Which PSU fits this build?

Acreo Aeneas · Post by **Acreo Aeneas** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:16 am

Okay, I'm stuck between choosing the SeaSonic 500W M12 (modular cabling) and the SeaSonic 600W M12 (modular cabling).

I did a estimate PS calculation with the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator (http://extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine) which recommended a PSU of 531W.

Here is my build:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
ASUS P5NSLI Motherboard
4 GB (4 x 1 GB) Kingston Value Ram, DDR2 667
eVGA nVidia GeForce 7950GT, 256 MB, PCI-E x16
Sound Blaster XtremeGamer Sound Card ($90 Low Profile)
NIC Card (PCI)
Samsung Spinpoint 240 GB Hard Drive (SATA300)
Sony DVD-ROM
Samsung DVD+/-RW DL Lightscribe
Sony 3.5" Floppy
Vantec 4-Channel Fan Controller
4 Extra USBs (2 rear, 2 front panel)
Antec P180B Mid-Tower
5 x 120mm Case Fans (linked to controller)

In the options for the PSU calculator I set Surge Compensation to 50%, since I am unsure what setting this should be for the 2 given PSUs above.

I do not plan on OC'ing.
I do plan on utilizing SLI configuration within 6 months to a year.
And I plan on upgrading video card to a 8800GTX within a year.

Which of the PSUs above can handle the power requirements of my build, and what should I set surge compensation at for the PSU calculator?

burebista · Post by **burebista** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:23 am

Try this on-line calculator.
M-12 500 is plenty even for an 8800GTX and overclock.

jaganath · Post by **jaganath** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:51 am

I do plan on utilizing SLI configuration within 6 months to a year.
And I plan on upgrading video card to a 8800GTX within a year.

Does this mean you are going to do SLI 8800GTX?

In the current configuration your setup will use less than 200W.

Acreo Aeneas · Post by **Acreo Aeneas** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:54 am

Yes I do plan on SLI with the 8800GTX, but that is a last performance boost resort (which I don't plan on doing for at least 1 1/2 years. Although I do plan on SLI'ing two 7950GTs.

walle · Post by **walle** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:31 pm

Acreo Aeneas wrote:Yes I do plan on SLI with the 8800GTX, but that is a last performance boost resort (which I don't plan on doing for at least 1 1/2 years. Although I do plan on SLI'ing two 7950GTs.

If so, I recommend the Seasonic S12 600 or the Corsair HX 620. I would not recommend that you purchase the Seasonic M12 due to its implemented 60mm fan, which once up and running will keep on running even when extra cooling is not needed as the load decreases. If modular cables are a decisive factor for you purchase, then go with the Corsair. That said; your current setup (as it stands now) would do just fine with a 430 Watt power supply.

Note:

In my experience, both the Seasonic S12 and Corsair HX are slightly more discreet (inaudible) then the Seasonic M12 during equal loads, which is not a bad thing. Last, but by no means least; there also less expensive.

hulubei · Post by **hulubei** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:09 am

Every 500W PSU based on Enhance 80+ would be fine either.
And let me tell you that even just one 8800 nVidia would be struggled by only the E6600 not even overclocked. If you plan doing SLi based on 8800 then you should keep one eye on C2Q, other way you'll just waste a lots of graphic power.

nici · Post by **nici** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 3:24 am

On low resolutions maybe, but there is not much point in buying a 8800GTX if you dont run 1600x1200 or higher anyway.

Acreo Aeneas · Post by **Acreo Aeneas** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 10:00 pm

Hmm, thanks for the advice and the PSU choices.

I don't think I'm going to SLI the 8800GTX especially if the boost will only be minor compared to a 7950GT SLI. Not to mention I do want some breathing room in terms of power consumption.

I'll just stick with the SeaSonic M12 500W. And modular power cables are a factor in my build, need it to reduce cable buildup in the Antec case and so airflow is hampered by a wall of unused cabling.

I forgot to ask, will the SeaSonic M12 500W have any problems with cable reach? Specifically, will the 4 pin and the 20+4 pin main connector reach my Asus P5NSLI's mobo connectors near the top of the case (around 1st or 2nd top 5.25" drive bays)?

chiahaochang · Post by **chiahaochang** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:25 pm

Acreo Aeneas wrote: I don't think I'm going to SLI the 8800GTX especially if the boost will only be minor compared to a 7950GT SLI. Not to mention I do want some breathing room in terms of power consumption.

A single 8800GTX is usually faster than 2x 7950GTs in SLI mode at high resolutions (1600x1200+). I have a LCD with a native res of 1920x1200, so I wanted to play games in that res all the time which lead me to buying a single 8800GTX when I built this box.

So, 2x 8800GTXs should be faster still. Though in the P180, with the dual slot 8800GTX cooling solutions, you'll probably have difficulty keeping them cool and keeping the computer quiet (I assume you're hear cause you're interested in quieter computing if not totally silent). I had to create a duct that spans between the 8800GTX and the bottom of the P180's main chamber, and venting the heat outside of the case using a 80mm Panaflo L1A. With that, and the top and rear case fans on low, the 8800GTX idles at ~67C, with out it, it was ~74C.

I forgot to ask, will the SeaSonic M12 500W have any problems with cable reach? Specifically, will the 4 pin and the 20+4 pin main connector reach my Asus P5NSLI's mobo connectors near the top of the case (around 1st or 2nd top 5.25" drive bays)?

I don't have the M12 PSU, I have an Antec 500 in my P180 and the only way I could get the 4-pin connector to reach the top of my P5N32-E SLI is to run it under the vid card, parallel to the heatpipe that passes by the memory slots then across into the 4-pin connector. And even then it still barely reaches.

edit: oh, and this may not be the case with you, but I couldn't get my system stable with just the Phantom 500 plugged into both the 8800GTX's PCI-E power ports, my PC would shut down when benchmarking or playing Oblivion. I'd hear the GPU's fan kick into high gear, then shortly after the PC would shut down. This was when I had the single case fan running on high. I ended up picking one of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817153037 from a local store and haven't had problems since. I only use one plug on it and one from the PSU. It was cheaper than buying a new PSU anyways. It maybe just due to my Phantom 500 being used in a hot case for the past 1.5yrs.