Antec True Power 330

[Maddog3025]

I just got the parts for my first new build in several years. When I am done, I will have :

Coolermaster Cosmos Case (4 120 mm fans, one is LED)
Gigabyte GA-p35-DS3L (non-SLI)
Intel E6750
2x 1GB Sticks of Mushkin PC2-6400
XFX 8800GT 512 MB
Asus CD/DVD RAM Burner
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache
2 archive HDs - a 75 GB WD and an old IBM Deathstar

My previous system was an Asus A7V & Athon 950. I still have my 3 yr old Antec True Power 330 PSU. I'm actually using it now though my system isn't finished (haven't gotten XP to recognize beyond the 131 GB on my drive, I need to make one of those new XP SP2 install disks- I'm sure that rings of noobness). I haven't been running any games with the new card so I haven't tested the Antec under that load either. From the articles I have read (such as Anands recent XMas guide), most say 400W is fine for my rig. I'm a little under that rating so I wanted to ask if you guys thought I need to upgrade- I was thinking about a Corsair 450VX. The braided cables wold be a nice perk but then again, I would like to save the 70 bucks. The old Antec is still working and I do like the fact it has 2 fans.

And a general question- what effects have you guys seen when you haven't had enough power Was the system unstable a lot or did the PSU just crap out at a younger age?

Thanks for any advice or experience you might share.

 

[Doclife]

I suggest you go ahead and run your system with your PSU and see if it can hold up under load. If it cannot, you can buy the Antec 430W Earthwatts for $30 (after $30 rebate) at Fry's. Hurry thought, the rebate expires 1/15/2008; you have another 25 minutes .


http://shop2.outpost.com/produ...sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[Dadofamunky]

I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

The whole rig is great except for the power supply. Take it from me, OCing an e6750 (see my rig below) you will et nowhere with 330W. Nowhere.

 

[Dadofamunky]

By the way, don't cheap out on the PS. Try to get a decent one.

I've had very bad luck with Antecs in the past but that was a couple years ago.

 

[imported_Scoop]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

The whole rig is great except for the power supply. Take it from me, OCing an e6750 (see my rig below) you will et nowhere with 330W. Nowhere.

Are you just trolling or what? You obviously had a defect PSU or something since a 250W PSU can power Q6600 OC'd to some 2.88Ghz and a 8800GT.

E6750 takes around 85W OC'd to 3.6Ghz and the 8800GT 105W so where excatly do you suppose the 600W would be needed?

 

[Maddog3025]

Thanks to those of you that have answered so far and I'll appreciate anyone else's input.

I'm using the system now so it will certainly post. I don't have the 2 archive drives installed but everything else is. I haven't installed the vid drivers & haven't run any games so I don't know how much work the load the video card would be right now. I felt almost guilty buying this monstrous case but the thing sure is a marvel to look at and it amazingly quiet compared to the old Fong Kai that I had the same PSU in.

This Antec has worked pretty well for the three years I have had it. Maybe the 8800GT will kill it once I am using it. I just don't know if I wil get a lot of warning signs like crashes that I don't have enough power, or if the PSU will just die all of a sudden.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST... You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

:roll:

I do think that you (Maddog3025) may start to run into trouble once you start overclocking and put a real load onto the system, because that PSU only has 22A on the +12v and you're going to hit it with a fast GPU plus three HDDs. The reports of users with low wattage PSUs running higher end gear were because they're using more modern PSUs with more power on the +12v.

The other issue is that even if it works, it will probably shorten the life of the PSU. PSUs run hotter when they are asked to put out more power. Those older Antec TruePower units had a double whammy of fans that always ran at low speeds, plus Fuhjyyu branded capacitors known to not be able to handle the heat over time.

EDIT: BTW welcome to the forums.

 

[Martimus]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
By the way, don't cheap out on the PS. Try to get a decent one.

I've had very bad luck with Antecs in the past but that was a couple years ago.

Me too. I stay away from Antec PSU's now.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

It would be good for you to stop spreading misinformation.

Whatever the cause of your recent experience, it doesn't validate the claims you've been making in numerous threads.

 

[programmer]

IMO, 330W is probably good enough and you'll likely never have a problem with it. I believe the nVidia drivers (or nTune app) will complain and tell you if the video card is not getting enough juice. If not for the 8800GT, I'd say the 330 is well more than enough for your system. I'd wait and see how it goes. I've had good luck with Antec PSUs for a few years now.

