PSU help

[inane_asylum]

I finally got my new computer put together, and it ran fine for awhile. After about a week, the PSU started smelling like burnt solder or something, then the computer just shut off. The motherboard "ready" light is not on, so I know it's the PSU.

Specs:
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 660 Prescott 3.6ghz
RAM: Kingston 2gb DDR2 x1
Motherboard: ASUS P5N-D
HDD: 250gb 5400rpm SATA (not sure what brand)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce 8600GT 256mb DDR3
PSU: ChiefMax 550 Watt Dual Fan Power Supply

I figured 550W would be enough for this setup, as I'm not running any fancy lights or anything through my system. After it failed, I did some heavy research on it, though. I've found that it's not so much the watts that's crucial, but the total amps on the 12V rail. I've seen "dual rail" PSU's with a dedicated rail for the processor. My processor, according to what I've found, pulls about 115W by itself.

How many amps do I need on the 12V rail to support my system? Right now I'm looking at this one, which has 38A on the 12V rail.

Any input?

 

[roadrunner197069]

You would of been better off getting a modern Dell over that piece of crap PC.

 

[inane_asylum]

The issue is...Modern Dell PC > $1000, my target price < $800.

If I had over a thousand bucks to blow on a decent gaming PC, I would have gone for a pre-built system. But I had some spare parts from a broken Alienware laptop and a previous PC build.

 

[roadrunner197069]

A modern Dell twice as powerfull then what you built is <$500 even $399 if you can catch a sell.

Next time, do your research, Pentium 4 is junk by todays standards.

I sell systems for $350 that are way better then that, I hope you really didnt spend $800 on it. Looks to me like a $250 build max.

Maybe you got lucky and the junk PSU fried the rest of your system, so you can start over.

 

[roadrunner197069]

Im not really hating on you, just giving constructive criticism, sorry if I offended.

 

[inane_asylum]

The P4 came with my old Alienware, and yes...it's junk, but to me, it's free. Send me a link for a Dell twice as powerful, with at least a comparable video card (no ATI, I use Linux too), and we'll talk.

And no, I didn't get close to $800, that was just what I was aiming under. All I really bought was the vid card, mobo, psu, and ram.

 

[inane_asylum]

Oh, and if you can show me where to get those components or better for less than $350, it'd be much appreciated. I'm looking for a gaming computer for my wife, too.

 

[roadrunner197069]

Ok, I will show you a better system for less. BRB.

 

[inane_asylum]

Sweet, thanks.

 

[roadrunner197069]

Ok, this setup will stomp what you got and the CPU can OC to 3.0 easy on the stock cooler.


https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=7600474

 

[inane_asylum]

Good stuff. Only 2 issues with that setup.

For my computer, I want some kind of upgradability with it, so 4gb max RAM and Micro ATX form factor for the motherboard isn't what I had in mind, and because I dual-boot with Linux, ATI video cards are right out because they straight-up won't write Linux-compatible drivers.

That being said, this would make a nice backup gaming system for my wife...

 

[roadrunner197069]

Here you go picky, lol.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=7600714

With this mobo you can oc to 3.2-3.4 on the cpu.

This thing will run twice as fast as what you got currently.

 

[inane_asylum]

Lol! Well done...

Now I just need a case and monitor and I'm set.

Wish I would've come here six months ago... :-/

 

[roadrunner197069]

Well you should have a case and monitor. If your going for a whole build you need a DVD and HDD also.

You can do a whole computer with onboard graphics which would be a ton faster then yours everywhere except gaming, for $300 or less, then add a GPU later.

 

[Winly]

thats a decent build roadrunner. in fact, it blows away tha old doritos P4 lol