How much PSU do I really need?

[axion]

I am currently building a new PC finally and have an i7 on the way, as well as an MSI x58 board. I will be getting a 9800GTX GPU from BFG soon as well.

What am I looking at as far as power goes? Will say a, 650 do? Or do I need to be looking in the 750 range? Thanks, and newegg links to units I should consider would be appreciated, since all my parts are coming from there

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: axion
I am currently building a new PC finally and have an i7 on the way, as well as an MSI x58 board. I will be getting a 9800GTX GPU from BFG soon as well.

What am I looking at as far as power goes? Will say a, 650 do? Or do I need to be looking in the 750 range? Thanks, and newegg links to units I should consider would be appreciated, since all my parts are coming from there

As long as the PSU is good quality, 650-750W is sufficient. What made you choose that video card? Great brand choice, but you might be able to get a GTS 250 (faster RAM) for around the same, or a GTX 260 for a bit more.

 

[BladeVenom]

Looking at Anand's video card reviews, an i7 extreme and a 9800GTX+ only uses 280 watts under load.

 

[axion]

Well it looks like I might be going with a GTS 250 after all, I really didn't notice the small price difference, but today I checked the one I wanted and it got deactivated on newegg, lol.. Thanks guys!

 

[theAnimal]

500W is plenty.

 

[magreen]

Agree. A quality 500W-550W psu (no cheap stuff) will be fine for your needs. Unless you're contemplating going SLI in the near future.

 

[rarebear]

I would just buy a Corsair 850 and have plenty of room to expand in future..
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139009

$119 AR, spend $30 more now and save $100 in a few years if you need more watts..

 

[magreen]

That's bad advice on the 850W in my humble opinion. There's a corsair vx550 for $55 AR from newegg over in the hot deals forum. That will be plenty.

Plunking down money now for future gains in a couple years is almost always bad advice in computer hardware. Even if you do end up needing it, which is a big "if", whatever gain you'd get for it then is almost always cheaper to buy then, and sometimes better, too.

In the case of psus, power supplies anyways tend to wear out after a few years, or at least lose some of their capacity. Don't buy 850W now unless you want 850W now (or in the next 6 months).