Is this PSU good enough?

w1llyg

w1llyg

w1llyg

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23 Dec 2009
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549
Hi guys,

Im going to build my first PC this Xmas, but im on a budget ive picked all my components for a decent gaming pc but im worried tht the PSU ive chose isnt going to be strong enough =/

I plan to build with these components:

-Intel I5 750 2.66ghz but plan to overclock to 3.8
-Gigabyte ga p55m ud2 motherboard
-2GB/4GB corsair XMS3 1600MHz DDR3 RAM
-Ga-insward GeForce GTX 260 Graphic Card
-Antec 300 Case
-500GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
-Artic Freezer 7
-DVD RW

and then the PSU
-Corsair CX 400W

will this PSU handle this much stuff? if not can any1 recommend one.
But remember im on a Budget :(
 
It basically means that you can remove any unwanted cables to an extent that you don't need or use.

It will come with all the main cables non-removeable such as motherboard power as it's always required, but as an example, my power supply came with removeable sata power leads.

It's quite useful as it allows you to remove any unwanted cables, which helps temperatures and air flow in the case. Plus it looks less cluttered if you tidy them properly.
 
cool thanks :)
and while im here what would you lot suggest i get 2GB RAM @ 1600mhz or 4GB 1333mhz? OR if i can get my parents to cough up more money and try to get 4GB of 1600mhz
 
I would recommend the:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-118-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088

Very quiet, and comes with loads of spare cables. Very reliable, and no issues with it.

A cheaper alternative would be:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-111-AN&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1088

The top one is newer, and I got it because the second option was out of stock at the time. Top one I can vouch for, the second one my dad got for his friends pc and is just as quiet.
 
Will those be powerful enough??
Well basically if i get that Antec PSU ill have this system and i did have a budget of £600 but im allowing myself to go to £610 and no more.. so if any1 else notices any components they would change please tell me and suggest a better component would much appreciate it.

-Processor - Intel I5 750 2.66ghz £145
-Motherboard - Gigabyte ga p55m ud2 - £78
-RAM - Geil Ultra Series 4GB (2x2GB) PC3-17000 2133MHz - £72
-Graphics Card - Gainsward GeForce GTX 260 Graphic Card - £135
-PSU- Antec 550w £60
-Case - Antec 300 Case £40
-Hard Drive - Maxtor 500GB 7200rpm Hard Drive - £35
-Artic Freezer 7 Pro rev 2 £16
-Any DVD RW = £16
Total - £597
 
Don't forget to take into account shipping cost which is about £10. So right up to budget.

If you want to save a bit more money you could swap the Nvidia card for an ATi (either a 4870 or a 5770) The latter would be a bit better as it is direct X 11 so will run most games quite nicely.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-216-SP&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=1515

I have that one and it's rather nice, can run dirt 2 maxed out at 1440x900 all settings high/ultra.

Swap the hard disk for either a samsung f3 spinpoint

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-081-SA&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=940

@ £39

or the Western Digital as they are much more reliable over the Maxtors.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-120-WD&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=940

at £37ish.

Should help you save a bit of money and bring you in a bit more under budget.

With the Ati and Samsung Hard disk, it'd bring you in at £587.40, saving £10 for a more reliable system that is also more up to date (Direct X 11 card)
 
Last edited:
spikey57 said:
If you want to save a bit more money you could swap the Nvidia card for an ATi (either a 4870 or a 5770) The latter would be a bit better as it is direct X 11 so will run most games quite nicely.
Click to expand...

The 5770 is not any better than either the 260GTX or 4870 it's actually slower than both of those cards.

It will also not run Dirt 2 flat out in DX11 with all the eye candy on, as it struggles to maintain a reasonable framerate even @ 1280x1024, the only thing it does have going for it is lower power consumption.

A 4890 would be a better bet there's one on this week only for £123 here, unless you can afford to splash the cash on a 5850. :)
 
Um...it runs dirt 2 fully maxxed out at 1440x900 fine on my system, which is the one in my sig. No slow down and am hitting around 45-60 FPS with settings on ultra.


I said it would be a bit better as it's DX11. I meant the 4890 as the alternative...my bad.
 
I think ill get the samsung 500GB hard drive :)
and errr are you both suggesting that i should get the ATI Radeon HD 4890 instead of a gtx260?
 
We would recommend it for decent performance, yes. The only negative with the 4890 is the lack of direct X 11 support, not a huge negative. As it is on this week only offer, it would be a crime not to :)
 
haha :)
but do you think that the 550W PSU will be good enough for all of the components ill be running off it or do you think i should put an extra £10 to the budget and get a more powerful PSU for £70?
 
I'm currently running my new setup in my sig off a 550 watt PSU. If you are really concerned, google power supply calculator, and you can enter all the things you have and it will give you a total power draw of the components.

I think mine under 100% load was drawing 280 watts, so that gives me a bit of head room. I am sure that it will be fine for you. The only time you will need anything more is if you are going to be running more than one video card in crossfire or SLi.
 
spikey57 said:
Um...it runs dirt 2 fully maxxed out at 1440x900 fine on my system, which is the one in my sig. No slow down and am hitting around 45-60 FPS with settings on ultra.
Click to expand...

Well these benchmarks as well as every other I've seen beg to differ.
ATi 5770@1280x1024 DX11, 4xAA, 16xAF - minimum frames 33 - average frames 37.5, I'm afraid that's barely playable for me tbh expecially at that resolution,
bear in mind this is one of the first DX11 titles and it doesn't really bode well ;)

At the end of the day the 5770 is to DX11 what the 8600GTS was to DX10,
It is a DX11 card that will struggle to play DX11 games, just like the 8600GTS was a DX10 card that struggled it's bag off to run DX10 games.

Fair enough if you want to run your games at uber low resolutions then I'm sure it'll be just fine, but it just won't cut it at anything above 1680x1050.
 
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