Need help on my new PC power supply

DavidDon · Nov 28, 2014

I am building my first PC (gaming orientated) and i'm wondering if my current power supply will be enough. I am new to this so i dont know if you need all this info

These are my specs
mother board: Gigabyte GA-H81M S2PH
CPU Intel Core i5 4440 3.1 ghz
hard drive: Western Digital Se WD1002F9YZ 1000GB 7200rpm 64mb Cache SATA 6gb/s
optical drive: Asus DRW-24D3ST DVD Writer
memory: G-Skill RipJaws F3 2133C11D-8GRSL SODIMM DDR3l-2133 PC3L-17066 8GB (2xGB)
video card: Sapphire R9 270X Dual-X Radeon R9 270X video card 4096MB, DDR5 PCIe-crossfire with boost
monitor: ASUS VE247H 23,6" LED 16:9 DVI HDMI Speakers, black
power supply: Corsair VS series VS650, 650W ATX PSU active PFC, SLI ready
PS: if you can see any upgrades or things you would change to help me out please comment and tell me. I dont want a massive price difference though.

Thanks David

DonkeyOatie · Nov 28, 2014

650W is more than enough for the system you have posted if it has a single 270X. If you plan to Crossifre now or later, you need a different motherboard.

Your basic system won't go over 100W and your GPU at full tilt should not exceed 200W.

This http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html is the list we use to guide us on power supply choice.

The Corsair VS series is a Tier 3 supply for 230/240V Where are you?

If available locally, this is probably cheaper, and is better. https://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-neoeco520c as is this: https://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg520

I would also use a more modern motherboard H97, and the memory you have chosen is faster than your motherboard of CPU can usefully use, so you could drop to DDR3-1600 CAS9
In addition modern game will run well on only 8Gb of memory.

HDD and CPU are fine.

DavidDon · Nov 29, 2014

If you plan to Crossifre now or later, you need a different motherboard.: can you please explain what this is thanks

The Corsair VS series is a Tier 3 supply for 230/240V Where are you? : sorry i don't understand this sentence
I am very new to this.

I swapped my power supply for the antec high current gamer 520w, will this work . i am from NZ and I am building this PC on the website ascent.co.nz. they dont stock the 550w version.

I also swapped out the memory for a g-skills ares 1600ddr3 8GB (2x4), is this a good choice

Im also looking for a keyboard that is form 30-40 NZD, not nesseserally gaming but just well build and slim.

Thanks David

DonkeyOatie · Nov 29, 2014

Excellent. A fellow Kiwi, although I live in foreign lands. I'm from Auckland.

One bit at a time. Crossfire is the ability to have two similar Radeon GPUs work together to divide up the display process. The two cards together get about 180% of a single card. You mentioned 'PCIe crossfire with boost' in your system spec. It's a way of improving graphics performance using cheaper cards. The motherboard chipset you have selected, the H81, does not have the necessary lanes to the PCIe slots to allow this. You need a Z87 or Z97 chipset.

EEK! Those prices are stinking high! You aren't beating the snot out of your PSU, so I would probably save the dough and go for your original Corsair VP650. If you can spare the money, move up to the 520M ($122 according to PCpartpicker NZ) It will make your build easier and more tidy by being able to leave out unused cables.

I used PCpartpicker with NZ suppliers to make this configuration:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2PV Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.49 @ Aquila Technology)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.00 @ PC Force)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.00 @ PC Force)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card ($332.00 @ Paradigm PCs)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($122.82 @ Aquila Technology)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($39.61 @ Ascent Technology)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($149.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Monitor: AOC i2367Fh 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($219.00 @ PC Force)
Total: $1404.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-30 02:06 NZDT+1300

I made a bunch of minor changes. The CPU I selected is cheaper than yours, but better, and so on.

Let me know if you have questions and mess around with pcpartpicker yourself and post your ideas.

I need to see if your motherboard will support your CPU without a BIOS update.

DavidDon · Nov 29, 2014

Thanks so much for your help. I was wondering if nzpartpicker gives the NZ 12 month warrenty, adn if you encounter any problems do they have a customer service. I need this as its really important if any thing goes wrong.
eg) could i send individual parts back and get a refund or talk to someone there. You said from NZ retailers, does this mean it comes with the required 12 month warranty. And can i send individual parts back to them/ talk to someone at customer service.
If not could you please try and build what you have or something similar on this website
www.ascent.co.nz
thanks heaps
David

DonkeyOatie · Nov 29, 2014

PCpartpicker is a tool, you do not buy from it. It searches web-sites for the best prices. You then buy the parts from the vendors mentioned, so you get the warranty that they supply. It would make sense to cust down to only one or two suppliers, but the price will go up a bit.

PCpartpicker merely makes the job of searching around a LOT easier. Since ascent.co.nz did not show up in the parts list, they are unlikely to be the cheapest source. I looked and their prices are crazy high.

The Gigabyte H81 motherboard needs BIOS revision F7 or later to run your CPU. Buy the CPU and the motherboard from the same place and make sure they guarantee that it will work.

BTW what are you thinking of for a case?

I've cut the suppliers down to only two for hardware and you can get the OS from the third.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($272.90 @ Aquila Technology)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2PV Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($83.49 @ Aquila Technology)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.00 @ PC Force)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.00 @ PC Force)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card ($339.91 @ Aquila Technology)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 520W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($122.82 @ Aquila Technology)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($48.07 @ Aquila Technology)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($149.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Monitor: AOC i2367Fh 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($219.00 @ PC Force)
Total: $1444.14
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-30 13:13 NZDT+1300

DonkeyOatie · Nov 29, 2014

I had to change a few things because they were not in stock and have the system in my ascent.co.nz cart. Everything above except the operating system comes to NZ$1375.16, so that's a bit over $1500 for the whole thing, and you still need a case.

DavidDon · Nov 29, 2014

Thank you so much for all the help you have given.
I have created the PC you wrote in your last post and now it comes to $1,472.32
My last question that i have is what case should i get and if i get this one will it fit.
I have picked the silverstone redline RL04 Mid tower case, black
is this a good choice
thanks David

DonkeyOatie · Nov 29, 2014

Cases are a personal choice. Silverstone makes good cases. I am using one of them in my current build, the ML07, an HTPC case, but I'm putting a full system in it.

Your case has excellent cooling but has front-mounted USB 3.0 ports that your motherboard lacks a header to use. Review : http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/SilverStone-Redline-RL04-Case-Review/1730/7

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($272.90 @ Aquila Technology)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-PLUS Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($116.61 @ Aquila Technology)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($129.00 @ PC Force)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($79.00 @ PC Force)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 4GB Dual-X Video Card ($339.91 @ Aquila Technology)
Case: Silverstone Redline Series RL04B ATX Mid Tower Case
Power Supply: SeaSonic 450W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($112.59 @ Aquila Technology)
Optical Drive: LG GH24NSB0 DVD/CD Writer ($48.07 @ Aquila Technology)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($149.95 @ Computer Lounge)
Monitor: AOC i2367Fh 60Hz 23.0" Monitor ($219.00 @ PC Force)
Total: $1467.03
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-11-30 14:26 NZDT+1300

This revised build changes to a motherboard that will work with that case.

DavidDon · Nov 29, 2014

thanks heaps finished build now just gotta learn how to put it all together

DonkeyOatie · Nov 30, 2014

Easy-peasy if you are deliberate and plan. You could start a build log here and ask for advice as you go.

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