Argh. Conflict with HTPC setup desires....

[KDOG]

I use a mATX mobo for my main rig and I was thinking of going to a small HTPC case since I really don't run alot of hardware.

One of the cases I'm looking at is the Antec Minuet 350. As the name implies it has a 350W 80 Plus certified PS. However the graphics card I want to use (Sapphire 5570) states that it needs a 400W PS or greater. I don't have any other cards in my setup. I use the onboard audio. However I *MAY* want to throw a tv tuner in there at some point. Is the graphics card requirements just playing it safe saying it needs a 400W or should I not push it? I have also thought about getting the NSK 2480 and swapping out the 380W PS for the 500W that I have, Of course its a bigger case.

Waddya think?

 

[Blazer]

personaly i dont pay any attention to the psu supplied for a 'Case' decision as most all of those psu's are crap and should be thrown away, always play safe when choosing a psu to avoid upgrade gotcha's.

 

[MrK6]

I use a mATX mobo for my main rig and I was thinking of going to a small HTPC case since I really don't run alot of hardware.

One of the cases I'm looking at is the Antec Minuet 350. As the name implies it has a 350W 80 Plus certified PS. However the graphics card I want to use (Sapphire 5570) states that it needs a 400W PS or greater. I don't have any other cards in my setup. I use the onboard audio. However I *MAY* want to throw a tv tuner in there at some point. Is the graphics card requirements just playing it safe saying it needs a 400W or should I not push it? I have also thought about getting the NSK 2480 and swapping out the 380W PS for the 500W that I have, Of course its a bigger case.

Waddya think?

Unless your HTPC setup includes an i7 920 @ 4.2GHz with HT, you're WAAAAYYYYY under the power limit. My rig (see sig), only consumes ~250W (from the wall) fully loaded in games. You'll be more than fine with that PSU, don't sweat it. Manufacturers put those warnings there so that even the biggest POS generic PSU can run the card. Typically the wattage rating is there not for the wattage, but for the amperage on the rails that usually implies.