PSU Advice Required?

PhoenixUK · Dec 6, 2013

Hi All,

First time poster here, we're building my step son a gaming pc for Christmas (Never got that kind of thing when I were a lad haha).

Anyway, after a couple of weeks of intensive research on every component needed and making sure to stay on or just over the original budget, this is the system I'm putting together for him.

Case: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370803812012?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Motherboard: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390713078707?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

CPU: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=331081652408

GPU: http://www.box.co.uk/Gigabyte_Radeon_R9_270X_OC_Video_Graphic_1496783.html

Ram: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200960507142?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

HD: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181275897352?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

DVD Drive: http://www.dabs.com/products/liteon-ihas124-14-24x-sata-internal-dvdrw-black-90MS.html?src=7

The above for £403 including all taxes and delivery costs etc but of course not including a PSU at the time of listing the above.

Now this only leaves me with the biggest remaining headache and that's the PSU situation. I'm looking at the various components above and totaling how many power connections back to the PSU I will need which I make the GPU as requiring 1 x 6 pin Pci-e, then the Hard drive and DVDRW both requiring a Sata connection.

Then what wattage and obviously what price as we're pretty much short term maxed out now due to upgrading the GPU and so forth and I would like his system to run a 80+ Modular PSU but this will have to come in a month or so time when finances after the fleecing Xmas period has left us haha!

So, can anybody advise me based on the above and the cheapest but adequate short term PSU solution, it would be very much appreciated.

P.S.I have been looking at these PSU's for now;

http://www.justop.com/catalog/storm-800w-quiet-silent-pc-power-supply-120mm-fan.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/700W-ACE-PSUACE700BR-Black-with-Red-12cm-Fan-ATX-v2-3-PSU-/131062707399?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-STORM-SILENT-800W-POWER-SUPPLY-12V-RAIL-32AMP-2x6-PIN-PCI-E-120MM-FAN-/111097632552?pt=UK_Computing_PowerSupplies_EH&hash=item19ddef5728

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

ko888 · Dec 6, 2013

For a system using a single AMD Reference Design Radeon R9 270X graphics card AMD specifies a minimum of a 500 Watt or greater system power supply. The power supply should also have a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 30 Amps or greater and have at least two 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

For a system using two AMD Reference Design Radeon R9 270X graphics cards in 2-way CrossFire mode AMD specifies a minimum of an 750 Watt or greater system power supply. The power supply should also have a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 43 Amps or greater and have at least four 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

toyftw · Dec 6, 2013

PhoenixUK :

Hi All,

First time poster here, we're building my step son a gaming pc for Christmas (Never got that kind of thing when I were a lad haha).

Anyway, after a couple of weeks of intensive research on every component needed and making sure to stay on or just over the original budget, this is the system I'm putting together for him.

Case: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370803812012?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Motherboard: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390713078707?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

CPU: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=331081652408

GPU: http://www.box.co.uk/Gigabyte_Radeon_R9_270X_OC_Video_Graphic_1496783.html

Ram: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200960507142?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

HD: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181275897352?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

DVD Drive: http://www.dabs.com/products/liteon-ihas124-14-24x-sata-internal-dvdrw-black-90MS.html?src=7

The above for £403 including all taxes and delivery costs etc but of course not including a PSU at the time of listing the above.

Now this only leaves me with the biggest remaining headache and that's the PSU situation. I'm looking at the various components above and totaling how many power connections back to the PSU I will need which I make the GPU as requiring 1 x 6 pin Pci-e, then the Hard drive and DVDRW both requiring a Sata connection.

Then what wattage and obviously what price as we're pretty much short term maxed out now due to upgrading the GPU and so forth and I would like his system to run a 80+ Modular PSU but this will have to come in a month or so time when finances after the fleecing Xmas period has left us haha!

So, can anybody advise me based on the above and the cheapest but adequate short term PSU solution, it would be very much appreciated.

P.S.I have been looking at these PSU's for now;

http://www.justop.com/catalog/storm-800w-quiet-silent-pc-power-supply-120mm-fan.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/700W-ACE-PSUACE700BR-Black-with-Red-12cm-Fan-ATX-v2-3-PSU-/131062707399?_trksid=p2054897.l4275

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-STORM-SILENT-800W-POWER-SUPPLY-12V-RAIL-32AMP-2x6-PIN-PCI-E-120MM-FAN-/111097632552?pt=UK_Computing_PowerSupplies_EH&hash=item19ddef5728

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,

Hi - ko888 has already explained what you need. A good quality unit with at least 30 +12v amps.

None of the three you listed are known to be good quality PSU's. A poor quality PSU can damage/destroy other
parts when it fails.
You will need to spend closer to £50 than £30 or less for a semi modular unit meeting the specs required.

Here are couple good quality modualr/semi mod to consider:
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/mr/amazonuk/corsair-power-supply-cx500m
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/mr/amazonuk/seasonic-power-supply-m12ii520bronze

The M12II 520 would be a good choice if you can fit it in your budget.

PhoenixUK · Dec 6, 2013

Hi Ko888,

Thank you muchly for the clarification of the information you kindly provided me with.

However, could you please clarify how I can tell on a PSU's listing in any store that signifies it being continuous current or is that a given and I would only need to focus on the given PSU(s) being able to provide a supply rated at 30 amps or greater for the Single AMD Radeon R9 270x?

Also, for the above the overall system I mention in my original post including the Radeon R9 270x will be just fine power wise even when under duress with heavy enough gaming, at a 550w + PSU?

I look forward to hearing from you and anybody else who can provide any further information not already covered by ko888's post.

Regards,

ko888 :

ko888 · Dec 6, 2013

PhoenixUK :

Don't assume anything.

There are unscrupulous PSU manufacturers out there that will try to deceive customers by using the PSU's peak power rating in their marketing and try to pass it off as the continuous power rating.

E.g. A 700W PSU with only one 6-pin PCI-E power connector raises a lot of red flags to me.

The very low price of the product is another red flag.

Any reputable PSU manufacturer will state that their power rating is a continuous rating. They will also state the PSU's maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating. If that critical info is missing then the PSU manufacturer is attempting to hide some flaw or deficiency in their product.

If you want to get an idea of what a reputable power supply model at a specific wattage should ideally be capable of and what connectors it should have just look at an equivalent wattage Seasonic PSU.

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PSU Advice Required?

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