Using Old Power Supplies

[Tooks]

I agree with those people saying one of your Tagans will be plenty for your system.

My Seasonic S12 430w runs my 8800GT, Oc'd Core2, 2 HD's, WC gear, 6 x 120mm fans and all the other bits in a normal pc no problems at all.

I did check power draw with a wall meter, and never saw over 220w, although how reliable those things are I don't know!

It's always best to have a bit of power in reserve I think though, if only to ensure the PSU stays coolish and the fan never speeds up, but for many people these new 800 and 1000w PSU's are overkill indeed!

 

[sunama]

My Seasonic S12 430w runs my 8800GT, Oc'd Core2, 2 HD's, WC gear, 6 x 120mm fans and all the other bits in a normal pc no problems at all.

No surprise.

I did check power draw with a wall meter, and never saw over 220w, although how reliable those things are I don't know!

The reading your meter gave you is probably correct. Its the ratings on the PSUs that I dont trust. If a PSU states it is rated for 550W, dont believe for one minute that it will be able to cope with a 550W draw. I find though that the companies producing better quality PSUs tend to come closer to their rated wattage. So a 430W PSU by Antec is likely to be able to handle with more power usage than say a very cheap, unheard of 430W PSU that sells for £5.

It's always best to have a bit of power in reserve I think though, if only to ensure the PSU stays coolish and the fan never speeds up, ...

...and it is this attitude that has allowed PSU companies to produce ever high wattage PSUs and manage to actually sell them. If you look at the OP, he is contemplating running 2 430W PSUs to power a single computer. Whats more, there are many on this thread who actually believe this to be the way to go.

Clearly the marketing bods at the PSU companies have been doing great work into making people believe that 600W is not enough. Hell, why stop there, lets go for 800W. In fact, lets drop this 'w' rating. Lets go 'kw'. Surely not. But wait...

...but for many people these new 800 and 1000w PSU's are overkill indeed!

Damn straight.

I can only think the 800W/1KW PSUs are all about e-penis size. They dont help you overclock further. They dont improve benchmarks and do nothing for frame rates. E-penis is the only explanation.