!Help Please. What Power Supply "Watts" to choose?

[DrLynx]

I have decided on the following configuration for my new computer:

Athlon XP 2500+ @1833Mhz "Barton" core - (Retail) Box Pack (with heatsink and fan) - 333FSB

A7N8X-Deluxe Motherboard (with Soundstorm) PCB Version 2.0 or later {I heard this one takes up a lot of PSU Watts}

Gigabyte R96P128D (Radeon 9600 Pro) AGP card {This one too seems to take up a lot of PSU Watts}

333 Mhz 184-pin "CAS Latency 2" Unbuffered non-ECC (non-registered) Double-sided x8 or x16 256 MB DDR x 2 = 512 MB DDR [Run in Dual-Channel mode at most aggressive timings]

Seagate 80 GB/7200 rpm HDD Ultra ATA/100 Barracuda HDD

Samsung 52x Combo Drive (16x DVD, 52x CD Rom, 52x Write, 24x Rewrite)

Samsung 52x CD-ROM Drive

Samsung SyncMaster 753S 17" Monitor

Samtron 40Bn 14" Monitor (Dual-Monitor Setup)

Creative Inspire 5200 (5.1 - 6 channel analog speaker)

PixelView PlayTV Pro Ultra w/FM (PCI TV Tuner card)

CanoScan LiDE 20 {This one is USB Hub Powered. So, takes power from PSU}

Lexmark 3200 Inkjet Printer {This one has 2 cables. One is directly connected to the UPS while the other goes to the back of the case. So, I doubt if it will take any power from PSU}

D-Link DFM 560ES (External 56k Modem) - {Connected directly to the UPS and also to the back of the case}

SmartMedia card Reader/Writer {Again, USB Hub Powered}

1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive

Frontech Fantasy Pad {Again USB Hub Powered}

Typhoon Ramses Joystick {Gameport}

Logitech 3-button Optical Scroll Mouse {Again, USB Hub Powered}

ATX Cabinet w/ 2 80mm fans (1 in lower front - Intake fan + 1 in upper back - Exhaust fan) w/ Front USB connectors

Now, I am trying to choose my Power Supply Unit.

How many Watts would I need? Power Supply Calculators @ http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/&e=7413 and http://www.utcache.com/power.asp&e=7413 tell me that I need more than 350W PSU or 400W PSU.

But, my friends say that this configuration would NOT need more than a 300W PSU.

Please help me. What PSU specification to go for? 300W or 350W or 400W?

Thanks all in advance

 

[MDE]

Newegg has a 350W Fortron that easily runs the system in my sig and has an adjustable 120mm fan, and is $42 with shipping.

 

[DrLynx]

..

 

[MDE]

Nothing name brand? I'd probably get the biggest one I could afford and hope for the best. Ask your friends what brands they're using and what seems to last the longest out of what's available there.

 

[DrLynx]

MonkeyDriveExpress,

Fine, but is it worth spending extra money by buying a 400W PSU? Cause a 400W one is 1.5 times that of a 300W one. A 350W one is almost as costlier (say 1.4 times), cause they are not in much demand here.

All my friends are using only 300W PSU, and they all came with the case, again a no-name one. So, they don't know what company the PSU is!

So, what do you think this above configuration of mine will need? 300 or 350 or 400W? *Practically* speaking.

 

[MDE]

350 should definately work, 300 may work as well. If your friends are using cheap 300W PSUs on similar systems, then 300W is probably all you need.

 

[DrLynx]

MonkeyDriveExpress,

But, they don't have the AGP card and also none of the add-on devices I plan to get!

 

[MDE]

Then a 350W would be a safer bet.

 

[DrLynx]

Oh, I see. Thanks very much for your opinion.

Let me wait and see what others got to say. Thanks all in advance

 

[Chaotic42]

Personally I'd go 400W, but 350W would be ok. Power supplies can cause problems, so I wouldn't get the 300W, unless you really need to save money.

 

[DaFinn]

A branded 300W PSU would run that system just fine... but if one is not available, I would take the 350W. It's good to have the little extra margin. Cheap PSU:s tend to have some power fluctuations, which would cause problems if you are running the PSU close to max!

 

[DrLynx]

Thanks very much MonkeyDriveExpress, Chaotic42 and DaFinn for your kind help.

I will now go for 350W PSU itself.

