate. ClubIT has a good price on the SilverStone Strider 600w modular PSU for $99. I'm leaning towards that right now.

As far as cases I'm torn between the P180B, Antec 900 and Enermax Uber Chakra. Any of the 3 would be more than adquate for me.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: JSK07
Unfortunately since it's the 1st of the month Newegg's rebates have changed. The Etasis is no longer available with the rebate. ClubIT has a good price on the SilverStone Strider 600w modular PSU for $99. I'm leaning towards that right now.

As far as cases I'm torn between the P180B, Antec 900 and Enermax Uber Chakra. Any of the 3 would be more than adquate for me.

Do you want a modular PSU or not? You realize you typically pay extra for that?

 

[JSK07]

I would prefer a modular PSU but that is simply for asthetics. I have a minimal system. Just 1 hard drive and 1 DVD drive. So a modular PSU gives me the ability to have less cables to hide.

 

[MarcVenice]

Try the 520hx, which is still plenty of power. In jonnyguru's guide it's 1 tier above the silverstone. In tier 3 to be exact, instead of tier 4. Don't be confused though, even tier 4 are qaulity PSU's, there's just even better ones

 

[BadOmen]

I really like the Trupower, although my fan controller died before 1 year of use. They sent me a new one, this time with sleeved cables. Although the Quattro seems far better, it's too expensive. So far, I'm happy with the Trupower. Besides, I don't know other psu with fan controllers but Antec.

I have a Raidmax psu too, one that came with the Sagitta case. Pure crap. Not only is weak, noisy and lacks enough molexes, but the wires are too short. I had some of them totally stretched inside the case in order to reach the drives. Now, how come a psu that comes with the case has cables that don't reach the drive bays?

 

[JSK07]

I ended up buying the 620HX today for $99+tax at my local PC shop. It is more than adequate for my immediate needs but also leaves me with extra in case I decide to go SLI with my 8800GT down the road.

Now I just need to settle on what case to buy. Leaning towards the Antec 900 right now because it's $75 AR from Newegg. But I also like the P180/182 and Uber Chakra.