i'm running a 5850 with a 400w psu! :P

[Campy]

i went to this calculater:

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

..and it said i should have "minimum" 498w and "recommended" 548w?

standard small tower
5850
q9400
2gb ddr2
1 x X25M-G2
x-fi w/front panel
​

so perhaps i need a new psu after all :whiste:

I ran your specs through this too, and got 317W recommended. You must have done something wrong
This PSU calculator seems pretty decent actually

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Sig, except its running 5 hard drives now too.

People overestimate their PSU requirements frequently.

most power supplies run most efficiently when they're at half load

Sure, a 400W PSU might be enough, it might be more than enough, but a 600W PSU will likely be more efficient and thus save money on electricity as well as likely run cooler/quieter (the efficiency isn't as big of a deal to me as noise, of which some of these PSUs can really ramp up their fans to, at least for my setups, pretty loud levels when when they're under heavier loads)

but you're right, most of my friends getting 700+W PSUs have nowhere near the need for such power and are doing it because they think they'll need it and not for the benefits I just mentioned.

 

[NumericalMethods]

I don't know what anyone hasn't mentioned that cheap PSU's run close to 100% MAY have poor voltage regulation. High amplitude ripple currents reduce the life of electrolytic capacitors. This is the biggest reason I use a high quality supply in my EXPENSIVE computer.

 

[Lonyo]

The problem is... the manufacturers overestimate their PSU capabilities frequently too. :hmm:

People have run GTX 260 on the FSP 300W PSU that come with the Silverstone SG05.

This.
The 400w PSU the OP has might not really be a 400w PSU at all, or it could be a definite 400w PSU.
The Corsair 400CX is rated at 400w @ 40c with 360w on the 12v rail (30A). That's a 400w PSU.

Some "400w" or even 500 or 600w PSUs don't have that much on the 12v, or they are only rated for their wattage at peak loads, or at lower temperatures, or all three.
It's not about what number it says, but what it is inside.

 

[Patrickz0rs]

I'm running (2) GTX 285's on a 600W Coolermaster Silent Pro PSU...

 

[dajeepster]

I'm running (2) GTX 285's on a 600W Coolermaster Silent Pro PSU...

I feel sorry for you... just keep an eye on the fan... that's the first thing to go

 

[digiram]

One month later you'll make another post about how this crappy psu blew up and killed your vga and then we'll be discussing how imorral it is for you to send it in for an rma due to your own neglect.

 

[Compddd]

I'm running an i7 930@4ghz and a GTX 480 on a 500W seasonic I've used for the past 4-5 years. I think as long as a PSU is quality its ok

I'm planning on running my i7 920@4GHz with a GTX 480 on one of Seasonic's new fanless X-460 PSUs in my Silverstone FT02.

Hell the X-400 fanless can output 620W+ with some decent case airflow since the components inside are speced so high.

 

[ZPIGS!]

I'm planning on running my i7 920@4GHz with a GTX 480 on one of Seasonic's new fanless X-460 PSUs in my Silverstone FT02.

Hell the X-400 fanless can output 620W+ with some decent case airflow since the components inside are speced so high.

wow..

 

[ZPIGS!]

ok, so the old adage you pay for what you get holds true in this case..


so what rating should i go for, presuming not much change in basic setup?

there will be times when up two usb hard drives will be active, but this will only be so when i'm not gaming, so the 5850 will be clocking down to compensate..

key and mouse on usb..

(lovely razer mouse btw!)

 

[ZPIGS!]

here you go!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/550W-Gold-Si.../dp/B000KND4M8

 

[ZPIGS!]

ok any objections to a corsair hx520?

 

[WoodButcher]

ROFL! It is gold,,,,

You should be happy with the Corsair, I understand they are pretty solid units and I'm sure you'll like the modular if you haven't had one before.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I have that one's bigger brother, the HX620, have for a few years now, and it's a great unit. My only gripe is it has both the 4 pin and the 8 pin 12V plugs hardwired, so you always have to hide one of them. Other than that, its great

 

[ZPIGS!]

ROFL! It is gold,,,,

heh, someone must have built a gold pc by now..


ok, well i'll wait a bit, a week or so, to see if anyone else wants to chip in, but i'll prob buy that one..that crusty old 400w can't be good for my pc..

i've swapped it out for the spare 500w novatech cheap one, so i can read the info off:

Allied AL-8400BTX

"For Pentium 4" it chirrups, on the side!

max 385w, so it's weaker than i thought!

14A @ 12v...

 

[Compddd]

Get a Seasonic X-560 or X-650

You can find some good deals on the X-650