how much wattage do i actually need? (psu related)

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Boz

Boz

Boz

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the psu on my machine (antec 550w true power) is on its last legs so i need to get a new one. ill also be upgrading my rig in the next few months, so i want one that i will be able to use there too.

my current machine is a a64 3700+, 7800gt, 4 hard drives, 2 sound cards and i plan to upgrade to something like an intel e8400, 8800 gt/gts, 4ish hard drives, 2 sound cards and possibly go sli in the future.

i'm currently looking at getting a seasonic m12 700w as its had some pretty decent reviews and doesnt cost the earth but i'm not actually sure ill need that much wattage, both now and in future. my only real criteria for a new psu is that it is modular, so i can keep unwanted wiring to a minimum.

what would psus would you guys recommend and do you think i should be looking at ~700W ones, or more/less powerful ones?

thanks
 
A 300w PSU with near 300W @ 12v would power your current setup.

If you were to go SLI with 8800's you'd probably want a little more so a 500W PSU would be fine

Corsiar HX 520, HX620 if you feel flush though is an overkill for a couple of 8800's
 
decto said:
A 300w PSU with near 300W @ 12v would power your current setup.

If you were to go SLI with 8800's you'd probably want a little more so a 500W PSU would be fine

Corsiar HX 520, HX620 if you feel flush though is an overkill for a couple of 8800's
Click to expand...

err, no.

i reccommend (as does nVidia) a 500W PSU for one 8800, and 700W+ for SLI'd 8800's
 
Aod said:
err, no.

i reccommend (as does nVidia) a 500W PSU for one 8800, and 700W+ for SLI'd 8800's
Click to expand...

It depends on the quality of the PSU. Nvidia recommend high wattages because the majority of PSUs you get are crap. Don't forget your average kid on the street won't have a nice HX620 at their disposal.

A decent 500w PSU will power pretty much any of todays PCs with no issues. I can say this as a fact as my Enermax Liberty 500w has powered a A64 @ 3Ghz+ with 2 x 8800 GTS 512MB's just fine :)
 
fine. i wouldn't skimp out on a PSU with only a 500W rating after buying a quad and 8800 and the like, which i didn't. i've got a nice HX620 chugging along for my single GTX

anyway, the PSU is one of the only parts of the computer that you can reuse when everything else is obsolete, unless the ATX spec changes again.

PSU's have the longest lifetime before obsolescense of any PC component.
i have an Akasa 420W ATX.2 unit thats still in use which i bought 5 years ago :)
 
I agree, never scrimp on a PSU.

I'll be updating my Seasonic in the next few weeks, but was impressed that it runs two 8800GT's.

Only other component with a comparable shelflife would be the monitor.
 
From what I have been told on these forums and else where, a 380w Antec Earthwatts PSU will power

E2180 @ 3GHz
4GB OcUK DDR2
1 x Hard Drive
1 x DVD-R
9600GT

So I think people buy overkills for most specs.
 
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