Jus checking, will this PSU be enough?

daggermeerkat

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Sep 14, 2005
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Ok, I am expecting this to be my upgrade soon enough:

Abit ip35-e
2 Sata HDDs
Asus 8800gts 512mb
Q6600
G.skill 2x2gb either pc2-6400 or 8000
Creative Xi-Fi Extreme soundcard
DVD/RW

Will this Tagan TG530-U22 be enough or do I have to upgrade this the PSU also?
 

Whiznot

Member
Mar 22, 2005
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There are several power draw calculators online and while most of them over estimate power requirements one such service is very accurate. Google for the Extreme Power Supply Calculator and click on lite version to enter your specs. The forum members of Silent PC Review have found that results from the Extreme Power Supply Calculator closely agree with measurements taken by the Seasonic Power Angel and Kill-A-Watt power meters. There is a thread on this subject in the SPCR power supply forum category.
 

daggermeerkat

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Sep 14, 2005
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Well .. this power supply has only two 12V rails with each supplying 20A (split mode) and 32A (combined mode), I was reading Johnny's stickie and seems 2 12V rails are dedicated to the CPU in newer PSUs. I used used the calculator, power draw came at 400W .. it seems I am just on the edge with this PSU? What happens if it isn't enough to power the computer .. its not meant to blow any parts is it if power is low, right?
 

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
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Oct 30, 1999
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Originally posted by: daggermeerkat
Well .. this power supply has only two 12V rails with each supplying 20A (split mode) and 32A (combined mode), I was reading Johnny's stickie and seems 2 12V rails are dedicated to the CPU in newer PSUs. I used used the calculator, power draw came at 400W .. it seems I am just on the edge with this PSU?

How are you "just on the edge" with a 530W when the suggestion is for a 400W?

Let's do the math.... The 8800GTS doesn't need that much power. Say 7 or 8A tops. you only have two hard drives and one optical. That's 5A tops. You have 20A available to a 12V rail that supplies power to everything but the CPU. That's 240W. The only "trapped power" on the other +12V rail is going to be 12A minus whatever the CPU uses. Let's say that's up to 6A. So let's theorize and say that you only have 26A of usable +12V. That's 312W. That wouldn't be bad for a 400W power supply and that's supposedly all you need!

YOU'RE FINE.

Originally posted by: daggermeerkat
What happens if it isn't enough to power the computer .. its not meant to blow any parts is it if power is low, right?

If you overload a rail, nothing blows up. It just shuts down. The only time it wouldn't is if the PSU was defective or something and then it would blow up regardless.


 

daggermeerkat

Member
Sep 14, 2005
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Thanks Johnny! Simple and clean .. and thanks for the stickies; very helpful! :)
At least now I don't have to worry about spending 80 odd quid on a PSU!