help w/ choosing a psu for high power system

PSUs: The source of DC power for all components in the PC & often a big noise source.

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AzN jonzOrz
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:04 pm

help w/ choosing a psu for high power system

Post by AzN jonzOrz » Wed Jan 14, 2004 6:10 pm

I have read the sticky about the 300watt psus...but i'm still not sure what i need.

here is what i'm going to build.
antec super lanboy
9800XT w/ zm80c-hp
MSI K8t-Neo mobo
athlon64 3400+
1gb corsair pc4000 pro
2 x samsung hdd raid 0
1 x hitachi 7k250
plextor px-708

at first i was thinking of the fortron fsp-350 aurora....but then i wasn't sure if 350 on that psu was going to do the trick.

EDIT: i'm buliding this comp for a friend....money is almost no object....around 100 should be right

silvervarg
Posts: 1283
Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2003 1:35 am
Location: Sweden, Linkoping

Post by silvervarg » Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:18 am

I believe that the Athlon-64 will use the +12V for power.
This means that your load will be concentrated on the +12V.
A guesstimate would be: 90W CPU+30W GPU+20 W HDD+20 W Optical drive = 160W plus a few more watts for fans and possibly for future things.

Most good PSU's (including 300W) can handle 15A on +12V (~180W).
Knowing that 180W is close to what you will actually be using I would
consider looking at slightly more powerful units just to have some margin.

The FSP350W you mentiond handles 16A on +12V, and according to SPCR review it has very good stability on the voltage lines. I would say it does look like a fine choise.

AzN jonzOrz
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Sep 02, 2003 4:04 pm

Post by AzN jonzOrz » Thu Jan 15, 2004 2:47 pm

thanks for replying....but i have already decided to get the super silencer 400 because of its quieter characteristcs and higher efficiency. Espcially since its not my money...but my customer's(friend)

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