• 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.

Power Supply Recommendation

A

allanon333

Junior Member
Hey all,

I'm currently looking at building the following system and I need a recommendation on what kind of PSU I should buy (after several fried motherboards due to bad PSUs in the early days of PC building I've learned my lesson).

I'm planning on building the following system:

Athlon 64 3000+
ASUS A8N-E (non-SLI)
Gigabyte PC 3200 (Dual Channel)
NVidia 6600GT or ATI X800 PCI Express Card
Creative Labs Audigy
120 gig Western Digital/Maxtor SATA drive
16x NEC DVD-RW
32x CD-RW
3.5 Floppy

*It'll be hooked up to several USB peripherals (Scanner, Printer, Camera, Joystick, Gamepad, Mouse, Keyboard, etc.), though I doubt this would impact it all that much as most of the major peripherals have separate power supplies- just thought I'd list it.


So at this point I don't know if I need 400 Watts, 480, etc. I usually go with Enermax, so if you all could let me know what you'd recommend, I'd much appreciate the help. I'm looking for a PSU that'll meet the systems demands but leave some room for expansion down the road.

Oh and one final note, if anyone has a better Motherboard recommendation I'd love to hear it. I'm looking for non-SLI right now.

Thx
 
To make sure everything will be fine i suggest you get 520W PowerStream, really good psu and strong stable rails.
 
Originally posted by: DfiDude
To make sure everything will be fine i suggest you get 520W PowerStream, really good psu and strong stable rails.
Click to expand...

If he was building an SLI system I might recommend the 520w Powerstream as I agree it is a really good PSu, but for this system it would be a bit of overkill.
 
Originally posted by: DfiDude
To make sure everything will be fine i suggest you get 520W PowerStream, really good psu and strong stable rails.
Click to expand...

I think a 520w Powerstream would be a little overkill, maybe a 450watt modstream? I doubt you'll need more than 450 watts to run that.
 
So, just a quick question then, you do think a 350 watt power supply would be enough and be stable? I've heard that some of the newer vid cards suck a lot of juice; I just don't want to run into stability issues, but I originally thought the 350 watt supply would probably be enough.

Anyone else with different thoughts?

 
wombat, instead of posting all your specs in your sig you could go the main page and shoose "My anandtech" and add your specs in there. Thn you can ut a link to it in your sig. Just a little suggestion so you don't have that huge signature 😉
 
Don't cut corners on the PSU. It will come back and haunt you later. You're planning on installing a high-end graphics card, so don't short change yourself. Cheap PSU or low power PSU = voltage instability = mysterious and annoying lockups and errors that will drive you insane.

You CANNOT spend $30 on a PSU for a serious gaming rig and expect not to have problems. A decent PSU is going to cost you at least $60.

I recommend the Antec 430 watt True Power. It's all I would install in my own rigs. I install Antec True Power 330 PSUs AT A MINIMUM in client's rigs (non-gamers). Enermax has some good PSUs too, but I couldn't quote you a specific model. I swear by Antec. They've never let me down.

I service computers for a living. Tried saving my clients money in the early days and paid for it. Now I only buy the best PSUs and I never have to do a return service call for the PSU again.

This is what I recommend: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0

If you need SATA power connectors you can buy adapters for cheap from them as well, or bump up to the SATA version:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-928&depa=0

or the 380 watt versions:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-907&depa=0

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-927&depa=0

TRUST ME do not buy a cheap PSU. Just do a search on this forum for intermittent lockups and the FIRST thing the techs here ask is "What's your PSU?"

 
Originally posted by: KoolDrew
wombat, instead of posting all your specs in your sig you could go the main page and shoose "My anandtech" and add your specs in there. Thn you can ut a link to it in your sig. Just a little suggestion so you don't have that huge signature 😉
Click to expand...

Done, all because of you.
 
You CANNOT spend $30 on a PSU for a serious gaming rig and expect not to have problems
Click to expand...

The majority of the time cheap PSU's are garbage, but have you even ever heard of Super-Flower? They do make some quality PSU's and for that price it is definitely a good buy. I still would recommend getting an Antec case w/ PSU though as they are not expensive and the PSU's are nice.

Done, all because of you.
Click to expand...

Now make it so it says "My rig" as the full URL is ugly...lol

The URL is wrong too
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30378
 
Originally posted by: KoolDrew
You CANNOT spend $30 on a PSU for a serious gaming rig and expect not to have problems
Click to expand...

The majority of the time cheap PSU's are garbage, but have you even ever heard of Super-Flower? They do make some quality PSU's and for that price it is definitely a good buy. I still would recommend getting an Antec case w/ PSU though as they are not expensive and the PSU's are nice.

Done, all because of you.
Click to expand...

Now make it so it says "My rig" as the full URL is ugly...lol

The URL is wrong too
http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30378
Click to expand...

There's no making you happy, is there?
 
Fixed, live up to your expectations?

Back on topic: I wouldn't get an Antec case with an integrated PSU right now as they don't have 24 pin ATX connectors. Maybe we'll see new power supplies in the Sonata 2.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top