Lower power LAN rig

[dflynchimp]

looking at this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811154087

APEX slim case. It was sort a love-at-first-sight thing. I'm thinking of the following:

Intel e5200 Pentium Dual Core Wolfdale 2.5GHz (potentially underclocked to lower power)
Foxconn G31 Micro ATX mobo
Geforce 9800GT low profile card (30W idle 85W load)
2X2GB DDR2-800 RAM
1TB WD caviai green HD SATAII

I did the math and in theory 275W should be plenty. But I'd like to take it to the public opinion. You guys think I'd be able to get all this in under the power output?

Theres an 350W Antec psu apparently that is the same form factor as the APEX 275W slim so potentially I can have a +75W wiggle room, but ideally I'd like to have the whole thing run at around/under 200W at load.

 

[IlllI]

Text would that 13a be enough juice? might want to ask in the video card section

 

[Hacp]

You SHOULD be fine with 60watts of headroom on the 12v rail. It all depends on the quality of the PSU. Some companies lie about the voltage stuff. I would look at potentially a lower powered card just to be safe.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: dflynchimp
Intel e5200 Pentium Dual Core Wolfdale 2.5GHz (potentially underclocked to lower power)
Foxconn G31 Micro ATX mobo
Geforce 9800GT low profile card (30W idle 85W load)

I haven't used the Foxconn board, but I know the Gigabyte G31 mATX boards are great for undervolting/underclocking. I have my E5200 in my server running at 1.2GHz at around 0.8v.

I'm not sure that PSU is up to the task, because "Allied" brand PSUs are not, shall we say, the best. I wouldn't bank on it being able to power a 9800 GT. If the Antec 350W fits (same unit in the Antec slimline) and you can find one separately from the chassis, then it would be a good choice as that Antec supposedly has 25A of +12v power, which is around twice what that Allied claims.

Will you be using that system for gaming? If so, then you need to re-think it. If not, then get a lower end video card (like a low-profile 9400GT).

 

[dflynchimp]

this is a SFF budget LAN build, so I'd probably be running TF2, L4D and games that won't break the bank performance wise. Chances are this build is being paired with an old 1280X1024 19", but I'd like to have it capable of running my 1920X1200 if the event comes up.

At this point I'm thinking of just building the whole thing as is (with a DVD-ROM drive) then seeing if it'll last. If not then I'll get the Antec PSU (goes for $40-$50).

I know for a fact that if I underclocked the wolfdale to 2.0GHz from 2.5 and undervolt it as well I could shave 20-30 watts off the load power and still have respectable processing power for gaming. the 9800GT is the only low profile card I could find ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187061 ) that offers respectable gaming power. I suppose I could make do with 9600GT too which will be easier on the power, but the 9800GT really looks tempting.