PSU and Cooling - opinion pls

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seethoe

Member
Jan 2, 2005
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Hi! I'm a complete newb, as some would know by my posting, ok here's my plan:

AMD Athlon64 3200+
MSI Neo2 Platinum, socket 939
Nvidia GeForce 6600GT, AGP
Mastor 80G SATA
Corsair PC3200 DDR, 512MB x 2units

I'm thinking of buying the Cooler Master Centurion 5, it comes with a 350W PSU. Is this PSU sufficient for moderate OC? Some say at least 420W... so should i change the PSU?

Also, does the heatsink/fan that comes with the CPU good enough for moderate OC? if yes, how much OC can i do?
 
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cyberknight

Senior member
Sep 3, 2004
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with the stock HSF, you can probably get a modest 210-220 on your HTT.

It has become harder and harder to find a good case that comes with a good PSU. The Antec Sonata comes with 380W and has the Antec name behind it. airflow isn't that great in the case though, but it should be powerful enough to handle your system. The Antec 1080 comes with a 430W PSU, which is definitely enough. the case itself is quite huge though.
 
beatle

beatle

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2001
5,661
5
81
You should be fine with the 350. I've run more than that on an Antec 330.
 
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CheesePoofs

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2004
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You should be overclock as much or almost as much with the stock heatsink as you would be able to with a high quality one, Athlon 64's don't run hot. Duvie was running his Athlon 64 3000 at 2.6 i believe for a while on the stock HSF, and it was perfectly stable.

I would strongly recomend getting a new powersupply for that case, especially if you want to overclock. Its not wattage that matters, its the amps on the 12v rail. Most low end powersupplies have low amps on the 12v rail, and the one with the centurion 5 does too. It only has 16 amps on that rail. I'd recomend 20 as a minimum, 24 or more to be safe. Also, buy getting a name brand power supply you will be able to reach higher overclocks. I'd recomend either an antec or an OCZ unit, 400w or up would be best.
 
BonzaiDuck

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,622
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In some other posts, I noted that I had two "generic" PSUs which went "bad". I forgot to mention that these PSUs came with new cases.

If I were planning to buy a new case -- knowing that I would over-clock my system -- I would buy it without the PSU, and choose another one based on the higher 12V rail amperage and other features.
 
Spike

Spike

Diamond Member
Aug 27, 2001
6,770
1
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Originally posted by: kamranziadar
i would recommend buying these cases with powersupply will save you some money
http://www.amamax.com/bestseller-cases.html
Click to expand...

I would not reccomend a single one of those cases as they all use "generic" PSU's. Any case+PSU for under $100 is suspicous in my opinion, especially those that cost $30 and come with a "550 Watt" psu. Listen to Bonzai, buy a case without a PSU and choose your own or get a case that comes with a good PSU, like the Antec Sonata

-spike
 
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CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
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Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck
In some other posts, I noted that I had two "generic" PSUs which went "bad". I forgot to mention that these PSUs came with new cases.

If I were planning to buy a new case -- knowing that I would over-clock my system -- I would buy it without the PSU, and choose another one based on the higher 12V rail amperage and other features.
Click to expand...

Yep, I never buy the case with the PSU, Unless I know the power supply is good. (like the one in the Sonata)
 
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Insomniak

Banned
Sep 11, 2003
4,836
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Originally posted by: cyberknight
with the stock HSF, you can probably get a modest 210-220 on your HTT.

It has become harder and harder to find a good case that comes with a good PSU. The Antec Sonata comes with 380W and has the Antec name behind it. airflow isn't that great in the case though, but it should be powerful enough to handle your system. The Antec 1080 comes with a 430W PSU, which is definitely enough. the case itself is quite huge though.
Click to expand...



Haven't done much work with .09 A64s have you? He could hit 2.4ghz on that easily, a FSB of 240 or so. Hell, my A64 3000+ is running at 245x9 right now, giving me 2.2, and I could probably take it up a good bit higher if I had the mind to.
 
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rforum

Member
Oct 26, 2004
128
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76
Originally posted by: Operandi
There is no reason to get a different PSU, 350watts is plenty for your config.
Click to expand...

Nonsense to make a blanket statement like that. I purchased a Nexus PSU @350W (a respected brand) with 18A on the +12V rail and it could power my athlon64 for about 1/2 second and it would immediately shut off. Replaced it with an Antec having 26A on the +12V rail and 430W and it now works fine.
 
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Operandi

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,508
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Originally posted by: rforum
Originally posted by: Operandi
There is no reason to get a different PSU, 350watts is plenty for your config.
Click to expand...

Nonsense to make a blanket statement like that. I purchased a Nexus PSU @350W (a respected brand) with 18A on the +12V rail and it could power my athlon64 for about 1/2 second and it would immediately shut off. Replaced it with an Antec having 26A on the +12V rail and 430W and it now works fine.
Click to expand...

Guess what? 18A is on the 12v rail is good for 216 watts of power, just for that rail alone. Most systems won't draw that much power total. The Nexus you had was defective, it had nothing to with it only have 18A's for the 12v rail.

For his system a 350 watt PSU will be plenty.
 
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rforum

Member
Oct 26, 2004
128
0
76
Operandi, you just keep dishing out nonsense don't you! Hop on over to the MSI forum and see how important plenty of juice on the +12V rail is for AMD64's and MSI boards. My Nexus was not defective (how in the world would you know?) but underpowered.
 
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Operandi

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,508
0
0
Originally posted by: rforum
Operandi, you just keep dishing out nonsense don't you! Hop on over to the MSI forum and see how important plenty of juice on the +12V rail is for AMD64's and MSI boards. My Nexus was not defective (how in the world would you know?) but underpowered.
Click to expand...

I'm telling you facts most systems don't break 200 watts total, his system defiantly won't. I don't know what?s in your system but for the OP 350 watts is fine, as it is most systems.
 
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drpootums

Golden Member
Oct 22, 2004
1,315
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0
i agree with Operandi, that 350 should be enough for a while, but i recommend upgrading to a OCZ, Antec, or Fortron PSU when you get the chance.
 
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seethoe

Member
Jan 2, 2005
95
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0
rforum: thanks for the link. I just saw Enermax 460W, is it a reputable brand? Over here, the range is quite limited...
 
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seethoe

Member
Jan 2, 2005
95
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0
ok. i've shorlisted 2 PSU that is available here.

1. Enermax ATX12V v1.3 EG465 460W. The +5V, +3.3V and +12V rail is rated max 35A.
2. Antec True480 480W. The +5V is rate max 38A, +3.3V is 30A and the +12V rail is rated max 28A.

I think both has dual fan.

Which is the better? Opinion pls, i'm a complete newb.

p/s - i think i'll repost this as a new topic...
 
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