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How much Power do I need?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - How much Power do I need?

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fockewul   11-01-2003 at 07:46:46 PM

Hi

I'm planning on building the following system:

- Intel P4 2.8 GHz FSB800
- MSI 865PE Neo 2 motherboard
- 1 GB DDR400 (2 x 512) RAM (eventually 2 GB in the future if needed)
- two 160 GB Seagate Barracuda SATA in Raid 0 configuration
- CD Burner (will add a DVD Burner or DVD reader in the future)
- Gigabyte Radeon 9600 Pro graphic card
- Creative sound card (an old SB Live)
- 3 1/2 Floppy
- ADSL USB Modem

I was about to make the mistake of buying an "El cheapo" case and PSU, but fortunately I read THG review on PSUs before I did. Now I'm considering an Antec or Thermaltake power supply. My question is: How much power do I need for such a configuration? I'm ready to pay the price of a good quality unit, but I don't want to go "overkill", since I don't know if I will be able to use it in my next computer.
Also, could someone please advise a decent case put all this? There are so many brands and models that I'm a bit lost. I don't care about design, but I do want a realiable and well-built case.

Thanks in advance.

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Newbie237   11-02-2003 at 01:53:01 AM
- 0 +

Regarding the power supply, a lot of people here will recommend either a Fortron or an Antec PSU.
The fortron (400W) will have a better efficiency (active PFC) than the Antec (480W) for a similar level of performance (the Fortron can reach 460W).
Basically, it always comes down to the same question (that I asked myself not so long ago :) ), do you plan on doing a lot of upgrades later on and do you plan on OCing ?
If yo do, I would recommend you go with the Antec TRUE POWER 480W...but that's just me.

Regarding the cases, you can have a look at some of the very good case reviews made by the THG team not so long ago, that should help you a lot (that helped me a lot...)

"640K ought to be enough for anyone." - Bill Gates, 1981

Reply to Newbie237
Crashman   11-02-2003 at 10:39:17 AM
- 0 +

A Fortron 350W would power it OK, and would be quiet with its 120mm fan, for $36 at Newegg. Of course that wouldn't give you a lot of flexibility for upgrades, so you should also consider the Fortron 530W. Why did I skip the highly praised 400W? The price difference is only around $15, I think that justifies buying more than you'll need!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

Reply to Crashman
twofruitz   11-05-2003 at 08:21:49 AM
- 0 +

personally i like antec. my 430watt isnt even stressed by my system below. they are also smaller and are quieter than other brands

---------
Intel PIV 2.4C @ 3.0G \
Asus P4C800 \
Corsair 2x512 3200LL memory \
Radeon 9600pro @ 500/700/1.35 \
SB Live 5.1 \
80G Seagate S-ATA150 \
430 Antec 1080AMG

Reply to twofruitz
Crashman   11-05-2003 at 08:52:57 AM
- 0 +

Lies! Standard ATX cases follow the PS/2 form factor and are standard size. And Fortron makes their supplies with smart fans that run at very low speed unless you stress them very hard. Also, the Forton 400W power supply produces FAR MORE POWER than the Antec True Power 430W. And it cost less as well!

So Antec can't be smaller than Fortron because of standards, and couldn't be much quieter unless they were passively cooled.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

Reply to Crashman
The_I   11-05-2003 at 08:36:27 PM
- 0 +

Conserning the case I would suggest a Chieftech. They aren't very much more expensive than what you have to pay for a decent case. I'm sure you can get one for 100 $ tops, and a chieftech is good quality, everything seems sturdily build and their drive-rail system is not that bad. Only bad thing I can say about my own chieftech dragon is that it's so damn big and heavy, but that's a matter of taste. If I should by something right now I would go for a lian-li though, but that's mostly because of the design, an aluminum case is an alternative if you want to get light though.

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