I think I might need a new PSU

[ioni]

I currently have an Ultra X-Connect 500W PSU (http://www.ultraproducts.com/p...ath=157&productID=158)

And i just bought this
http://secure.newegg.com/WishL...ishListNumber=10632045
I'm also going to be putting a 512MB 8800GT and my current 7200 RPM WD HDD in it. I was planning to OC to 3.33, but after reading a recent THW review, they had the 512MB 8800GT at 256W at peak. I thought it was closer to 200W at peak, so now I'm not sure my PSU is going to cut it.

Anyone have any idea if it is strong enough to at least power the stock system>

 

[yh125d]

That THW review where the 8800gt pulled 250w, that was the WHOLE system, not just the GPU


You're already spending $800 on good hardware, you should really buy a new PSU. Antec EA650 at $80 on newegg would be a good choice, as would the Corsair TX650


Question, are you buying the 8800gt or do you already have it?

 

[ioni]

I already have the PSU and 8800GT so I didn't want to rebuy those pieces of hardware if I could avoid it. The 8800GT is still a pretty good card so I don't see much reason to upgrade it yet.

If that was the whole system though, I guess I should be good. I must have missed it when they said it was the system and not the GPU.

 

[yh125d]

I'd go ahead and buy a new PSU anyway. Ultra PSU's are usually made by lower end OEMs, and aren't vey reliable overall. They have a couple units made by enhance that are good, but I wouldn't count on it running an OC'd i7 very well. A review on THW showing power usage of a 8800gt is probably pretty old, and likely uses a considerably lower power CPU

 

[Beanie46]

Second the comment by yh125d.....the Ultra X-Connect series of power supplies is not considered anywhere a quality power supply, just a cheap piece of crap sold for a cheap price.

And OC'ing an k7 will suck some power. Mine, running at 4GHz @ 1.30V, with a 1870 video card, will pull 550W from the wall at full load and that'll translate into roughly 500W being delivered by the power supply, using an 80% efficiency conversion. Your X-Connect won't come close to delivering its rated power inside a case (it was rated at 25C, or room temperature, and derates, or loses capacity, when facing running in a hotter environment such as inside a computer case with a hot cpu and video card, which an OC'd i7 is.)

Best suggestion...bite the bullet and buy a quality power supply....you won't regret it at all. Both the previously mentioned power supplies by yh125d are excellent choices. And turn that X-Connect into what it's good for....a doorstop.

 

[ioni]

yh, it was a brand new review posted today. The HW they tested on was an i7 build OC'd to 3.8. I'm surprised to hear people saying Ultra is cheap and sold cheap ($120 for a PSU isn't really cheap) and for that much I'd expect it to be quality. I did look around before I bought it and found mixed reviews, and since my friend was also currently using one with no problems, I bought it. I guess I'll wait on the OC until I get a new PSU though.

 

[yh125d]

I just looked at that review, and honestly I think their numbers are WAY off. They seem so much lower than any numbers I've seen by other sites, by 50w or more I'd say. For example, they have an 8800gt 1gb pulling 210w, and a 8800GTS 512 (almost exactly the same card) pulling 72w more, when the total power consumption is only about 80w total to begin with. Also they have an 8800GT and a 9800GT (exactly the same card, renamed clone) pulling 28w difference between them. Also, the 4770 total shows about 200w, but that's about as much as an i7 at 3.gHz pulls all by itself, plus maybe 100w for GPU mobo ram HD and etc. I wouldn't put much stock in those numbers


As for the ultra, some models are good quality (the enhance built units mostly) and worth buying, but most aren't. I don't keep up with them enough to know which models are good, so I can't comment on that specific PSU.

 

[ioni]

What about this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341018

or this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6817159089&Tpk=CU-700B

or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817341022

yea, they are redirects. They go to newegg....

 

[myocardia]

Note, do not click on the above two links. They are redirects.

edit: It makes absolutely no difference where they redirect to, only that they don't take the user where you're implying they'll be going. That's how all of the morons these days get all of those nice, shiny new viruses.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: myocardia
Note, do not click on the above two links. They are redirects.

ATTENTION: YOUR LINKS MAY CHANGE

 

[jonnyGURU]

Links to products on AT Forums are automagically changed by the forums so they go through an affiliate program and AT gets credit for any purchases made.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

To be honest, all 3 of those you linked above are kinda shady... Ask jonny.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: BlueAcolyte
To be honest, all 3 of those you linked above are kinda shady... Ask jonny.

Agreed.

All you have is an 8800 GT. They don't use that much power. I have an 8800 GTS and I'm powering that with a 500W fanless CWT power supply for goodness sake!!

Instead of looking at crap 600W, 700W, etc. why not look at SOLID 450W, 500W, etc.

Also, you may want to consider getting something from somewhere other than Newegg. Lower prices on quality power supplies can typically be had at other retailers. Newegg is the place for cheap CPU and hard drive prices.

 

[Forumpanda]

I can only 2. and 3. the PSU recommendation.
After finally getting off the 'cheap high rated psu' train and biting the bullet and finally buying a 'costlier' corsair PSU I am never ever going back.

I will loudly recommend getting a good quality Corsair (or similarl quality brand) PSU to anyone.
Dead silent., rock stable, no noise capacitors, no light show and fancy stuff to make it 'cool', it just works.

And the money you sink into a high quality PSU easily pays for itself anyway when you upgrade your system and you don't have to buy a new PSU.

 

[M0RPH]

If you listen to people here then anything other than Corsair/Antec/Seasonic are garbage. :roll: The truth is that any of those power supplies you linked are fine.
And there's nothing really wrong with your Ultra X-Connect either. It's enough power for your system... if it has the proper connectors then use it and save yourself $60+. If you have some problem with it you can always replace it.