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Need a new PSU

ConstipatedVigilante

ConstipatedVigilante

Diamond Member
I'm getting an 8800 GT and I don't think my Smartpower 450W will be able to cut it. I'd like some suggestions for a good, preferably sub-$60 (yes, I know it's low) PSU. I've been looking at the Earthwatts line and some Rosewills.

Edit: On a side note, does anyone know how the hell to remove the PSU from the Sonata II case? There's a bar in front of it, but the "screws" holding it in don't seem to have heads - a screwdriver would just spin around.
 
Dunno about the Sonata II. I don't have one, but pictures I can find show a bar along the side of the case, and nothing in front of the PSU. Looks like it would slide right out. Looks like it comes towards the front and then can either go down into the mobo space, or forward through the 5.25" drive space.

For PSUs, the Earthwatts 380 and 430 look like really good values. I've got a 380 around here, and it's a nice little supply. I imagine the 380would probably do, but going a wee bit higher would not hurt. Then, of course, you're up to the price of a Corsair 450.

Really, don't get the Rosewills. They're good for a basic office/mail type box that will never be really stressed, but I'd not touch one for a gaming box. Some of them are probably good, but you know the Antec and Corsair will be good (now that Antec has moved away from CWT).
 
Would an Earthwatts 430 be ample power for my planned rig and upgrades (an Athlon X2 soon, eventually a mobo switch and overhaul for new RAM/quad core)? Or would I have to go with the 500?
 
I'd go 500w, not in the first place because of the wattage, but because of the stronger 12v rail. And with more wattage, the PSU will be stressed less, increasing it's lifespan in the long run. A qaudcore/8800gt build could be pulling 200-300w or so under heavy load, depending on HD's, Casefans etc. You'd want some headroom for that. 450vx/500w AE is the lowest I would go nowadays, for a rig like that. Without a high performance videocard and/or qaudcore 380w will easily do.
 
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I'm getting an 8800 GT and I don't think my Smartpower 450W will be able to cut it. I'd like some suggestions for a good, preferably sub-$60 (yes, I know it's low) PSU. I've been looking at the Earthwatts line and some Rosewills.

Edit: On a side note, does anyone know how the hell to remove the PSU from the Sonata II case? There's a bar in front of it, but the "screws" holding it in don't seem to have heads - a screwdriver would just spin around.
Click to expand...

I had a X1900XT running fine on that SP 450. It's better than you think.

I had a Sonata II. You just unscrew the four screws that mount the PSU and remove. There's nothing special at all. The bar is just for the case, partly used for the air duct system.
 
Originally posted by: jonmcc33
Originally posted by: ConstipatedVigilante
I'm getting an 8800 GT and I don't think my Smartpower 450W will be able to cut it. I'd like some suggestions for a good, preferably sub-$60 (yes, I know it's low) PSU. I've been looking at the Earthwatts line and some Rosewills.

Edit: On a side note, does anyone know how the hell to remove the PSU from the Sonata II case? There's a bar in front of it, but the "screws" holding it in don't seem to have heads - a screwdriver would just spin around.
Click to expand...

I had a X1900XT running fine on that SP 450. It's better than you think.

I had a Sonata II. You just unscrew the four screws that mount the PSU and remove. There's nothing special at all. The bar is just for the case, partly used for the air duct system.
Click to expand...

You mean the screws in the back? Just looked back there, makes sense. I've only replaced my brother's PSU before and his unscrewed from the inside. Go figure.
 
The Corsair 450W VX is made for Corsair by Seasonic and has 33amps on the 12v rail. More than enough power to run any video card and more. If however you are going to be running 2 cards, better get a unit that is 8800GT SLI confirmed.

Dell has the Corsair 450W VX for $59.95 after $10 rebate.

Link To Dell and Corsair 450W VX
 
minimum specs from the BFG site for an 8800 GT

Minimum System Requirements
> 1GB of system memory
> Microsoft Windows Vista -or- Windows XP
> CD or DVD-ROM drive
> 50MB of available hard disk drive space for basic driver installation
> 425W PCI Express-compliant system power supply with a combined 12V current rating of 28A or more (Minimum system power requirement based on a standard PC configured with an Intel® Core?2 Extreme X6800 processor)
> PCI Express-compliant motherboard with one vacant PCI Express x16 slot
> One 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector -or- Two 4-pin Molex supplementary power connectors


 
If I am reading this correctly, the SP 450W has two 12V rails at 15A and 17A. That should be fine for an 8800 GT.

 
I'll try it out on my Smartpower before getting a new one. I'll take a look at readings in Everest and if bad things start happening, I'll get something with a bit more oomph. After all, I'm running a fairly minimal system - not exactly Quad core with 10 HDDs.

Edit: On a similar note, how much fluctuation is acceptable for voltages?
 
Well looking at this site:
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=205763
You have 22A on the 12V rails combined, so I'm not sure your going to do too well. I've read a couple of places that 26-28A is the recommended amps on the 12v rails, so not sure your is going to work. Yeah you don't have alot of stuff hooked up, but depending on how old your PSU is, you might already have lost some of your power capabilities due to wear and tear on the PSU. The Antec EW 430w is rated at 30A on the 12V rails, so that woudl be the absolute minimum that I'd put in. It's going for $70 - $30 MIR at newegg, if you want to get one soon. If you want to give yourself some more room, I'd go with the Antec Neo 550w/Corsair hx520w/PCP&P 610w Silencer, to name a few good ones. The Antec and Corsair go for around $100 and the Silencer is about $130.
 
Well, I guess we'll see tomorrow. If it doesn't work or crashes during high-demand games (or rthdribl, never crashes during that), then I'll run out and get a new PSU.
 
I'm running an 8800GT, along with an x2 4400+, 2 gb pc3200, X-Fi audio, 2 hard drives and a dvd-rw on a Thermaltake 420w psu with absolutely no problems whatsoever. My particular PSU is rated 40A on the 12v rail though.
 
Originally posted by: jeffjones66
I'm running an 8800GT, along with an x2 4400+, 2 gb pc3200, X-Fi audio, 2 hard drives and a dvd-rw on a Thermaltake 420w psu with absolutely no problems whatsoever. My particular PSU is rated 40A on the 12v rail though.
Click to expand...
No it's not.

40A * 12V = 480W

Guess what? You've fallen for the "adding the rails" fallacy.
 
So, I got and installed my GT today and it's running fine. After playing around in Rivatuner the temps are no worse than my 6800 GS and the card isn't any louder (except at 100%). My games are fluid and solid. I just played CoD4 for a good hour and a half without any hiccups or crashes.
 
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