What to get???

[Warrior Legolas]

I?m building a new computer within the next few weeks but I still haven?t picked out a power supply or a case?I was just wondering what you would recommend.

Case $80
Power Supply $80

Motherboard: ASUS A8N-SLI
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Winchester
Memory: Corsair Value Select 1GB DDR PC-3200
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracude 7200.8 SATA 250GB
Optical Drive: NEC ND-3520A
Floppy Drive : Mitsumi 7-in-1 Media Drive
PC Case: ?
Power Supply: ?
Video Card: PowerColor ATI Radeon X800 XL
Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS
TV Tuner: Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-500MCE

Regards
lilvip

 

[John]

CAses are subjective because people buy what they find "attractive and functional". With that said, and your budget in mind, I'd get the Antec Sonata since the 380w True Power will be more than adequate for your new rig.

 

[Silversierra]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-101-509&depa=0

 

[Silversierra]

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-190-042&depa=1
Toss the psu in this case and use the one I listed above. The case is cheap, nice looking, and has nice features.

 

[kd2777]

You'll have to pick out the case. Because you are the one that has to live with it. As for the PSU I like the Fortron 400 watt. Link. I have the 500 watt and I really like it, it is a little more than your budget but you may want to take a look, Link to Blue storm 500.

What you need to keep in mind, is that your motherboard requires a 24 pin main power source, and the two PSUs mentioned above only have a 20 pin. I have the ASUS SLI, so I know about trying to find the right PSU. The TRU380 and 430 where great PSUs, but they just haven't adapted to the newer power standards. If you want to go with Antec, and I like Antec, you need to look at the NeoPOWER480. It is a GREAT PSU, but it cost right at 130 bucks!

As for the case, you will have to decide on your own. I like Al (aluminum) cases, but they cost a little more. A slide out motherboard tray is a must for me, because I upgrade and tinker in my case a lot. I also like at least 4 5.25 drives. So what I'm getting at is make you up a list of what you want. Whether it is a side window, Al material, 6 HDD openings, Blue Leds, or what ever; then find a case that does all the things you want.

kd

 

[John]

Originally posted by: kd2777What you need to keep in mind, is that your motherboard requires a 24 pin main power source, and the two PSUs mentioned above only have a 20 pin.

Requires? No. Pick up a nice 20-pin power supply with ~20A+ on the +12v rail and you'll be fine. Even though the Antec TP 380 in the Sonata only has 18A it will power the A8N-SLI & the 800XL just fine.

However if you want a little more juice step up to the Fortron 530w or Tagan 480w.

 

[kd2777]

John I don't mean to argue with you, but the ASUS-SLI has a 24 pin connector on the motherboard not the usual 20 pin. From page xiii of the preface of the ASUS-SLI Deluxe manual:

?Power Requirement: ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4 pin 12 v plugs)

ATX 12 v 2,0 compliant?

SO this is saying if you want to use the older ATX PSU it has to have a 24 pin connector and a 4 pin 12 v plug. Or you could use the new ATX 12v 2.0 PSUs, like the Fortron 400 and 500 watt PSU.

John if you can physically plug a 20 pin connector in a 24 pin spot and you already had an older PSU then ?. Maybe. But since he has to buy a PSU anyway, don?t you think he should use the PSU type that ASUS recommends?

kd

 

[Reiniku]

i'm curious as to why you're getting an sli board when using a x800xl

 

[Reiniku]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: kd2777What you need to keep in mind, is that your motherboard requires a 24 pin main power source, and the two PSUs mentioned above only have a 20 pin.

Requires? No. Pick up a nice 20-pin power supply with ~20A+ on the +12v rail and you'll be fine. Even though the Antec TP 380 in the Sonata only has 18A it will power the A8N-SLI & the 800XL just fine.

However if you want a little more juice step up to the Fortron 530w or Tagan 480w.

actually, the antec 380w has 24a on the 12v rail (for a while now actually)

 

[John]

Originally posted by: kd2777
John I don't mean to argue with you, but the ASUS-SLI has a 24 pin connector on the motherboard not the usual 20 pin. From page xiii of the preface of the ASUS-SLI Deluxe manual:

?Power Requirement: ATX power supply (with 24-pin and 4 pin 12 v plugs)

ATX 12 v 2,0 compliant?

