Replacing my old psu.

where?wolf · Post by **where?wolf** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:25 am

I have a 480W Antec True Blue, the first edt.

It's a good and decently silent psu. That have served me very well for 2 years.

But I have started to think about to replace it with a more modern, modular psu. In order to be able to reduce the cable clutter further in my P180 B case. And because I'm not sure if the True Blue is good enough for a future DX 10 videocard and Conroe E6600 rig for ex.

The psu that I have found particulary interesting is, Be quiet! Dark Power Pro 530W.

Just have a couple of questions about it.

1. IS this psu really as quiet as the name suggests?

2. Long enough cables for the P180 case?

3. Enough ampere on the + 12V rails for a 8800GTX for ex?

4. Stable and good psu?

kater · Post by **kater** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:48 am

anything over 450w is real plenty for a single 8800gtx card, and will sure be more than enough for other 8xxx cards - remember newer 8xxx cards will be made in 80nm (later on in 65nm) instead of 90nm and will be weaker than the currently available 8800xxx cards.
afaik a 8800gtx only needs ca 150w (and that is a safe estimate), which is sth like a radeon 1950xtx

same applies to cpus - c2d is one low-power cpu, 65w tdp default, with my x2 3800 running at 89w default (now probably 100+).

if you're not really bothered by your current psu you can safely keep it. or just do a fan swap if you think your 2 yo fans are getting louder. imo, there is no need to have a 500+ psu if you're not going to go sli or have a super large raid array and a v strong system to boot.

where?wolf · Post by **where?wolf** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:15 am

kater wrote:anything over 450w is real plenty for a single 8800gtx card, and will sure be more than enough for other 8xxx cards - remember newer 8xxx cards will be made in 80nm (later on in 65nm) instead of 90nm and will be weaker than the currently available 8800xxx cards.
afaik a 8800gtx only needs ca 150w (and that is a safe estimate), which is sth like a radeon 1950xtx

same applies to cpus - c2d is one low-power cpu, 65w tdp default, with my x2 3800 running at 89w default (now probably 100+).

if you're not really bothered by your current psu you can safely keep it. or just do a fan swap if you think your 2 yo fans are getting louder. imo, there is no need to have a 500+ psu if you're not going to go sli or have a super large raid array and a v strong system to boot.

Hi!

Thanks for your swift ansver.

Yeah, reading what you say about the 8800 and upcoming cards.

And even if I have a SLI mobo, (Epox 8NPA + SLI). I have never considered using SLI, And probably wont in the future either.

I guess my old trusty True Blue will stay in the box for a while longer.

And the "noise" does'nt bother me. The True Blue is very quiet for having 2 x 80mm fans in it. Probably, because they seldom runs faster than 1100 rpm. I have a hard time hearing the psu, even if I open the case door and put my head close to the intake for the lower camber.

Thanks once again.

student · Post by **student** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:42 am

You might have problems with your TrueBlue powering an 8800GTX. Although its on paper specs suggest it will cope (28A +12V rail) its an old design, created for older systems that drew most of their power on the 5V and 3.3V rails. It might not like the huge +12V power draw an 8800GTX creates.

I had a Antec True380S and that couldn't cope with the 19A load from a AMD 3500+ Venice core, and Ati X1900XT despite having a 24A rating on its +12V rail.

where?wolf · Post by **where?wolf** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:48 am

student wrote:You might have problems with your TrueBlue powering an 8800GTX. Although its on paper specs suggest it will cope (28A +12V rail) its an old design, created for older systems that drew most of their power on the 5V and 3.3V rails. It might not like the huge +12V power draw an 8800GTX creates.

I had a Antec True380S and that couldn't cope with the 19A load from a AMD 3500+ Venice core, and Ati X1900XT despite having a 24A rating on its +12V rail.

Hmm, you may have a point there about the older design.

I shall have this in mind.

Thanks for your ansver.