how much power do i need

[Falloutboy]

ok I've just did a upgrade on my comp and I think I need a new powersupply. The following are my specs.

AMD 1800xp
512mb PC133
Gigabyte 7ZXH
Hardrives:
80gb maxtor 7200
2x40gb maxtor 7200
30gb Western Digital 5400
17gb IBM 7200
CDROM:
52x CDROM
12x8x24 Acer CDRW
Gerforce 3
TurtleBeach Santa Cruz
3 network cards (2 to bridge a phoneline network with a ethernet and one for a cablemodem)
ATA133 Raid card
3 Panaflo 80mm fans
1 60mm delta fan (prolly going to swap for another 80mm when I get a better heatsink)



I'm right now running a cheapy 400 watt powersupply and it doesn't sound happy started giving a high pitch wine last night and is running real hot. I'm prolly going to get a new case while I'm at it I'm thinking of picking up a chieftec from newegg.com with a 420watt powersupply lmk if this sound like enough power for my system

 

[TheDisturbance]

i think a cheap thermaltake 420w should do it...

 

[Falloutboy]

where is a good place to get one of those

 

[TheDisturbance]

grab one at newegg if u live in the u.s.

 

[Jhhnn]

Anand&Co weren't too impressed with the Tt supply, neither am I. Not with anything Tt.

A 350w Sparkle, Heroichi, Enermax or Antec wouldn't even break a sweat running that stuff, while a 380 or 430 Antec trupower would be loafing, and very quietly, too....

Going for a slightly lower rated unit from a quality manufacturer pays off- they'll actually deliver what they promise and generally outlast all the other components except the box....

I'd ditch the two smaller drives, replace them if absolutely necessary with a single larger drive.... In the old days, when drives were small and expensive, we all dragged our old drives along into new builds, but it's not really necessary any more...

 

[Falloutboy]

I do have a 300W antec (non trupower) from my old case would this be suffcent or is 300 really pushing it?

 

[mechBgon]

It's really pushing it. The older 300W units from Antec were not nearly as powerful as their present one (SL300). My vote, especially considering you have eight drives and five cards, is to go big. Consider how much power requirements have gone up in just the last two or three years, and then ask yourself how long a quality PSU is likely to last and what you'll be using it with next.

 

[dzt]

400 w is still enough but consider extra cooling supplied not from psu.
double your psu will be a nice idea too, so you'll have 400 w for mobo and peripherals, and the other for drives and fans.

 

[Falloutboy]

ok I think I may pick up a nice 400ish PSU or something of the sort. also what would a high pitch whine sound from a powersupply mean? is this thing safe to run till I get my new one shipped to me??

 

[Soulkeeper]

I just got me an antec True power psu
they are great
the 430 watter is like 70 bucks
you do have a lot of hard drives I got 5 myself

good luck, I wouldn't even consider anything under 400

 

[Wuzup101]

I would have to recomend getting a high quality PSU with an output over your requirement. I'm currently running an Enermax 431watt.... and I only have:

2 HDD's
2 Optical Drives
1 Flopy
R8500
USB 2.0 expansion
5 80mm fans
etc....

lots less than you are running. It's always nice to know you have plenty of power so that it's not a factor when you need to upgrade or add something else.

BTW... always loved enermax... (everything that is but the price)