Corsair 620HX enough power?

[dougd71]

I'm putting together a new build and I'm trying to decide on a power supply.

Everything is going inside a Antec P182 with a Q9450 I plan to overclock.
The system will have a total of 7 SATA hard drives in addition to the following components:

■1 EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130290
■1 MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325
■1 Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154001
■1 ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
■1 DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018

Originally I was going to go with:

Corsair CMPSU-620HX 620W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002

the specs list it as having 8 SATA connectors but I'm worried 620 Watts isn't enough. I definitely want a modular cable PSU with 80% efficiency. Ideally, I'd like to spend under $150 but I can go up a little bit if it's worth it. I was considering these PSUs as alternates:

Zalman ZM750-HP http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379006
Antec TPQ-850 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371009

Both the Antec and the Zalman are actually cheaper than the Corsair (before rebates, which I hate)

Can anyone help?

 

[rgsaunders]

An interesting combination of components, but not one that works. You have 2 differentt nVidia based video cards, I assume you propose to attempt to run SLI, but the motherboard you have selected doesn't do SLI, its a Crossfire board that does 2 x 8X in Crossfire, which only works with ATI video cards. You would be better off performance wise with an HD 4850 card, and save over 100 as well. The cooler you have selected is not the best choice either, save some money, get better cooling and easier installation with the Xigmatek 1283.

The Corsair is a good power supply, and sufficient for your requirements.

 

[dougd71]

thanks for the reply.

actually, i will not be running SLI. this is for a video editing setup and the software only works with NVIDIA based cards. i need 3 monitors, thus the 2 different cards. the 8800 will be my primary card and the 8600 will be my secondary card.

would i be better off though getting a power supply with more juice? the Zalman and Antec both seem to offer more room to grow later, although they aren't as highly rated as the Corsair.

 

[monst0r]

thanks for the reply.

actually, i will not be running SLI. this is for a video editing setup and the software only works with NVIDIA based cards. i need 3 monitors, thus the 2 different cards. the 8800 will be my primary card and the 8600 will be my secondary card.

would i be better off though getting a power supply with more juice? the Zalman and Antec both seem to offer more room to grow later, although they aren't as highly rated as the Corsair.

Why not get a super cheap PCI card, or if you want an 8400gs? No point in getting a card like that, save $50. The 620HX is overkill for that system, get a 520HX for ~$100.

 

[dougd71]

yeah, you're right about the 2nd video card. i was thinking of going with an 8400 and saving some money.

the 520HX only has 4 SATA connectors and I'm going to have 7 SATA drives in the system. so i don't think the 520HX would be sufficient.

 

[rgsaunders]

Get a couple of Molex to SATA converter cables, that will give you 2 SATA power cnnectors per convertor. Cost maybe 5.
You will need these in any event, as most ps only have a max of 6 SATA power connectors. The P182 only has 6 hard drive bays, so I assume you are proposing to use an adapter in one of the 5.25 bays for a hard drive.

 

[dougd71]

yup, i was going to put the 7th drive in either one of the 5.25 bays or in the external 3.5 bay.

rgsaunders, i noticed you have the p182 as well. how do you like it? what power supply are you using?

 

[KyleSTL]

The 620HX is plenty. I agree that you could go for the 520HX and add on some molex-SATA adapters, but it would be much prettier (internally) to not have the extraneous adapters in your case.

Another card that could be of interest:
PNY XLR8 VCG98GTXXPB-FLB GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $175 after MIR ($205 before)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133225
or
EVGA 512-P3-N875-AR GeForce 9800 GTX KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130348
KO edition @ 738Mhz

Edit: You could also get a G33/G35 [strike]or 7100[/strike] (single channel memory) motherboard and use the onboard graphics, as well as the add-in card. Throw in a 4-port SATA card, and it should also be sufficient for your setup.

 

[homerdog]

I vote for the HX620

 

[dougd71]

i wouldn't mind going with a 9800 but i'm not sure my software will play nice with the latest NVIDIA drivers, which I think you need for the 9800. I was going to use the the 169.47 drivers, which are the drivers my software (Avid) is certified to run with.

is there a practical difference between the 9800s and the 8800s?

 

[rgsaunders]

yup, i was going to put the 7th drive in either one of the 5.25 bays or in the external 3.5 bay.

rgsaunders, i noticed you have the p182 as well. how do you like it? what power supply are you using?

I like the P182, however I did remove the Antec fans and replaced them with Scythe Slipstreams, much quieter with excellent airflow.
You might want to consider getting something like the Silverstone 4 in 3 5.25 drive bay adapter, which give you 4x 3.5 HD mounts with cooling in 3x5.25 bays. I am current running 6x SATA II in my case, I am considering one of the Silverstone adapters to run a raid 5 array for backing up my primary data drives. SilverStone CFP51-B (Black) Aluminum 5.25" to 3.5 bay converter with 120 fan with blue LED.
I am using an older PS, an Enermax Noisetaker 600W (think model # is AX701AX-VE(W). Wire management in the P182 is easy to do, the only drawback to the case that I have encountered is that it takes some creativity to maintain good airflow in the ps compartment if you are using a non-modular ps. I used automotive wire loom on the ps cables to improve appearance and airflow.


A note on the 8800 vs 9800, for your purposes, there is no useful advantage to the 9800. Better to stay with something you know works, proprietary software can be a royal pain at times.

 

[dougd71]

i was thinking about getting a 4 in 3 adapter.....but didn't want the added expense just yet. plus i don't want a system with an LED though....is there a way to disable the light?

so for PSU's....if the Corsair 620W provides enough juice...what type of setup would require more power? I'm guessing an SLI setup but I feel like my setup is at the high end of power consumption/needs. who's buying these 750W+ psus?

 

[kad]

2 differnt nVidia cards on a mobo supporting ATI cards !!!!
That's not gonna work buddy
One card can work only
Also your PSU is not not enough to run your setup with one Graphic Card
Go for 750W minimum

 

[uguv]

i was thinking about getting a 4 in 3 adapter.....but didn't want the added expense just yet. plus i don't want a system with an LED though....is there a way to disable the light?

so for PSU's....if the Corsair 620W provides enough juice...what type of setup would require more power? I'm guessing an SLI setup but I feel like my setup is at the high end of power consumption/needs. who's buying these 750W+ psus?

People running 2 high end cards in SLI or crossfire are using the 750W+ PSU's.

I have a P182 SE but I had to remove the middle drive cage to make room for my 8800GTX. I know the 8800GTS is a bit smaller but you might want to confirm that it fits in the P182 without having to lose the middle cage.

 

[uguv]

2 differnt nVidia cards on a mobo supporting ATI cards !!!!
That's not gonna work buddy
One card can work only
Also your PSU is not not enough to run your setup with one Graphic Card
Go for 750W minimum

You are incorrect, it should work fine. He's not trying to SLI them, just drive multiple monitors.

 

[XMSYellowbeard]

The HX620 is the better choice here for 2 reasons. First, I'd suggest it due to the number of HDs you will have in addition to the 2 GPUs. Second, it has a better and larger cable selection and with the number of items you will be powering, you will need flexibility in how you use the cables.

 

[KyleSTL]

The HX620 is the better choice here for 2 reasons. First, I'd suggest it due to the number of HDs you will have in addition to the 2 GPUs. Second, it has a better and larger cable selection and with the number of items you will be powering, you will need flexibility in how you use the cables.

---------------
Official Corsair Tech Support. If You Need Help, Just Ask.

Conflict of interest? I think so.

Edit: Not that I don't agree with his statements.