Can my 420W PSU survive?

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Dwebtron

Member
Sep 18, 2005
61
0
0
I've got a:
AMD 3500+ (Newcastle, says CPUZ)
2GB Corsair Smart saver RAM (PC3200 DDR)
74.4GB Raptor SATA
2X 80GB IDE drives
Audigy 2 ZS gamer sound card
ATI X800 pro
about 2 or 3 USB2.0/firewire things
4 90MM fans (plus CPU fan, 5 total)
2 90MM LED fans
16XDVD-ROM drive
4X DVD+RW drive
And finally: 420W PSU.

The question is, can my PSU survive a 4th SATA hard drive?

(12V rail = 13.0A I'm pretty sure. If I forgot anything, just say so.)
 
E

eXx08

Banned
May 28, 2005
2,363
0
0
eh, i wouldn't push it, If you dont have money try it but if you do get a new 500 watt at least
 
S

Suspicious-Teach8788

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
Originally posted by: wafflesandsyrup
if it's a named brand, then you shouldnt worry at all. 500 is beyond overkill for a rig like that.
Click to expand...

Like I said many times before and many times over and over. You need to check for the rails. If it's a single rail 12V with 13A, that's a piece of crap and will not survive. If 13A dual rail, maybe.... I recommend a better PSU though like a Modstream or s omething.
 
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Dwebtron

Member
Sep 18, 2005
61
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Acctually, It came with a case. I'm pretty sure it's NOT dual rail. Here's the case I got: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156135
It's about a year old, I got it in November.

(If this means anything, the Voltage Calculator said I use about 418 watts out of a possible 420. This is also under full load for all components and such, so in my opinion I'm good, but I don't wanna start a fire here. I'm only 16 and not having a job money dosen't come easy, hence not just getting a new PSU in the first place.
 
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Pythias

Senior member
Oct 4, 2004
209
0
0
Originally posted by: Dwebtron
I've got a:
AMD 3500+ (Newcastle, says CPUZ)
2GB Corsair Smart saver RAM (PC3200 DDR)
74.4GB Raptor SATA
2X 80GB IDE drives
Audigy 2 ZS gamer sound card
ATI X800 pro
about 2 or 3 USB2.0/firewire things
4 90MM fans (plus CPU fan, 5 total)
2 90MM LED fans
16XDVD-ROM drive
4X DVD+RW drive
And finally: 420W PSU.

The question is, can my PSU survive a 4th SATA hard drive?

(12V rail = 13.0A I'm pretty sure. If I forgot anything, just say so.)
Click to expand...

Unless I'm mistaken your cpu's total power output is 89W. 89w/12v= @7.41 amps. And your vid card also draws on the 12v rail, along with the mobo itself and the SATA drives as well, I think.

Dont worry so much about max wattage as look for a psu with solid 12v rail.

 
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Dwebtron

Member
Sep 18, 2005
61
0
0
So I guess the plan is wait for xmas for that PSU that i listed above, and in the meantime take one of my older drives out?
 
C

Cheesetogo

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2005
3,824
10
81
Could you afford 25 dollars? Enermax makes a quality 300 watt psu with 22 amps on the 12v that would easily power your system. Contiuing to use your current power supply is a bad idea. Here's the Enermax.
 
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Dwebtron

Member
Sep 18, 2005
61
0
0
well, let me restate that. I CAN afford it, it's just that I dont have a job right now (im looking) and the money I do have is going towards a car, so X-mas would be my only option to get something. Once I get a job, i'll hopefully get that 550W Aspire. That would be a good choice for the future wouldn't it? Also, My friend has it and he loves it.
 
M

mike3uz

Senior member
Oct 29, 2004
214
1
0
Also I would consider the fortron 450 since its a great PSU for 50 dollars. Aspire isn't a good brand of PSU IMO.
 
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t3h l337 n3wb

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2005
2,698
0
76
Bah, Aspire is pretty crappy. Not as bad as Raidmax, mind you, but still much worse then quality brands. That Enermax would probably be your best bet. It's only $25, and that shouldn't matter much since a car costs like a couple grand...
 
B

BigCoolJesus

Banned
Jun 22, 2005
1,687
0
0
Originally posted by: stevey5036
can someone give an actual reason WHY aspire sucks?
Click to expand...

Wow, i hate having to say this, but here it goes



There cheap because they use cheap parts, hence the saying "you get what you pay for"

When you pay $200 for a PCP&C power supply, your getting your moneys worth in the BEST components, capacitors, heatsinks, everything (and this is the one time when the heavier it is, the better it is.....which is also why PCP&C weighs so much)

When you pay $50 for an Aspire 500W or whatever psu, your getting the cheapest capacitors, and smallest heatinks they could get, plus they throw in the *awesome* looks to attract people who have no idea what quality means to a PSU


To put it in simpler terms

If you buy a 600W Seasonic with 40Amps on the 12v, i guarantee it will easily handle 620 or 630W of power draw, and a 41 or 42Amp draw without missing a beat

if you buy an Aspire 500w (also applies to Rosewill, Powmax, any no-namer company, or any PSU off of ebay) with 50Amps on the 12v, i guarantee it wont handle more then 470w worth of a draw, and the 12v will only carry 40amps at max


the point is, Aspire is cheap, and thier quality is reflected by thier cheapness
 
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Dwebtron

Member
Sep 18, 2005
61
0
0
sweet, guess what's working! I even ran BF2 with it for about 4 hours straight, and no explosions / crashing or anything.

 
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Pabster

Lifer
Apr 15, 2001
16,986
1
0
Originally posted by: wafflesandsyrup
raidmax psu's are just as good as generic. fortron sells a 450w unit for $50.
Click to expand...

No offense, but generic PSUs really suck. So Raidmax sucks as well?
 
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