What Power Supply Should I Get?

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

Hello, I am building my own gaming PC, but I am unsure as to what PSU I should invest in.
Here are my other components:

CPU: i7 4770k - 4x 3.5GHz <-- Will be overclocked
CPU COOLER: Cooler Master Hyper TX3 Evo Tower Cooler
MOTHERBOARD: MSI Z87-G43 ATX
RAM: Kingston HyperX DDR3 1600MHz - 2x4GB
HARD DRIVE: Seagate Barracuda 3.5inch 2TB 7200 PRM Internal SATA
GPU: SAPPHIRE TOXIC R9 280X 1100MHz 3GB GDDR5
OS: Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium

What wattage should I get? I would like the power supply to be around £70 ($114.47 - according to Google) Are there any PSU makes that I should (not) avoid?

Thanks,
SmelliotButton

Foldalot · Dec 23, 2013

Seasonic S12II-620 620W
Antec 620W 80 PLUS Bronze Modular

Here's a site that can help you when choosing PSU http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

Foldalot :

Thanks for your response, but would a 620w power supply be too small? It says on the Sapphire website that the recommended wattage is 750w.
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/product_index.aspx?pid=2023&lid=1#

Foldalot · Dec 23, 2013

They protect themselves in case the customer buys a cheap 650W PSU and it blows when using the GPU. So they make their requirements for wattage higher than it should be to be applicable for cheap PSUs too and not get sued in case it blows. However, when using quality brand PSU you can as low as 500W. I've seen hardware experts testing the r9 280x on 500W and working fine, although they did not recommend that. So a quality 600W+ PSU will do fine.

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

I take it you are from the UK?
If so i recommend this one

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/650w-xfx-xxx-p1-650x-xxb9-hybrid-modular-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx-v

It is manufactured by Seasonic for XFX

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

This one is 750 watt but not modular

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/750w-xfx-p1-750s-nlb9-85-eff-80-plus-bronze-sli-crossfire-eps-12v-quiet-fan-atx

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

jay2577 :

What do you think of this one? It's a Corsair modular 750w PSU.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Builder-Series-Modular-Certified/dp/B00ALK3QRS/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=27BF97N3GNOB7&coliid=I38RES1JCANWZT

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

That power supply is okay

Maybe not as quite high quality as the ones made by Seasonic but it would do you fine.
If your interested the XFX 750 watt made by Seasonic is on sale with free delivery for £71.98inc. vat here.

http://www.ebuyer.com/413806-xfx-proseries-750w-power-supply-unit-core-edition-p1-750s-nlb9

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

jay2577 :

Thanks.
While you're here, do you think that all these components will fit in this case, with room to spare?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AvP-Defender-400-Tower-Case/dp/B00CGWQ7D4/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1387727176&sr=1-1&keywords=AvP+Defender+400

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

Yes it will fit

I'm not sure on your choice of CPU cooler though. Maybe that case isn't the best either.
Can i offer a suggestion?

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

jay2577 :

Sure

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

Okay the CPU cooler i recommend is the Cooler Master Hyper Evo 212 and the case is this one

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/zalman-z3-plus-black-mid-tower-case-usb-30-window-side-panel-w-o-psu

It's entirely your decision of course but whatever you choose happy gaming on your new system. I am sure you will love it.
Happy Christmas too

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

jay2577 :

It looks really cool, thanks!
And Happy Christmas to you!

Vic 40 · Dec 23, 2013

jay2577 :

This is always true,i subscribe to that.

I hope you don't mind me butting in.I made a partslist with most of your choices,but with a few of mine too.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£164.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler (£34.94 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£100.64 @ Scan.co.uk)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£60.62 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£54.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£42.00 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (£245.14 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Zalman Z11 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case (£47.98 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£71.98 @ Ebuyer)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.98 @ Ebuyer)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) (£85.60 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £920.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-23 12:53 GMT+0000)

With a gaming system i don't think you'll need the 4770k but that's ,as said,your decision.
I took a better cooler,from what i've seen in a review at techpowerup better than the 212 evo when it comes to prim95 temps.It gives a difference of about 20 degrees when fully loaded in favour of the phantek although on a different cpu,that's worth the extra 10/12 pounds imo.
i took a,imo,better motherboard for the better power phase design.
I chose a 1tb hdd+a120gb ssd instead of the 2tb hdd for a nice speedy system.
With the zalman z11 plus you will have a nice case if you don't mind all the blue ledfans.

