Power supply for this build

[CDC Mail Guy]

Looking for Power Supply advise for this build. 500W overkill?

AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103846

GIGABYTE GA-880GM-D2H AM3 AMD 880G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128458

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231275

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Internet and music

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
Under $500 USD

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc.
NOT a "fanboy" of any sort at all.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
possibly the optical drive and card reader (if it's not "built into" his current Dell, and is removable)


6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
honestly...not really

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
No OC needed....MIGHT unlock the extra cores available on CPU if any.

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
Does not apply, he is not a gamer

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
Within the next month or so

10. Don't ask for a build configuration critique or rating if you are thin skinned.
Fire away



Okay...I am not 100% SET on the parts above if someone comes up with better/cheaper suggestion for MB/CPU/RAM, but I will say that even with the parts not listed (DVD drive, thermal paste, case etc....) it is $468.25 (including S & H and tax)

Mainly need to know if the chosen 500W power supply is overkill on this build, or if I can get away with like 350W. The ones I am "looking" at are below:

Antec EarthWatts EA-500D Green 500W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply (THIS one is already configured into my Newegg cart)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371035

 

[oynaz]

350W is plenty. Get the most efficient 300-500W PSU you can find - that will be cheapest in the long run.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

350W is plenty. Get the most efficient 300-500W PSU you can find - that will be cheapest in the long run.

Oddly enough, the best rated power supply that has 20 + 4 pin for the chosen motherboard is SPARKLE ATX-350PN-B204 350W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103012

It has a 120mm fan, so it should be (semi)quiet as well Thank you onyaz

 

[Meghan54]

Oddly enough, the best rated power supply that has 20 + 4 pin for the chosen motherboard is SPARKLE ATX-350PN-B204 350W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103012

It has a 120mm fan, so it should be (semi)quiet as well Thank you onyaz

I wouldn't touch that power supply you've listed with a 20 ft. pole. No PFC (evident by the ps having a voltage selector switch on the rear), so it's a way old design internally.


I'd more look to something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151077

Seasonic built, APFC, Bronze certified.....much more capable and modern power supply than that POS Sparkle thing.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

I wouldn't touch that power supply you've listed with a 20 ft. pole. No PFC (evident by the ps having a voltage selector switch on the rear), so it's a way old design internally.


I'd more look to something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151077

Seasonic built, APFC, Bronze certified.....much more capable and modern power supply than that POS Sparkle thing.

Not to sound like a total smart***, I was just going on the Best Rating from NE (35/43 with 5 star rating) and the fact that I have used this in builds in the past with no problems so far.

However, I will take a look at the SeaSonic now that I have seen it, thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Zap]

I don't see a graphics card in your list of parts. If the system is just using integrated graphics, then it will probably load at under 150W, so any small wattage PSU should work. Note that "small wattage" doesn't mean "crappy." Always choose a non-crappy PSU. Also note that "non-crappy" doesn't necessarily mean "super duper expensive gold platinum 3D gamer modular with lights." It just means that the PSU puts out what it claims to on the label without blowing up or going out of spec.

BTW, for another half hour (ends at 1PM PST today 5/12) you can get the Antec NEO ECO 400C for $25 at Newegg with free shipping and no need for rebates. It is built by SeaSonic and is a VERY good value for the price. Translation: If you need something around that wattage, BUY MOAR NOW!

Not to sound like a total smart***, I was just going on the Best Rating from NE (35/43 with 5 star rating) and the fact that I have used this in builds in the past with no problems so far.

I will sound like a total smartass and say that if you know anything about computers, you should know that hardware needs change.

For instance I would not use the best PSU in the world from 10 years ago if it were time warped to me in pristine fresh-off-the-factory-floor condition. The reason is that PSU technology, standards and even connectors have changed over the years.

My point is that you shouldn't assume that what you knew several years ago is still 100% true today.

For instance there are still people who believe that AMD CPUs are the best in performance... because they formed their opinions about it back when socket 939 was king. There are also those who believe that AMD GPUs suck... because they formed their opinions about it back in the early days before regular Catalyst driver updates, when ATI drivers did indeed suck.

This doesn't just affect technology, but is true in many other fields as well. Someone in the Garage forum here was telling us about some guy years ago that "upgraded" his Camaro by taking out the "crappy" fuel injectors and putting in the best 4-barrel carburetors that money can buy.

People in the medical field, for instance, need to do CE (continuing education) because things are always changing in that field as well. Years ago I took a CPR class. Know what? What I learned back then is now considered to NOT be the best way to save a life. I learned about doing X number of chest compressions and Y number of breathes (AKA the mouth-to-mouth part). These days the best method is to pretty much do continuous chest compressions sans the mouth-to-mouth. I believe it has been shown to be something like 3x better in survival rate than the old method.

Anyways, my point is that if you are still reading by now, and reading this within the next 20 minutes, run over to Newegg and buy this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371029

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

Sold out

You are correct Zap...what a totally appropriate name to be answering a power supply question by the way there is and will be no graphics card as he is not a gamer, and will be using onboard. IF he decides he wants one, I might put an inexpensive one that has no power connections to it, but that is very doubtful at this point.

as far as the rest of your post, I am humbled by your perfectly made points IF it was MY build for ME and if I had the money, I would go high end and modular, but it isn't. an added note though, the last build I used the Sparkle in was like 2 months ago...just in slight defense...but overall I am humbled, and thank you

 

[mfenn]

I wouldn't touch that power supply you've listed with a 20 ft. pole. No PFC (evident by the ps having a voltage selector switch on the rear), so it's a way old design internally.


I'd more look to something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151077

Seasonic built, APFC, Bronze certified.....much more capable and modern power supply than that POS Sparkle thing.

:thumbsup: That's a pretty decent price for a no-frills, quality PSU IMHO.

 

[CDC Mail Guy]

:thumbsup: That's a pretty decent price for a no-frills, quality PSU IMHO.

I agree, it is purchased Thank you for the help everyone.