How many watts do I need?

Ktzero3 · Post by **Ktzero3** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:46 pm

I am building a system and I would like some advice on how many watts I will be needing! I've used the PSU calculator, but I'm just curious as to the results that people are getting in real life.

Here are the rough specs:
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
2x Corsair XMS2 DDR800 1GB RAM
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 or Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (OVERCLOCKED)
3x 120mm Antec Tri-Cool Fans (on Antec P-180 chasis)
1x 120mm Scythe Infinity Fan
NEC ND-3550A 16X DVD+-RW
500GB 7200RPM Seagate Barracuda SATA HDD
3 USB Powered Devices (Logitech QuickCam, Logitech G5, 4-in-1 Card Reader)
Geforce 8800GTX (specifics undecided)

In addition to this, I may add a sound card from Creative to complement my Logitech Z-680 5.1s. Currently, I also have 5 hard drives of various brands that are probably all 5400 RPM. 3 are IDE, 2 are SATA. If possible/practical, I would like to move them onto the new system as well...

That being said, whaddya guys think about the power usage? I am thinking of getting a Corsair HX-520W or Corsair HX-620W PSU (depending on what you all think). Modularity will be good on a weird case like the P180, yah?

I welcome any suggested changes for any of the components, but I've already purchased the Antec P180 case and I'm also pretty settled on the DS3 and Scythe Infinity. E4300 vs E6300 will be decided on the price of the E4300 when I decide to buy everything a few months from now.

Thanks in advance!

autoboy · Post by **autoboy** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:12 pm

You could get away with 400W. I would go for anything in the 500W class in case you want dual video cards at some point. Also it looks like the new ATI cards are power hogs. The Corsair is a great choice.

SnooP · Post by **SnooP** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 10:08 pm

Any decent 400w and above psu will handle that system, however if your planning on SLI 8800gtx you'll probably want a psu with 4 pcie connectors for convenience. Only really high end psu's like Seasonic m12 700w. Otherwise cheapish psu's like Silverstone element 500w, neo HE 500w, zalman 460b-aps will do fine and all have 2 pcie connectors needed for your one 8800gtx. And corsair hx520 is plenty, very quiet and modular

try my psu calc if you haven't, my guess is it'll recommend around 400w mark psu prob about 28A 12V rail
http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php

skudmunky · Post by **skudmunky** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:54 am

My new intel build has essentially the same specs / power draw as yours. I went with the Seasonic S12 430, it should be enough. Especially since the E4300 probably draws far less than 65 watts, seeing as the C2D Extreme is in the same 65W family.

edit, I just tried that PSU calculator and it says I'll need about 310 watts even with the CPU drawing 88 instead of 44 watts. I think I'm good :p

HammerSandwich · Post by **HammerSandwich** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:33 am

If you crank up all the voltages, power consumption will increase a lot, but the baseline build doesn't need much power. Here's an X6800 with different vidcards. With the 8800GTX, the system pulls 277W from wall, so that's about 220W DC.