Minimum watts for PSU and a good case for an entry level gaming PC? (i3 4160, Palit GTX 750Ti Dual)

paulrelampagos

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Jul 17, 2015
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I have an entry level gaming PC, what brand and how many watts of PSU should I buy for it (preferably future proof so I could still use it when I upgrade)?
Also, can you guys suggest any good cases for this build? Feel free to comment or to give suggestions about my components.

Specs:
MOBO: Asus H81m-k Micro ATX
CPU: i3 4160 3.6 Ghz
Video Card: Palit GTX 750Ti Stormx Dual
RAM: 2 x 4GB 1333mhz Kingston
HDD: 1 TB Toshiba and 320 GB WD (Blue)

I'm looking at HEC Cougar SL 600W ATX, is that any good? (PS I'm on a student budget)

 
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Modular means that all the cables are detachable they're good for cable mangement & 80 + bronze certified psu is an efficiency rating & that Corsair psu is also a good psu but it's not modular & doesn't have a 80 + bronze or better rating

Traciatim

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For the machine you listed pretty much anything will do that's decent quality. You will probably be running at 150 watts in use or less.

Things like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151077 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371085 would do just fine

The question is the future proofing. Are you going to be using the case/PSU combo to build a similar low power machine in the future or is this a build that you will be using for a year or three and then want to build up to a much more powerful gaming rig at that time? If that's the case then 3hunna's suggestion of something like the XFX 550 or a similar quality unit around 500-600 watts would be a better choice.
 

Traciatim

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Modular just means the cables can be unplugged from it rather than having them all hard wired to it. It makes your case look nicer inside because you only have as many wires are you are using instead of having a bunch of unplugged wires to deal with. It's not really a required feature, just nice to work with.
 

3hunna

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May 15, 2013
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Modular means that all the cables are detachable they're good for cable mangement & 80 + bronze certified psu is an efficiency rating & that Corsair psu is also a good psu but it's not modular & doesn't have a 80 + bronze or better rating
 
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paulrelampagos

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Jul 17, 2015
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I'm going to probably reuse the case and psu for future purposes, a simple yet more powerful gaming rig - probably a full ATX and a better processor of course; Will the 500-700 range still be effective by then? Let's assume I'll also get a better video card aaand no need for those flashy lights things and expensive fans.
 

Traciatim

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A 550 is more than enough for any normal single GPU machine. You might be able to design one that needs something more, but if you knew what to pick for that you'd already know what more you need for your power supply too. Unless you are going for a 980ti or the equivalent then, and tons of drives and fans and lights and pumps... then yeah, a 550 will do just fine.