Use same PSU or Buying a new one?

Necc

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
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Hey there!

Three weeks ago I assembled a PC using second hand parts for my gaming needs, iwas on a budget. I bought an Antec Earthwatts EA-430D second hand, The PC is running fine with Zero problems, the thing is that I have zero idea how much this psu had been used (Igot it cheap) and I'm afraid it might crap out and take something with it.

So do you suggest that I buy a brand new one ( iwas looking at the XFX pro 550W) or should I just stop worring and be happy?

Parts are:

Intel Core i5-2500 3.3Ghz
Cooler Master Hyper 212+
Asus P8H61-M LX3 Plus Rev.03
1Dimm 4GB kingston HyperX 1600Mhz
Samsung 320GB HDD 7200rpm
No optical Drive
1x 80mm Fan
Zotac GTX 460 768MB

Thanks for your help.
 
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Trinth

Junior Member
Jan 7, 2013
12
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You are plenty fine with that PSU. I would, however, look into another stick of memory; Main reason being you're not using dual channel, which is somewhat of a big thing for how little it would cost you. If it does actually ever die, there's no reason for it to take anything with it, it will just stop working unless something is wrong with the PSU in the first place.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
GTX 460 requires two PCIe connectors and EA430D has only one, so you will have to use a molex to PCIe adapter. It's a dual rail unit which makes using such adapters a bit riskier. Devices that use peripheral/molex connectors typically consume only a few watts, whereas the a PCIe connector can draw as much as 75W. The unit has 16A and 17A (192W and 204W, respectively) on each rail, on paper it should be enough to handle the load
 
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Necc

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
232
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Thanks a lot guys, Iwill be sticking with the antec Earthwatts and picking up a second stick of ram for dual channel.

@lehtv : Do you suggest that I sell my GTX 460 and pick up a GPU that requires 1 PCI-e connector? (ie. HD7850 or GTX 660 (non ti) )

Thanks for your input.
 

lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
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Necc said:
@lehtv : Do you suggest that I sell my GTX 460 and pick up a GPU that requires 1 PCI-e connector? (ie. HD7850 or GTX 660 (non ti) )

Actually if you can afford it that's a good idea. You should be able to get almost half the cost of a new card by selling the 460. The 7850 2GB is great bang for buck and a good overclocker. At stock the 7850 is 50% faster, with OC it will pull ahead even more.

What resolution is your monitor btw? And where are you located?
 

Necc

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
232
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Actually if you can afford it that's a good idea. You should be able to get almost half the cost of a new card by selling the 460. The 7850 2GB is great bang for buck and a good overclocker. At stock the 7850 is 50% faster, with OC it will pull ahead even more.

What resolution is your monitor btw? And where are you located?

1920x1080 (Benq 2420HD 1080p monitor) I live in Hungary, prices are high in europe.

The Sapphire HD7850 1GB version goes around 209$, 2GB model for 227$

But on the plus side Ican resell my GTX 460 for 105$ (Funny but True).

Ican afford the HD7850 2GB model, should Igo for it?
 

Necc

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
232
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Thought i make an update, I've sold my GTX 460 and replaced it with a GTX 660 non ti because it requires only 1 PCI-e connector.

But im still having second thoughts about the Antec Earthwatts EA-430D (manly because ihave no idea how much it was used)

So I've been doing some research and found 3 PSU that ican afford.

- XFX core 550W 68$ (Jonnyguru gave this unit a 9/10 but what worries me that he mentions some wonky 12V regulations)

- Seasonic S12II 520W 86$ (Jonny gave this unit a 9.7/10 which is pretty decent, but my problem with this unit that it uses 3 year old psu tech, i.e 2x 12V rails etc)

- Corsair TX650V2/TX750V2 110$/115$ (newer Seasonic guts jonny gave it a 9.5)

System:

Intel Core i5-2500 3.3Ghz
Cooler Master Hyper 212+
Asus P8H61-M LX3 Plus Rev.03
1Dimm 4GB kingston HyperX 1600Mhz
Samsung 320GB HDD 7200rpm
No optical Drive
1x 80mm Fan
Asus GTX 660 Direct CU 2 2GB

So to you PSU gurus what do you recommand?

Thanks :)
 
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lehtv

Elite Member
Dec 8, 2010
11,897
74
91
You will be fine with the EA-430D. Expect around 250W max load, less most of the time.

7850 2GB would've been 1x6pin as well but the GTX 660 is a nice card. It's as fast as 7870.
 

Necc

Senior member
Feb 15, 2011
232
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0
You will be fine with the EA-430D. Expect around 250W max load, less most of the time.

7850 2GB would've been 1x6pin as well but the GTX 660 is a nice card. It's as fast as 7870.

It was a little more expensive then the 7850 but it's factory overclocked ( 980Mhz Core (with boost 1033Mhz), 1502Mhz memory clock) still requires 1x6pin, so keeping the Antec then?
 
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