How Much Power?

steevie_b · Post by **steevie_b** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:37 am

Ok, so I'm planning my new PC build and need to know if the PSU I'm choosing is going to be able to handle it...

Case: Antec P182
Mobo: (undecided due to CPU choice)
CPU: (undecided, but thinking about Intel Core2Quad)
GPU: ATi Sapphire HD 3870*
Cooler: (undecided)
RAM: (undecided)
HDD1: Seagate ST380215AS 80GB*
HDD2: Western Digital 1TB Hard Drive*
DVD: Sony DRU-190A*
WLAN: Netgear WN311*
TV Card: Hauppage HVR1300*
PSU: Enermax Modu82+ (or possibly Pro82+) 625W

*I already own this

How does that sound?
Will 625W be enough?
Could you recommend anything I've not chosen yet?

Cheers

Steve

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:18 am

Overclock that CPU to oblivion, add 10 TB of diskspace and a second of those GPUs and you will start to get close to its rated max:)

steevie_b · Post by **steevie_b** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:06 am

Just worried because my current setup keeps hanging due to what I've been told is the power supply not being able to handle it.

Current Setup:
Case: Coolermaster Centurion 5
Mobo: Asus M2V
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 4200+
GPU: ATi Sapphire HD 3870
Cooler: Coolermaster Eclipse
RAM: Kingston 4Gb DDR2 (forget which type)
HDD1: Seagate ST380215AS 80GB
HDD2: Western Digital 1TB Hard Drive
DVD: Sony DRU-190A
WLAN: Netgear WN311
TV Card: Hauppage HVR1300
PSU: Seasonic S12II 430W
There's also a couple of Noctua case fans in there. 120mm and 80mm IIRC.

Steve

Tobias · Post by **Tobias** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 3:57 am

Aside from the GPU you have pretty much the same setup as me. Your GPU pull about 100W more than mine at load.

Undervolted my system pulls less than 100W at load regardless of activity. During spin up in the boot sequence (no undervolting) I have seen the top power draw ever of the system at 120W. There is no way that GPU would draw more than 300W (they are usually quoted at ~130W at full power, is it not?).

As for your new system, C2Quads isn't that powerhungry that it will overshadow a 89W TDP chip. The mobo might add a few watts perhaps, but in general, we are talking differences of a few watts, a few tens of watts at most.

That being said. Seasonic PSUs are generally good quality PSU, but your milage may wary. It might be a faulty unit, but there is nothing in your system spec to indicate that you need more than about half of that. Btw, have you looked at the "What will a 300W PSU run" stickied thread in the PSU-section? Take a look at it if you need more reassurance that 430W is plenty of power:)

steevie_b · Post by **steevie_b** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 4:09 am

Well my current system used to be fine up until a couple of months ago where it kept freezing, usually while watching videos or using webcam etc.
I posted my problem on various forums (including this one I think) and all replies said that it would be the PSU at fault.
Anyway, it's been really annoying me now and I've decided to build a completely new system.

Any ideas on the CPU, cooler, mobo and RAM?

Steve