How much power required for this system build ?

[djfloetic]

I have just purchased all the required components except the case and power supply as I am unsure what is required:

My system is as follows:

Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo E6420 (Stock Heatsink)
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 Motherboard
2x1gb 800Mhz Dual Channel DDR 2 Ram
500gb 7200 RPM SATAII HDD
eVGA 8800 320mb GeForce Video Card
DVD-ROM

I am going to overclock the processor to around 2.8ghz just to be safe and not having to purchase a new 3rd party heatsink.

I'm thinking of getting a case with 430W power supply but am not sure if this is enough. I am also planning on getting another video card for video capturing/editing and possibly another sound card in the future.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[magreen]

Don't buy a case with PSU. The PSUs in those things are junk and will trash your nice system.

The minimum PSU you should go for is the SPARKLE ATX-400PN-B204 for $45. It has +18A+18A on its two 12V rails. It's fine for the system you mentioned, and could probably run an 8800GTX as well. (If you're bothered that it doesn't have a lot of connectors, the same PSU is available as an FSP 450W that has more connectors, for $10 more.)

There's higher end PSUs from the likes of Corsair or Enhance that'll give you more flexibility to ugrade to an 8800GTX combined with heavy overclocking... but you don't absolutely need them.

EDIT: wait, I didn't see, you're planning on getting another vid card? And connecting it to what? the DS3 doesn't do SLI.

 

[Operandi]

At stock speeds a good 300-350 unit would be fine (do note that "good" excludes all units bundled with cases). Overclocking calls for a bit more power so 350-400 watts would be a good mark for your specs.

The Enhance ENP-5140GH is one of the best 400 watts units around, regardless of price.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I would recommend that you get a case with good air flow that doesn't come with a ps. Also consider that everything you have will be connected to the ps you should not skimp and buy a cheap one. I only run enermax ps's and would recommend that brand to you. The liberty series has 20a on the each 12v rail and the 500w is pretty reasonable. I personally am running the noisetaker 600w but just ordered the enermax galaxy 850 which has 5 12v rails and the weakest one has 28a on it with a combined 12v rating of 120a. Yeah I plan to keep it for a little while and bought into some headroom along with an xclio windtunnel case. Anyway look for cases with hd drive bays that span the width of the case and have at least a 12cm fan blowing on them up front. Also make sure that there's sufficient room between the motherboard backplane and the hd cage or it will be hard to work with cables in there. It's hard to judge space when looking at manufacturers websites so look at the mounting holes on the backplane. My oldest son just bought a nzxt zero case and it looks good online however there's very little room between the backplane and the drive cage which makes connections hard. My current quantum has tons of room there and it's why I chose the xclio windtunnel to replace it.