How Much Power Do I Need?

[GameFreak42]

I'm building a new computer but I really have no idea how much power I need. I was thinking 480 watts (Antec NeoPower 480W), but that's just my best guess, here's the specs:
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
Athlon 64 3800
GeForce 7800 GT
OCZ Gold DDR400 2-2-2-5 2GB (4x512MB)
Hitachi Deskstar 250GB
NEC ND-3540A
Klipsch Promedia 2.1 Speakers

--
I got kicked out of Barnes and Noble once for moving all the bibles into the fiction section
- bash.org

 

[NuroMancer]

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp
And welcome to the forums.

 

[GameFreak42]

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed

--
I got kicked out of Barnes and Noble once for moving all the bibles into the fiction section
- bash.org

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: NuroMancer
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp
And welcome to the forums.

The biggest problem with these calculators (aside from that they tend to overestimate on almost everything) is that they still don't get at the root of the problem. You can't just sum up all the wattages of your components and get a meaningful 'power requirement' number.

You need to figure out the amperage you will be pulling on each rail, and then get a PSU that provides adequate amperage on each voltage rail. Of course, the only one you're likely to have any sort of problem with these days is the +12V rail. If you sum up the wattage of your CPU(s), video card(s), and hard drive(s)/ CD/DVD drive(s), that's roughly how much wattage you will need on your +12V rail (watts = volts * amps, so amps@12V = watts/12 for those of you playing along at home).

 

[GameFreak42]

The Antec NeoPower 480W PSU has 2 +12V rails, one is 18A, the other is 15A. Is that enough?

--
I got kicked out of Barnes and Noble once for moving all the bibles into the fiction section
- bash.org

 

[GameFreak42]

bump

 

[pibb]

seems a little pricey, i'm THINKING of going with this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817104953
dunno if your budget buying or what but that seems real nice for the price

 

[Operandi]

The Neo and the Forton linked above are good choices.

Personally I like Seasonic.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

$74 is overdoing it, even if it is a seasonic. a $50 450w xclio or fortron has higher amps than that.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: wafflesandsyrup
$74 is overdoing it, even if it is a seasonic. a $50 450w xclio or fortron has higher amps than that.

And the Seasonic is a better PSU, besides 90% of the systems built don't need anymore amps, 380 watts is plenty.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

but im not saying it just because its 450w vs 380. the xclio and fortron are quality units and would be wise to go with them since it will be ample for future add ons and the fact that it's cheaper.

 

[Lazien]

I have the Neo 480 and love it all to hell