• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Now Computer PSU?

F

Falcon2k

Member
Im planning on getting a new system in a week or two and other component's ive asked around for and ive come up with a final system spec. The thing im really worried about is the PSU. Some storekeepers tell me i need a 400W, some say a 350W is fine. What PSU do i really need?

Intel 865PERLL Motherboard
Intel 2.4GC Processor
Samsung 256mb DDR400 Ram x2
Grandmars Radeon 9800np Video Card
Samsung 52x Combo Drive (DVD, CDRW, CD Rom)
Western Digital 120G Hard Drive (from old comp)
Sony 48x CD Rom (from old comp)

Any comments on this system? Such as incompatabilities, known problems? Also, on the motherboard, im tossing up between this Intel 865PERLL and the Asus 865PE. I hear that Intel boards are more stable while Asus boards are better for OC. Which should i use?

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Also, which RAM is better? Kingston or Samsung? The Kingston is about HK$40 more expensive so what does it have to warrent the price?
 
Your best bet is a Fortron 350w. The extra wattage stuff comes a time [not too] long ago, when Athlons needed better quality power, and only the strongest of supplies could provide it. Now your typical 300w will do fine, but it never hurts to go above what you really need.

Kingston more than Samsung?!
If you're comparing it to HyperX, that sounds right, but if ValueRAM, I doubt it can be higher than real Samsung (not just memory w/ Samsung chips).
Samsung Original vs. Kingston ValueRAM: Samsung
Samsung Original vs. Kingston HyperX: Kingston

Also, you'll be much better off for gaming to get a slightly slower video card and putting that money towards 2x 512MB instead of 2x 256.

Overclocking: non-Intel. Period.
Several mobos will be faster than Intel's, but usually that is due to stock overlocking (No one will notice if it's 210MHz instead of 200, right...?). Intel boards are generally not made for OCing.
 
oic, thx man so ill get a slightly better quality 350W PSU with an Intel board. Im not really into O/C cuz it's kinda way too technical for me...

But does an Intel board make a system more stable than an Asus?

Also, this rig will cost me roughly HK$6,816.00, which is roughly US$873.85 is that about right?

Intel 865PERLL Motherboard HK$940 -----> US$120.51
Intel 2.4GC Processor HK$1,335 -----> US$171.15
Samsung 256mb DDR400 Ram x2 HK$736 -----> US$94.36 (US$47.18 each, are they real samsungs?)
Grandmars Radeon 9800np Video Card HK$2,100 -----> US$269.23
Samsung 52x Combo Drive (DVD, CDRW, CD Rom) HK$580 -----> US$74.36
Western Digital 120G Hard Drive (from old comp)
Sony 48x CD Rom (from old comp)

Dunno about the RAM, ill do some more research this weekend at the computer shopping centers on it. Thanks for the help anyway.

In the beginning, i was tossing up between a Geforce FX5800 and a Radeon 9700Pro, the 9700pro came out on top, then i realized it was being sold for HK$2,400 while the 9800np was being sold for HK$2,100 but from the same manufactuer, Grandmars. ppl on the forums told me the 9800np had about the same or better performance to the 9700pro. From guides i read around, the 9800np had the same structure as the 9800pro, but lower clock speeds (top of the market i believe) so O/Cing the 9800np could make it a 9800pro unclocked.

I want something future proof and i figured that i could relatively easily upgrade my RAM (by adding more 256 or a 516) while it would be alot harder to upgrade my video card. But, i have some old 128mb SD RAM sticks i have in my old computer (one im using now), do you think i can add 2 of them into the 2 spare ramslots to make it 772mb memory? Or is my Motherboard/DDR400 memory sticks uncompatable?
 
Originally posted by: Falcon2k
oic, thx man so ill get a slightly better quality 350W PSU with an Intel board. Im not really into O/C cuz it's kinda way too technical for me...
Click to expand...
Technical? You go into the BIOS, where the FSB should be at 200MHz (x4 =800MHz), and start rasing it, using some stress testing programs (like SETI or Prime95) every few MHz that you raise it, until your CPU, mobo or memory don't like it (and give errors) or until you're comfy with the speed. It is quite common to make it to 250MHz (x4 = 1GHz FSB) with the 865 and 875 boards. Not to mention making it that extra 25% on stock cooling.
But does an Intel board make a system more stable than an Asus?
Click to expand...
Not really. Mobos in general have gotten far better in the last few years. With the stricter requirements for P4 and Athlon operation, even cheap motherboards have come lightyears in terms of stability. Some are still flaky, but even in the $40-$60 range most are rock solid. However, if stability, compatability and longevity are absolutely cruicial, like in many servers, Intel is your one and only choice. However, if a typical PC mobo makes it five years it is ready to be thrown in the trash anyway (or used to a firewall or similar).
Also, this rig will cost me roughly HK$6,816.00, which is roughly US$873.85 is that about right?
Click to expand...
Sounds close enough to me.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top