Confusion between using a SeaSonic 520W and Antec 380W - which one is suitable for my system?

symmetricalfish · May 25, 2013

I recently designed a build on PC Partpicker, which said it had a power consumption of 318W (with 20% allowance), so I chose the Antec EarthWatts EA-380D.

However guides here (and the official Nvidia site) say that I need at least 450W for my GPU. I am not sure why this is, could someone please explain? If it's allowance for OCing, SLI etc then I do not plan to do any of that.

If 380W is a bad idea however I will go for a 520W SeaSonic S12II-520 Bronze.

Here's my spec:

Case
Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Mini Tower

Processor (CPU)
Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor

Motherboard
Asus P8B75-M LX PLUS Micro ATX, no wifi or sli

Memory (RAM)
8GB Patriot Viper 3 Dual Channel 1600MHz (2 X 4GB)

Graphics Card
2GB Gigabyte GEFORCE GTX 660 OC 1033MHz

Memory - Hard Disk
1TB WD CAVIAR Blue 64MB CACHE

Processor Cooling
Stock

Networking
TP-Link TL-WN881ND 802.11b/g/n PCI-Express x1 300Mb/s

Cost: £519.13

slomo4sho · May 25, 2013

Although the 380W unit would work for your build, pickup the 520W SeaSonic.

ingtar33 · May 25, 2013

a 380W psu should be enough, though it never hurts to have a little more power in your system. Because a PSU running at 100% draw will be under a lot more stress then one running at 50% draw.

your system probably will pull 300-350W max, overclocked. so a 500W psu probably would be ideal.

Novuake · May 25, 2013

The 380W will be cutting it too close for comfort. Get the 520W.

Cons29 · May 25, 2013

get the 520w, even if you really need just 300w, it wouldn't hurt getting the 520

masach · May 25, 2013

You have to go for Seasonic 520W between the two. Normally, better quality components are used in higher wattage psu. You have to consider the efficiency of psu will reduce overtime too. For the Antec 380W, your build will be a little stressful while the Seasonic 520 will handle with ease.

qbsinfo · May 25, 2013

that earthwatts 380 is perfect. it is continuous power, not peak, and has a 6 pin PCI-E power connection. nvivdia recommends PSU wattage that they consider "safe" w/o knowing the quality of the user's PSU - such as most PSUs list the "peak" power or have weaker (under 80% of the PSU's load) 12 volt rails.

that 380 is fine as long as you are not going SLI in the future.

symmetricalfish · May 25, 2013

Actually, doing some more research, I'm considering the middle ground of the 450W XFX P1-450S-X2B9.

My priorities with this build are reliability and quiet running, if this helps.

qbsinfo · May 25, 2013

symmetricalfish :

that would be fine also.
Review: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 OC

that is the total system power with a i7-3770K @ stock

Search

Confusion between using a SeaSonic 520W and Antec 380W - which one is suitable for my system?

symmetricalfish

Honorable

slomo4sho

Distinguished

ingtar33

Glorious

Novuake

Champion

Cons29

Splendid

masach

Honorable

qbsinfo

Honorable

symmetricalfish

Honorable

qbsinfo

Honorable

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page