Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > PSU Suggestion for new system build

PSU Suggestion for new system build

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - PSU Suggestion for new system build

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So I'm putting together a new system in the next month or so and I'm needing to get advice on a PSU, including how many watts/amps I need.

Here are the planned components:

1. OCed Core 2 Duo (I'm thinking of either a E4500 or E6750...depending on what the prices are when I buy the CPU and how much I want to OC)
2. 8600GT or 8800GT video card (depends if I want a gaming system or not)
3. 2x2GB Crucial Ballistix RAM
4. Gigabyte P35 MOBO
5. DVD Burner
6. Floppy Drive/Card Reader Combo
7. TV Card
8. 2 SATA Hard drives

In addition to the above I'm probably going to add a 3rd e-SATA drive, maybe a wirless NIC card, and I'd like some room to upgrade later on if I want a quad core CPU once more programs actually use 4 cores. I also may add a sound card too.

Thanks for all the help you can be. I've thought about Antec or Corsair. I'd like a PSU that's as cheap as possible--but I obviously want a good one. Is 500W-550W enough for this system and leaving enough to upgrade in the future or should I opt for 600W-650W PSU?

Also, is it worth getting PFC on a PSU?

Here are some PSUs I've been looking at:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817116001

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817104018

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153042

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-vx [...] 52646.html

Any reviews/suggestion on the above PSUs would be most appreciated.

Thanks.

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- 0 +

I'd go with at least the Corsair vx550w PSU that you linked from Buy.com. It has 41A on the 12V rail and will run any single GPU solution out there. It has a 5 yr. warranty and is pretty well equipped. You could go for a PCP&C 610w Silencer, but it's at $110 at Newegg, so don't know if that is out of your price range or not. I like Antec/Corsair/PCP&C/FSP PSU's as long as they are 80%+ efficient. You could probably be fine on a Antec 430W Earthwatts PSU, but to leave more room for upgrades I'd at least go with the Corsair vx550w PSU.

------------------------------ PSU Tiers
GPU Power
8800gtx w/e6600 OC'd will run on Antec 380w w/27A on 12v rail, PSU!!
Reply to lunyone

I agree, either get the Corsair VX550w, its a decent PSU for a good price, or get the PC P&C 470w, which is better quality, but you pay the normal price for a PSU of that wattage range.

Reply to The_Blood_Raven
- 0 +

What is the need for additional 12V rails over 1?

------------------------------ Yes, I've calibrated SpeedFan!
Reply to Dunkel
- 0 +

Dunkel wrote :

What is the need for additional 12V rails over 1?


It's a marketing term. From what I remember reading the seperated 12V rails were/are supposed to make the PSU safer, because the power is split up (in theory). Some manufacturers list their PSU's having 2 or more rails, but in actuality they only have 1 rail. Generally speaking 1 rail systems are just as good as multiple rail PSU's. I don't know where the link is, but I've seen some definative information about this. In reality it doesn't make much difference for the average user.

------------------------------ PSU Tiers
GPU Power
8800gtx w/e6600 OC'd will run on Antec 380w w/27A on 12v rail, PSU!!
Reply to lunyone

Tier one or Tier two, get one with about 30% power overhead, for your system specs.

Reply to bobbknight
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