What kind of power supply is required for Dual CPU and TBird setup?

[Jimbd]

What kind of power supply is required for Dual CPU and TBird setup?

I'm looking at Dual PIII 700's on a VP6 board. Dual monitors, 45GB IBM 75GXP, DVD, CD-Writer, modem, etc.

R there any min amp ratings for +3V, +5V, +12V and combined power rating in watts?

What about new TBirds?

 

[SaturnX]

Personally, I go by the rule that 300W is minimum for running a new system these days... it runs a TBird fine... and for a dual setup.. I would say 350W+ to be on the safe side.

--Mark

 

[enginjon]

I wouldn't buy anything less than a quality 300 W for dual cpu's. I'd be safe and look for a 400. For a tbird setup, there are some quality 250W that are better than generic 300W. I would suggest getting a quality 300 though. you can check the recommended PS's for amd here

 

[HaVoC]

Just make sure you get an AMD approved power supply. The power hungry T-bird setup will stress a power supply the most and you know and AMD approved supply can handle the Intel processors just as easily since they consume less power. Also, while you may decide dual Intel now, later on you can go AMD without getting a new power supply.

BTW, a dual PIII-700 setup will be BEATEN by a 1.0Ghz+ T-bird in most everyday applications. Only Photoshop and other MP optimized software will see any advantage from dual PIIIs.

Unless you are dead-set on getting a Dual setup I'd go single T-bird for now. Later when the AMD dual chipset arrives you can just buy another T-bird at the same speed and get a new mobo, though it will be pricey.

 

[MichaelD]

Everything that's been said so far is right on the money as far as current, i.e. single Duron/Athlon setups are concerned. It's my opinion, and I'm applying my own advice to my own situation (does that make sense? ) that we should wait and see what AMD says the recommended power supply for a dual-Athlon/Duron should be. After all, who would know better than the manufacturer themselves?

Why do you think they made such a big fuss about PS requirements for the Athlon/Duron when they first hit the market? Because they had very specific power requirements, that's why. I mean, probably a 350 or 400 watt PS would be enough for a dual setup, but who knows? The chipset required to support them (after all, AMD CPU's rock the house!) might themselves requre a lot of juice. I'd wait to see what guidance AMD puts out.

But in the end, this whole discussion is theoretical because dual-AMD boards are definitley in the pipeline, but I doubt we'll see them until 2002. Just my opinion. Have a nice weekend.

 

[JohnnyTT]

400+ is recommended for dual Proc. You can probably pull it off with 300, but it's not worth possibly starving your system to save $15.