Power Supply Question

[PowerMan57two]

Do you think 600 watt power supply is enough for Asus motherboard with the AMD quad core? I'm also going to have 5 fans running, along with 1.5TB (x4), 500GB hard drive (x1) so total of 5 hard drives, a lower-end 256MB video card, and 4GB DDR3 RAM.


Thanks!

[mountain_rage]

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

[El Comandante]

Here is the PSU Calculator I used recently. http://www.corsair.com/psufinder/default.aspx

I bought the HX850 and you can believe it puts out 850 or more because it's Corsair. Beware of cheapo brands. You can get great deals on a non-modular PSU from Corsair on newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

I would say 750 watts would suit you just fine and give you some room to expand (although you could get away with 600 watts on a reliable PSU).

[mountain_rage]

Guess I can be more specific now that I have time. Avoid modular power supplies, apparently the connectors tend to affect the transmission giving you a less than ideal source of power. The non modular are also usually cheaper.

Also look at reviews, some power supplies have high amounts of fluctuations on their voltage, creating noise for your computer which can cause issues. I've heard its been a very serious issue for newer, high power video cards. Just something to keep in mind.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Buy a good, larger PS!!!! I LOVE the Antec True Power series. Its the hardest working PS I have ever purchased and I have went through a-plenty!!! I have a couple of cheap-o models on the shelf that I keep around ONLY for emergencies if one fails. I only use them long enough to purchase a better model and only run essential hard ware on those things. The PS that tower makers provide are JUNK and may burn your house down. I learned the hard way. My house did not burn down but I cam home to a house that smelled of smoke and a computer that acted buggy as an old turd for a bit.

The way you like to add hard drives to your towers I would think you need a 750 true power model at least and it does not hurt a thing to have a larger one because the PS knows how to ajust itself for the conditions your PC needs. Under powering your PC should def be avoided because it will be unstable and buggy. For rock solid performance get an Antec TRUE POWER! These babies don't die! TRUST!

I think the models the other regs have mentioned are probably top notch too. I am only giving out info on my experience and I can STRONGLY recommend the Antec "TRUE POWER" series. Remember TRUE POWER because these are the cream of the crop, Rolls Royce PS's that will make your PC PIMP! I SAID PIMP and I mean that!

I had a PC with two 300G Hard drives, 4 fans besides the other two on the BIG ASS video card and CPU plus led lights which do not pull any noticeable current two DVD drives, 4Gigs of memory and three external drives plugged in as well all running off a TRUE POWER 650 and it was ROCK SOLID! I had another PS rated the same and I can not remember the name brand and it burnt out after about a month of heavy torrent usage. The True Power PS never blinked and its runs cool and strong! Thats where I am coming from and thats why I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE!!! GET ONE TODAY and tell them Mels sent you for a 40% discount anywhere!

[El Comandante]

Originally Posted by mountain_rage

Avoid modular power supplies, apparently the connectors tend to affect the transmission giving you a less than ideal source of power. The non modular are also usually cheaper.

That's a somewhat overbroad statement. There can always be bad connections and this would probably occur in poor quality PSU's (regardless of design) The high quality PSU's (Seasonic, Enermax, Corsair) have been reviewed ad nauseum and I have not seen a single review that suggests power degradation due to modular design. If I follow this logic I would want to solder my PSU connections to my motherboard.

I would be more concerned with a rats nest of unused PSU leads that inhibit air flow and tax my equipment with high temperatures. IMO

[mountain_rage]

Originally Posted by El Comandante

That's a somewhat overbroad statement. There can always be bad connections and this would probably occur in poor quality PSU's (regardless of design) The high quality PSU's (Seasonic, Enermax, Corsair) have been reviewed ad nauseum and I have not seen a single review that suggests power degradation due to modular design. If I follow this logic I would want to solder my PSU connections to my motherboard.

I would be more concerned with a rats nest of unused PSU leads that inhibit air flow and tax my equipment with high temperatures. IMO

You might be right, just remember hearing bad things when they came out. But this article seems to clear things up.

http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1488_1.html