Need PSU help

[Lonyo]

I have an AMD Barton-M 2500+
768MB RAM
9800np @ Pro+ speeds
2x80GB HDD's
300w PSU
Audigy
Abit NF7 v2.0
Keyboard/mouse etc
5x 80mm fans (including CPU fan)

My PSU is not cutting it, I have instabilities if I run my RAM at its rated speed (I have one PC2700 and one PC3200 stick, they won't run at PC2700 speeds with 2.5-3-3-11 timings
256MB TwinMOS PC2700 CAS2
512MB OCZ PC3200 CAS2.5)
Upping the voltage doesn't really help.

My 9800 can also get flaky if I push it too hard (ie: comp crashes and reboots, not a card issue, power issue).
My 2500+ could run at 133x17 (2266MHz) with my old PC2100 RAM, at 1.6vcore, but will run at 15x145 now (~2200MHz) at the same vcore. Does increasing FSB affect power draw more than pure clock speed?

My 12v line is 11.7
My 3.3v line is 3.2v
Can't check 5v line without a different program to monitor, but I'd guess it won't matter since the other 2 lines aren't too good, so safe to say it's not too great either.

Should I get a new PSU with high 12v lines, or with high 3.3v and 5v lines?
Antec seems to have slightly higher 12v, 5v and 3.3v lines than my current PSU, but an Enermax would have much higher 12v, but similar 3.3v and 5v lines, so which is my best bet?
Is it likely to be a lack of power, or flaky voltages that are causing the problem?

 

[Werty]

get at least 400watts and higher to be on the safe side.. HEC works great, and its cheap.. u may also go for higher quality like Antec... just get the highest you can afford

 

[Lonyo]

HEC is what I currently have, a 300w model.
I can afford a ~350w Antec or Enermax, but I don't know which to go for, as one has strong 12v rails (Enermax) while the other has better 5v rails (Antec).
I'm not sure which is the weakness I have at the moment.

 

[sao123]

Go Check your power requirements
Then take the rating you recieve and divide by .70 and then multiply by .90, that is the wattage of the power supply you should buy.

I suggest depending on your needs... Antec has great power supplies, especially the, 430Truepower, the 480w True Blue, or the 550w TrueControl.
OCZ has a new line of powersupplies, also in the 430 - 520 range that are supposed to be excellent.

As for where to get them, Xoxide.com has the best selection and very good prices, or ZipZoomFly.com has free 2 day shipping on most everything.

Edit:
Also, be sure you are not buying a falsely rated power supply...heres how to double check...

To keep this as simple as possible, what determines the quality of your Power Supply (PSU) is its continuous maximum output. Even though the PSU might be advertised as a 430 watt, in most cases this is not its actual true output in a real world situation. To check your PSU you need to do the following:

Look for the label that is attached to your Power Supply
Write down the following information from that label
12V - _ _ amps
5V - _ _ amps
3.3V - _ _ amps
What does the above have to do with Watts? Volts x Amps = Watts

Once you have the information, you need to complete some basic calculations listed below:

3.3V x _ _ amps = _ _ Watts
5.0V x _ _ amps = _ _ _ Watts
12.0V x _ _ amps = _ _ _ Watts

Now all three totaled comes to _ _ _ Watts (which might = your advertised Watts). What most people do not know is that with the majority of Power Supplies, you cannot have the maximum of the 3.3V rail and 5.0V rail Amps listed above flowing at same time. Only 2/3 can be used in an accurate calculation. So in reality you will be reduced to:

{Combined 3.3V & 5.0V} _ _W + _ _ _W x 2/3 = _ _ _ watts
Now add in the 12v = _ _ _ watts
Adding these all together now gives you _ _ _ Watts
So your Power Supply should really be rated as a _ _ _ Watt Power Supply

 

[Lonyo]

I calculate a 390w PSU from your mulitplying.
The start value from the site was ~300w, which is what I'm on at the moment.

I think a 420w Enermax Noisetaker might be a nice idea, and it's not too pricey (in the UK), plus it comes with dual fans, whereas I currently have a single fan PSU.

I never thought about the efficiency of the PSU when it came to power.

 

[zephyrprime]

You needz the 12V rail! CPUs draw from the 12V rail and Video cards are mostly 12V also.

http://members.shaw.ca/speedtek/Power%20Supply%20Choices.htm
http://www.spodesabode.com/content/article/6800upower

If you're crunched for money, check out fatwallet forums for a bargain.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
You needz the 12V rail! CPUs draw from the 12V rail and Video cards are mostly 12V also.

http://members.shaw.ca/speedtek/Power%20Supply%20Choices.htm
http://www.spodesabode.com/content/article/6800upower

If you're crunched for money, check out fatwallet forums for a bargain.

That's why I'm pretty much settled on an Enermax.
The offer at least 24A on the 12v rail for the 350w+ models.
They 420W I'm looking at has a 15a and a 14a 12v rail (Separate 12V rails: Independent 12V rails supply to MB/CPU and drives in order to provide stable and clean current to noise-sensitive devices, such as: CPU, add-on cards. One for the motherboard, one for other stuff, apparently. Not sure 100% how it works, but I guess molex connectors have one supply, and the main connector to the mobo has another connection)

Also they are supposed to be good for efficiency, and the PSU has 2 fans, and more than 30A on both the 3.3v and 5v lines.

But your links were what I was looking for (what draws the power, and where it's drawn from).
I'm going to read around this 12v dual rail thing, and probably order tomorrow if it seems OK

 

[Goi]

You can't go wrong with Enermax.

 

[sao123]

Loyno... the /.7 *.9 is the efficiency(70%) + number of devices in use at moderate to heavy load(90%) in use at one time calculation.