Most NF4 boards have the 24-pin ATX connector, but you do_not need to have a 24-pin plug on the power supply, nor do you need to use a 20 to 24-pin converter if you have enough amps on the +12v rail and a quality power supply.

John if you can physically plug a 20 pin connector in a 24 pin spot and you already had an older PSU then ?. Maybe.

There's no maybe about it, they fit just fine. Please read this: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1478987&enterthread=y

actually, the antec 380w has 24a on the 12v rail (for a while now actually)

Weird, the Newegg pic shows the psu label and it says +12v @ 18A, but the Antec specs say *24A Max.

 

[kd2777]

Yes I have read that before, it can work, but if you had to buy a PSU why would you buy one other than a ver 2.0? If he had an old unit and wanted to know if he had to buy a new one I would say no, but he IS buying a new one. In his or my situation I can't see buying a PSU with 20pins.

I read this thread before I bought mine. There are many places in there where it says, "it will usually work, the newer boards are usually compatible." Then it goes on to say, iirc, that the 4 extra pins are for the PCIe bus, and that MOST cards don't need the extra power through the bus because they are externally powered. With all these "most of the times" and "usually" why not just get one that will work all the time? Not to mention that the x800 XLs "usually" don't have an external power source (according to anandtechs article on them).

I'm not saying it won't work, I just feel that if he is going to buy a PSU for an ASUS SLI board he needs to buy one that is ATX 2.0 compatible.

John I agree with nearly 100 percent of the things you post on here and I respect everything you post. Hell when I started 3 or 4 years ago you practically built my first couple of computers, but I don't agree with you on this one. However when it comes down to it, it is the OPs decision. I was faced with this choice about a month ago and I picked the ver 2.0.

kd

 

[ts3433]

I second John's recommendation. The 20-pin is fine, even if you're buying it now (I don't see any significant reasons supporting kd2777's argument that buying a PSU specifically for a 24-pin main connector is "better" than buying a 20-pin one right now, since 20-pin units are fine). However, you could probably get an even nicer case (and nicer PSU, though the True380S is fine) if you spent all the money you've allocated.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: kd2777
Yes I have read that before, it can work, but if you had to buy a PSU why would you buy one other than a ver 2.0? If he had an old unit and wanted to know if he had to buy a new one I would say no, but he IS buying a new one. In his or my situation I can't see buying a PSU with 20pins.

Why not? There are dozens of great 20-pin psu's.

I read this thread before I bought mine. There are many places in there where it says, "it will usually work, the newer boards are usually compatible." Then it goes on to say, iirc, that the 4 extra pins are for the PCIe bus, and that MOST cards don't need the extra power through the bus because they are externally powered. With all these "most of the times" and "usually" why not just get one that will work all the time? Not to mention that the x800 XLs "usually" don't have an external power source (according to anandtechs article on them).

No problem. Asus has the EZ Plug. "The EZ Plug is a direct power supply tailored to satisfy the high power demand of dual PCI Express graphics card operation, and the EZ Switch offers easy access, insertion and removal of the SLI selector card with an exclusive socket design." read more here

I'm not saying it won't work, I just feel that if he is going to buy a PSU for an ASUS SLI board he needs to buy one that is ATX 2.0 compatible.

I guess we both have our opinions, and both of our suggestions are adequate.

John I agree with nearly 100 percent of the things you post on here and I respect everything you post. Hell when I started 3 or 4 years ago you practically built my first couple of computers, but I don't agree with you on this one. However when it comes down to it, it is the OPs decision. I was faced with this choice about a month ago and I picked the ver 2.0.

Thanks for the kind words, and I am sorry to see that you disagree with me on this particular issue. However I am tired of seeing misinformation spread throughout the forums in regards to "what works and what doesn't" especially when there is more than one way to accomplish something without sacrificing performance, stability, and reliability.

kd
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[Blain]

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