Antec Earthwatts 650W good enough??

[thejunglegod]

I am currently using the subject PSU. http://www.antec.com/pdf/flyers/EarthWatts_650_flyer.pdf

I have read the stickies but i still dont know whether it might be good enough for the following:
i5 2500K + P8Z68 vPRO/Gen3
ATI Radeon HD 5870
Corsair H100
2 X 1TB Seagate HDDs (SATA)
1 X Optical drive
2 X 4 GB Gskill RipjawX
5 extra fans on the case.

Somehow get the feeling that this PSU might not be able to handle all that or will it??? Would appreciate it if you guys could help me here.

 

[TemjinGold]

Plenty. If you don't OC, you could run TWO of those 5870s fine.

 

[Zargon]

Plenty. If you don't OC, you could run TWO of those 5870s fine.

even if he OC's, I ran 2x5870 stock clocks, with my 2500K at 4ghz on a 650W Bronze PSU

 

[thejunglegod]

Feel silly, but i thought so many fans would create a problem. Now that u guys havent even mentioned them, i feel silly. Thanks.

 

[Zargon]

fans dont pull much power

 

[billyb0b]

you're good with some head room to add more junk later (i.e. fans, HDs)

 

[pugh]

It's a solid unit. Even for what you will be powering. I use one in a less demanding system (server).

 

[thejunglegod]

Thanks for the help guys. Feel really relieved that i dont have to invest in a PSU. HEW:

 

[zCypher]

I have that power supply in my main rig right now, it's been solid for over 2 years now.

 

[VirtualLarry]

EarthWatts 650W is a very solid PSU.

I had one powering a Q6600 @ 3.6 and two GTX460 1GB OC cards, 24/7 for a month straight for a Folding@home race.

 

[pauldun170]

Bought mine in 2008.
Still going strong, no complaints.
Should handle your projected load just fine.
(q9550+212 plus+GTX570+4 WD Black HD+ 4 fans + 4 2gb dims)

 

[jpeyton]

It's a Delta-made unit, so it should be rock-solid.

 

[acefightr]

I love this PSU. Runs beautifully in my rig.

 

[Kanalua]

My old rig's mobo went out, so I used that as an excuse to upgrade everything in my new rig. I'm using the Antec Earthwatts 650W to power an i7-2600 and a GTX 560 in my current rig. Works just fine.

 

[Lotheron]

I love this PSU. Runs beautifully in my rig.

This. Just remember, it doesn't come with a power cable

 

[thelastjuju]

An Antec earthwatts 430w would be more than enough. :thumbsup:

Stop flattering yourselves people. Unless you are an extreme overclocker or want to run multiple video cards, you do NOT need any more than 450w.. Instead, take the money you would have wasted on the unnecessary watts you will never ever use, and put that money towards something nice.. like a comfier PC chair, sound card, new speakers, headphones, etc..

 

[jpeyton]

An Antec earthwatts 430w would be more than enough. :thumbsup:

Stop flattering yourselves people. Unless you are an extreme overclocker or want to run multiple video cards, you do NOT need any more than 450w.. Instead, take the money you would have wasted on the unnecessary watts you will never ever use, and put that money towards something nice.. like a comfier PC chair, sound card, new speakers, headphones, etc..

You have to define what you mean by "enough".

Technically, 430W is enough to power his system. At full load, overclocked, he shouldn't draw more than 400W.

However, running a 430W PSU at 400W means you're operating at over 90% load. That has three downsides:

Increased temperatures
Increased noise/fan speeds
Lower efficiency

If you are running at 650W PSU at 400W, you're operating at ~60% load, meaning better efficiency, lower temperatures and lower noise.

Most PSUs have bell-shaped efficiency chart that peaks around 50% load. And most have parabolic noise charts that ramp up steeply after 50% load.

 

[Zargon]

You have to define what you mean by "enough".

Technically, 430W is enough to power his system. At full load, overclocked, he shouldn't draw more than 400W.

However, running a 430W PSU at 400W means you're operating at over 90% load. That has three downsides:

Increased temperatures
Increased noise/fan speeds
Lower efficiency

If you are running at 650W PSU at 400W, you're operating at ~60% load, meaning better efficiency, lower temperatures and lower noise.

Most PSUs have bell-shaped efficiency chart that peaks around 50% load. And most have parabolic noise charts that ramp up steeply after 50% load.

are you suggesting he purchase a PSU so big that when he is at full operating load its at 50% efficiency?

its not like is spending MOST of his time at full load, hes spending most of it at idle where a 650 would be way way less efficient.

but if he thinks he might do xfire/sli then a 650 is the way to go

 

[jpeyton]

its not like is spending MOST of his time at full load, hes spending most of it at idle where a 650 would be way way less efficient.

The vast majority of home computers spend their time at idle, drawing 75W or less.

That's 17% load on a 430W PSU, and 12% load on a 650W. Both numbers are low enough on the efficiency bell curve that the difference between the two is negligible.

 

[aaksheytalwar]

You are fine even with medium-high overclocks on everything

 

[Topweasel]

The vast majority of home computers spend their time at idle, drawing 75W or less.

That's 17% load on a 430W PSU, and 12% load on a 650W. Both numbers are low enough on the efficiency bell curve that the difference between the two is negligible.

But what about in use. That low it doesn't matter. But If its in use in games, or some kind of stress test. Is it better to hit the upper wall on one end, producing as much heat as it can, running the fan at full speed, and dropping almost 10% in efficiency compared to a $10 more expensive PSU, that is closer to to using the PSU at its peak efficiency (50%), without a generating a whole lot more heat then idle, and not putting stress on the PSU and its components?

Someone shouldn't ignore the 3 hours a day they run the machine all out because of the amount of time they leave it on when they are at work and or asleep?

Think of a car. Your highway allows for a top speed of 80 mph. You live 30 miles from work. On one hand you a have to specs for a car. One with an engine with a 130hp and one with 180hp. Do you really think its smart to get the car with the 130hp, that struggles to get up to 80mph (lets say within 500 rpm of redline), over the 180hp that might have 1.5-2k rpm to spare to redline, just because its parked most of the time and fuel efficiency shouldn't matter because of it.