Do i need a bigger PSU?

realscot · 26 Mar 2008 at 11:20

I've been having a few BSOD's since I installed my 8800GTX and vista says its something related to the graphics card that causes it.
I have a 500w enermax psu, and it has to power...
E6400 @ 1.45V - 3.5Ghz / DS3 mobo / 4 sticks of Corsair ram
The 8800GTX / X-Fi Fatality / Titan amada with its tec / 3x 120mm fans, err 5 hdd's (4x250gb + 1x 500) dvd writer... errr USB devices are G7/G15.

Dunno how that all works out power usage wise.. the GTX is running at stock at the moment but i run the fan on 100% when gaming.
If someone who knows about this kind of stuff could let me know if a bigger psu would be worth it and perhaps a recommendation that'd be nice. I do intend going up to a new 45 quad and new sli mobo sometime later this year perhaps.. so also bearing that in mind.
Thanks

Shrapnel · 26 Mar 2008 at 11:23

5 HDDs - blimey! I'd suggest the Corsair HX620. If you're planning on SLI later (and keeping your bank of HDDs) then might want to increase toward 700.

p4radox · 26 Mar 2008 at 11:24

Could you try unplugging a few HDDs, and see if it works then? A 500W PSU should easily be able to cope, but you do have more hard drives than most!

realscot · 26 Mar 2008 at 11:28

well i used to have 2 computers but scaled back to 1 pc and a laptop so I sold off the bits of the other but kept the hard drives hence having 5.. that and im too lazy to burn stuff. I managed to find a power supply calculator that lets me include my titan amanda and everything and it says i need 540w

semi-pro waster · 26 Mar 2008 at 12:21

PSU calculators are quite frequently inaccurate to a greater or lesser degree, as p4radox says your current PSU should easily cope, I'd also go with the suggestion of disconnecting a few hard drives for a period to see if that cures the BSODs. If it does then you know you need a larger PSU, if not then you haven't wasted your money.