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

Vic 40 :

jay2577 :

This is always true,i subscribe to that.

I hope you don't mind me butting in.I made a partslist with most of your choices,but with a few of mine too.

PCPartPicker part list

CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£164.99 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Phanteks PH-TC12DX 68.5 CFM CPU Cooler (£34.94 @ Scan.co.uk)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z87X-D3H ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£100.64 @ Scan.co.uk)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£60.62 @ Ebuyer)
Storage: Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£54.98 @ Amazon UK)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£42.00 @ Aria PC)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 280X 3GB Video Card (£245.14 @ Scan.co.uk)
Case: Zalman Z11 Plus ATX Mid Tower Case (£47.98 @ Amazon UK)
Power Supply: XFX 750W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply (£71.98 @ Ebuyer)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.98 @ Ebuyer)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 - OEM (64-bit) (£85.60 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £920.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-12-23 12:53 GMT+0000)

With a gaming system i don't think you'll need the 4770k but that's ,as said,your decision.
I took a better cooler,from what i've seen in a review at techpowerup better than the 212 evo when it comes to prim95 temps.It gives a difference of about 20 degrees when fully loaded in favour of the phantek although on a different cpu,that's worth the extra 10/12 pounds imo.
i took a,imo,better motherboard for the better power phase design.
I chose a 1tb hdd+a120gb ssd instead of the 2tb hdd for a nice speedy system.
With the zalman z11 plus you will have a nice case if you don't mind all the blue ledfans.

Wow. Thanks!
I have just changed the processor to the i5 4670k, and I am currently looking at the motherboard you suggested.

Vic 40 · Dec 23, 2013

You're welcome.

Another nice motherboard would be the next altough a bit more expensive,
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-g1sniperz87
it has a better soundchip which is probably worth the extra money.There is a review on oc3d of it.You can check how it does there.

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

Vic 40 :

I'm really looking for a mobo which is around £80.
I have found this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gigabyte-Motherboard-4thGeneration-IntelCore-Processors/dp/B00CXK5AY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387808617&sr=8-1&keywords=z87+1150+motherboard+atx
What do you think?
Thanks for helping

Vic 40 · Dec 23, 2013

Well if that needs to be the msi z87 g43 you already chose seems to be a nice one,
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/msi-motherboard-z87g43
or the asrock z87 pro4,
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asrock-motherboard-z87pro4

You already saved a lot on the cpu so i really would choose the gigabyte ga-z87x-d3h board,
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/gigabyte-motherboard-gaz87xd3h
but as already stated it's up to you.

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

Vic 40 :

I have also just realised that the Zalman Z11 Case recommended will not fit the Toxic R9 280x.
The size of the card is 308mm x 113mm x 41mm. Could you recommend a case please? Preferly under £50 with a few fans.
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/product_index.aspx?pid=2023&lid=1

Thanks

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

That is a big graphics card. This case fits it and comes with 4 fans.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/zalman-z3-plus-black-mid-tower-case-usb-30-window-side-panel-w-o-psu

SmelliotButton · Dec 23, 2013

jay2577 :

Thanks. You've been really helpful

jay2577 · Dec 23, 2013

This is nicer

Fits a 40cm graphics card in for £53.14

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/sharkoon-t28-black-with-blue-interior-mid-tower-case-3x120mm-led-quiet-fans-with-side-window-usb-30-

Vic 40 · Dec 23, 2013

Nice options for cases.

Other option,
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-case-z5plus
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-case-threehundredtwo

In the end you could always choose another version of the r9 280x like the next,
http://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/asus-video-card-r9280xdc2t3gd5
it's just not that much slower than the sapphire=1.1 core speed-//-asus= 1.07 core speed.It's also just 11.2 inches or 28.5 centimeters long.

I was mistaken by which gpu you wanted,i chose the SAPPHIRE VAPOR-X R9 280X in my list which would fit.

What Power Supply Should I Get?

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Share this page