Is the Corsair HX520W enough?

[Richardrichard]

Q6600
P5K Premium
PCI Sound card
PCI-X Controller card
DVDRW Drive
3*SATA HDD
Gigabyte 4870x2
4GB PC2-8500
3*120mm fans

Is the Corsair HX520W enough to power this system?

I've been toying with the idea of an upgrade due to system instability, thinking it may be either the PSU or the motherboard. I recently read on Gigabyte's website that they recommend a 600W or more PSU for the 4870x2, unfortunately I've been using this setup for nearly a year already .

 

[Richardrichard]

Turns out Antec have a power calculator and rate my system at 560W during 90% load. I'm leaning towards an Antec Signature 650, which in theory should suit me fine. Although I have noticed a Corsair TX 650W for £13 cheaper, one does wonder which would be the better unit.

e: There's actually a number of PSU's I have to choose from, all varying between £66.99 and £89.99. I am on a budget and the cheapest unit is very tempting.

OCZ StealthXStream 700w - £66.99
Corsair TX 650W - £76.99
Antec Signature 650W - £89.99

So who would you choose: OCZ, Corsair or Antec? :hmm:

 

[MrK6]

Are you overclocking or planning to overclock? If you aren't you're more than fine with the Corsair 520W. If you really want to push the system, you'll need a beefier PSU. My nod goes to the Corsair 620W simply because I like modular .

 

[Richardrichard]

I do overclock, given the ease of it with recent technology. The Corsair TX 650W is the non-modular variant as far as I'm aware. In fact all the units I listed are non-modular, I would prefer modular but my budget doesn't seem to allow for it.

e: The OCZ is really staring me in the face as it's seemingly offering more than the others, at a cheaper price.

 

[MrK6]

I do overclock, given the ease of it with recent technology. The Corsair TX 650W is the non-modular variant as far as I'm aware. In fact all the units I listed are non-modular, I would prefer modular but my budget doesn't seem to allow for it.

e: The OCZ is really staring me in the face as it's seemingly offering more than the others, at a cheaper price.

I am very partial to Corsair power supplies, so I'd go with the TX 650W then. For reference, on my HX 620W, I had a Q6600 @ 3.6GHz and a moderately overclocked GTX295 (648MHz core/1100MHz memory) that would hit 515W maximum load. The 4870X2 is just as power hungry (if not more so), so I think a TX 650W would be perfect (Corsair rates their PSUs very conservatively).

 

[Richardrichard]

Seeing as how the 520W has served me this long without exploding or anything, I do owe Corsair some loyalty .

e: Before the HX 520W I was using an Enermax PSU and it literally blew up, which was exciting to say the least.

 

[theAnimal]

Turns out Antec have a power calculator and rate my system at 560W during 90% load.

The PSU calculator gives the recommended PSU size, not power consumption.

So who would you choose: OCZ, Corsair or Antec?

Antec or Corsair.