Thanks once again

 

[OverVolt]

Try This

It over guesses by a long shot but it gives u a good idea

 

[gxsaurav]

I m from India too, but I found Antec TruePower 430 W for Rs 2000 here. Try for it U will find it, if not in stock then may be on order. Where R U from in India

If U still cant get a named brand then go for the heaviest Power supply U can get by weight. Make sure it is atleast 350W. Also if U can find 400W then without problem go for it.

Look for the weight when comparing for PSUs, also check how much fans it has, 2 fans, 1 for exhaust & one for blowing air down on CPu is the best deal

 

[DrLynx]

Thanks OverVolt for that nice link.

gxsaurav,

Thanks for the reply.

I am from Chennai. Btw., did you get the case and the PSU seperately? Because at Supreme Computers, Richtie Street, here, (the biggest dealers), they sell cases with in-built PSUs! The cases come in brands like MERCURY, MICROTEK and other unheard-of brands (they say they are imported from taiwan, etc.).

So, can I just get one of those cases with 350 or 400 W, and fit 2 fans (1 intake and 1 exhaust) in it?

P.S: And, what fans were you talking about? PSU fans or Case fans? The exhaust and the one that blows on CPU? :S

Waiting for your reply,
DrLynx

 

[alkemyst]

Is that link accurate? Doesn't take much to need a 450W PSU or more...I see it says it calculates at max utilization....

I have a PC Power & Cooling TurboCool 425:

PIII-S 1.4
1GB PC133
2 HDs @7200
CD
DVD
CDRW
PCMCIA
3.5" SuperDisc

SCSI Card
Santa Cruz
Wireless NIC
Radeon 8500

If I add a P4 or a 9800 Radeon it seems I'd have to go to 500W+ , I am also adding a DVD+/-RW.

Å

 

[gxsaurav]

I m from Lucknow, U.P.

I was getting a 300 W PSU with my chassis at a total cost of Rs 1400, but I exchanged the PSU with a Antec 430W PSU by giving the 300W PSU & RS 1100 to the shopkeeper. It did costed me a total of Rs 2000 for the PSU & Chassis, but it was better then before.

Anyway, U can also get the PSU without the cabinet, they are also sold loose. I was getting Antec avalible here, & zalman on order. I prefer U find a bit more, they must be having it on order or something. If U can't find any branded then be sure to go for atleast 350W, a rule of thumb is that U compare 2 PSUs weight, & the one which is more heavy is the better one.

I m talking about the PSU Fan. Radeon 9600 dosen't eat much power, niether does the mobo, who told U that. Anything above or at 350W is good for U. Just look for the weight & noise leverl created. Also tell me for what price U R getting the Gigabyte 9600 Pro, & the whole PC, & what U intend to do with it.

--------------------------------------------------
My Lab (errrrr, RIG)

P4 3.06 GHz (533FSB/HT), Intel 865GBF motherboard, 2X256 MB of Kingston Dual channel DDR333 RAM, ATI Radeon 9600 Pro, with a D-Link Modem & onboard sound. Samsung Syncmaster 763MB Monitor, & Creative Inspire G380 Speakers, with iBox i441 chassis ( www.enteriworld.com ) & Antec 430 W True power PSU.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Personally I'd go 400W, but 350W would be ok. Power supplies can cause problems, so I wouldn't get the 300W, unless you really need to save money.

I agree. A 400w no-name PSU is probably equivalent to a 300w good PSU like an Antec. If his only option is no-names get the highest he can.

 

[DrLynx]

Thanks GXSAURAV for the reply.

So, your case + PSU cost you Rs.2500 or Rs.2000? Also, do you get cases WITHOUT PSU's here? Also, what cases available here are good? With their models, like Mercury Topaz, KOB 110 etc. 'Cause I am not very good at choosing cases with good ventilation, good fans, etc. Also tell me how many fans usually come with the case, and how many we have to buy (and, the guidelines for choosing good fans). Also tell me whether the local PSUs you get here (with the case or loose) have built-in fans or should we buy fans and attach them?

My Gigabyte GV-R96P128D costs Rs.13,000 (~US $300) and my whole setup costs Rs.70,000 (US $1550) after substituting Samsung 19" 955DF for SyncMaster 753S

My usage is: MUSIC CREATION + GAMES + MUSIC LISTENING + TV/FM + All sorts of things one does with a computer.