In my current rig I had some crap brand 600W PSU ("Ultra" brand??) that I never really trusted (it cost like $20 AR)--sometimes made strange clicks and snaps-- so I went all out and got the PC Power and Cooling 750 Quad when I picked up the 8800GTS 512. I am sure the 750 is way, way more than I need, but ... peace of mind

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: Scoop

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

The whole rig is great except for the power supply. Take it from me, OCing an e6750 (see my rig below) you will et nowhere with 330W. Nowhere.

Are you just trolling or what? You obviously had a defect PSU or something since a 250W PSU can power Q6600 OC'd to some 2.88Ghz and a 8800GT.
<snip>

Seriously. Have you actually done this? Fat chance. You're the one who's trolling.

Go look at any major video card review on this site. They do wattage consumption measures at idle and under load. The same is true with the CPU reviews. You're pulling numbers out of thin air without any real knowledge to back it up.

Maybe 600W isn't a minimum; but using a 330W PSU in any current power-user system like the poster's above is bound to be inadequate.

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

It would be good for you to stop spreading misinformation.

Whatever the cause of your recent experience, it doesn't validate the claims you've been making in numerous threads.

Umm, whatever.

Originally posted by: programmer
IMO, 330W is probably good enough and you'll likely never have a problem with it. I believe the nVidia drivers (or nTune app) will complain and tell you if the video card is not getting enough juice. If not for the 8800GT, I'd say the 330 is well more than enough for your system. I'd wait and see how it goes. I've had good luck with Antec PSUs for a few years now.

In my current rig I had some crap brand 600W PSU ("Ultra" brand??) that I never really trusted (it cost like $20 AR)--sometimes made strange clicks and snaps-- so I went all out and got the PC Power and Cooling 750 Quad when I picked up the 8800GTS 512. I am sure the 750 is way, way more than I need, but ... peace of mind

Like I said, it'll be a miracle if he can POST and boot to Windows with a 330W PSU with that load of components.

I wanna see him try it and let us know the results.

There are crap PSU's at all power levels, to be sure...

 

[Rhoxed]

well he already told you he is typing from that computer running the 330W, though he hasnt OC'd or put any sort of high load into it.

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

It would be good for you to stop spreading misinformation.

Whatever the cause of your recent experience, it doesn't validate the claims you've been making in numerous threads.

Umm, whatever.

Brilliant rebuttal.

You stated, in all caps no less, that the user ABSOLUTELY needs 600W. That's misinformation plain and simple. By your own admission the 430W unit you had might have been defective, but you didn't bother to find out. I'm not sure why you expect people to take your situation as a representative sample when you've admitted that you didn't even do your due diligence in troubleshooting.

 

[Dadofamunky]

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky

Originally posted by: DSF

Originally posted by: Dadofamunky
I seriously doubt that 330W will even allow the system to POST. I had a 430W Seasonic in my new build and that's precisely what happened once I installed the RAID and the video card. You ABSOLUTELY need 600W.

It would be good for you to stop spreading misinformation.

Whatever the cause of your recent experience, it doesn't validate the claims you've been making in numerous threads.

Umm, whatever.

Brilliant rebuttal.

You stated, in all caps no less, that the user ABSOLUTELY needs 600W. That's misinformation plain and simple. By your own admission the 430W unit you had might have been defective, but you didn't bother to find out. I'm not sure why you expect people to take your situation as a representative sample when you've admitted that you didn't even do your due diligence in troubleshooting.

First of all, you have no idea what I subsequently did or didn't do. And frankly, I don't care.

My basic point still stands: 330W is nowhere near enough for a system at that level. He's done well otherwise, why skimp on the power supply? Telling him otherwise, IMO, is the real misinformation. One thing is guaranteed: getting a 600W takes the possibility of inadequate power out of the equation. That's so blatantly obvious I'm puzzled why you don't accept that.

I'll cheerfully agree with you on my stating that 600W is ABSOLUTELY necessary is likely inaccurate; I could easily have stated that any decent system needs a good power supply with some headroom. I could have put it in those terms and I doubt you would have had a problem. However, your statement regarding my "...claims you're making on numerous threads" is just nonsense. Exactly what "claims am I making on numerous threads?"

I've wasted too much time responding to you. That's five minutes of my life I will never get back. You can count on no further.