PSU Power - How much is enough?

Soldato
Joined
25 Oct 2007
Posts
6,911
Location
Los Angeles
Hi Guys,

I recently moved from NZ and unfortunately had to leave my old rig behind. My new proposed build =

  • Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Q6600 G0 SLACR
  • Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Dual Channel
  • Asus P5K Premium/WiFi-AP
  • Mountain Mods U2-UFO - Brushed Ali PA120.3 Model
  • OcUK GeForce 8800 GT 256MB
  • Western Digital Raptor 74GB S150 16MB 10000RPM
  • Corsair Memory 550W VX PSU
  • Tuniq Tower 120

I plan to kit out the UFO with all available fan slots for the mean time before I fit it out as a watercooled rig. So we are looking at 7 case fans + a Tuniq Tower etc etc.

Eventually, I want to put in a Thermalchill 120.3 rad and a half decent pump so my new power supply will need to fulfil those requirements.I also have 3 disparately sized portable harddrives that i would prefer to integrate at some point in conjunction with the existing raid setup .

The reason why I’m asking this is because I see allot of variation in people builds. Some people go for the ridiculous 1000w + builds while others are more conservative.

Can anyone suggest a cost-effective solution for the above 

Thanks in advance

beh
 
The corsair PSU you have chosen is just fine.

I don't think anyone needs more than a 500-600 watt supply these days...remember, with die shrinks components are just getting more and more efficient.
 
Thanks guys. Why do people insist on buying massive PSU's and what’s the selling point from a manufacturers POW ?

beh
 
Many people just think they need a larger PSU, or that bigger is always better....others just like a bit of headroom (I run a 750w)....
 
Thanks guys. Why do people insist on buying massive PSU's and what’s the selling point from a manufacturers POW ?

beh

I think a lot of peeps are still stuck in the 'bigger is better' mindset tbh, and the fact that big-power psu's will give them a lot more headroom.

Top rig here with a 430w Antec psu :D
 
Yeah that one is fine. The higher wattage ones are only needed if you run two high end graphics cards with lots of HDs etc.
 
i ran this gear:

e6600 @3.2ghz
2ghz ddrII
8800gtx @ stock
7300gt
xfi gamer
two 18x dvd writers
360 hd-dvd drive
two 500gb hdd's, one 250gb
imon ultrabay vfd
all-in-one card reader
corsair HX 620w psu
7x 120mm fans

....it topped out at 384w draw running superPI and 3dmark at the same time, and that included the draw from a 22" dell TFT and my router/modem (power meter was between the wall socket and the power strip that the gear was connected to.
 
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