Thanks PorBleemo and Alkemyst for your suggestions as well

 

[gxsaurav]

I do things like what U do, & even professionaly but I don't think U will need that much high setup & especially 2 monitors, & 2 gamepads. Here is what I do

1) Audio/Video mixing

2) VHS to VCD or DVD conversion

3) Audio Sampeling, Audio creation via instruments

4) Gaming, really hardcore

For all this My PC serves well, I guess U will end up to an bottleneck with the CPU Clock speed.

We get cases with & without PSU, but mostly with PSU. If U want a cool & silent case , then go for antec sonata, but this will cost U Rs 8000, on the other hand, I prefer iBox Grabbit case with black colour. this one look cool, & stays cool.

As for fans go for brushless design, they run faster & stays quite. Install 1 fan in front of chassis & one at the back, the places & cut-outs are made for them already. Make sure the fan connects to motherboard not PSU cos the motherboard automatically adjusts the speed of the fans. PSU comes with 1 exhaust fan already installed. So U don't need to buy extra fan for it.

Mercury are not cool looking, they have a case called Mercury focus, it looks dam designer case, if U can get this then go for it, stay away from KOB Line if U want your computer look good

--------------------------------------------------
My Lab (errrrr, RIG)

P4 3.06 GHz (533FSB/HT), Intel 865GBF motherboard, 2X256 MB of Kingston Dual channel DDR333 RAM, ATI Radeon 9600 Pro, with a D-Link Modem & onboard sound. Samsung Syncmaster 763MB Monitor, & Creative Inspire G380 Speakers, with iBox i441 chassis ( www.enteriworld.com ) & Antec 430 W True power PSU.

 

[gxsaurav]

I do things like what U do, & even professionaly but I don't think U will need that much high setup & especially 2 monitors, & 2 gamepads. Here is what I do

1) Audio/Video mixing

2) VHS to VCD or DVD conversion

3) Audio Sampeling, Audio creation via instruments

4) Gaming, really hardcore

For all this My PC serves well, I guess U will end up to an bottleneck with the CPU Clock speed.

We get cases with & without PSU, but mostly with PSU. If U want a cool & silent case , then go for antec sonata, but this will cost U Rs 8000, on the other hand, I prefer iBox Grabbit case with black colour. this one look cool, & stays cool.

As for fans go for brushless design, they run faster & stays quite. Install 1 fan in front of chassis & one at the back, the places & cut-outs are made for them already. Make sure the fan connects to motherboard not PSU cos the motherboard automatically adjusts the speed of the fans. PSU comes with 1 exhaust fan already installed. So U don't need to buy extra fan for it.

Mercury are not cool looking, they have a case called Mercury focus, it looks dam designer case, if U can get this then go for it, stay away from KOB Line if U want your computer look good

--------------------------------------------------
My Lab (errrrr, RIG)

P4 3.06 GHz (533FSB/HT), Intel 865GBF motherboard, 2X256 MB of Kingston Dual channel DDR333 RAM, ATI Radeon 9600 Pro, with a D-Link Modem & onboard sound. Samsung Syncmaster 763MB Monitor, & Creative Inspire G380 Speakers, with iBox i441 chassis ( www.enteriworld.com ) & Antec 430 W True power PSU.

 

[StraightPipe]

i would follow suit with others and reccomend the 400W PSU (generic) 250-300 would do it if you had a good brand name.

my dell has a 250W, and i have lots of extras. (i actually have used every power connector in my system, and split off one to add more

(be aware that dell makes very high quality PSU's and you wont get the same from a 250 w generic)


Good luck!

 

[CryHavoc]

just spend as much money as you can afford and get a 400w ps. That way, you have ample reserve, room to grow, and you have piece of mind that you bought a 400w over a 350w supply. You don't want to loose sleep over this man.

 

[alkemyst]

I wish I had this info still floating in my head or had time to look it up....later on I will post it.

The important things with a PSU is not just the Wattage. Its the individual wattages and AMPs on each rail.

For the Athlon I think it's the 3.3V rail (like the pre-P4 pentiums) and for the P4 it's the 12V or something. It you search for 'infinite loop' and 'power supply' you should quickly find what numbers you need to see. This system works well for the foreign countries that have to buy their PSU's based on specs alone (as anyone should really as a Name is not going to do crap).

Å

 

[Atlantean]

Why 2 cd drives and no dvd drive?