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Best power supply for custom gaming PC

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rodroy   07-10-2009 at 09:41:57 PM

I'm building a gaming PC & am looking for a recommended power supply. I'm an Antec guy, that's my preffered power supply of choice. Although, to be honest, I'm not that knowledgeable when it comes to power supplies, I just go on the fact that one of my friends that builds PC's regulary for himself & his friends, told me a few years ago that Antec is the best. If anyone can recommend a better or comparable brand, I'd appreciate it.

Here is the system specs I'm building:
CPU: Intel Core I7 920
MoBo: Asus P6T
Cooler: Zalman CNPS 9900
RAM: GB Corsair Dominator
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4870 (Going single at first & then considering dual later)
Case: Antec Three Hundred Mid Tower

I initially bought the Antec 750w power suppply but this guy that knows tons more about comps than I do, tells me if I want to run dual vid cards, I need a minimum of 1000w of power. So now I ask if there's a recommended power supply for the system I'm building. Thanks.


Message edited by rodroy on 07-10-2009 at 10:22:38 PM
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boulard83   07-10-2009 at 10:25:17 PM
- 0 +

1000w for dual ???? NO WAY !

a 750W cn feed a SLI GTX285 EZ.

My entire system pump lil under 450W on FULL load ( CPU+GPU @ 100% ). IM WCed, OCed, 10 fans total.... and stil unable to reach 450W .... SLIing (my P5Q cant, but imagine .. ) my sytem would take this to 600-650W under full load.

Remember that you will never experiement an apps that use 100% of both. While playing GTA4 its in the 300-350w.

You can EZly CF this HD4870 with a Antec 750 but ill prefer a Corsair 750.

------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
geofelt   07-10-2009 at 10:54:09 PM
- 0 +

Your psu is a good one, and capable of 4870 crossfire. Here is a link to the official ati requirements:
http://www.amd.com/us/products/des [...] ments.aspx
It recommends 600 watts and 4 pci-e psu connectors. You are good.

Perhaps your expert friend was suggesting that you use a single card, up to the power of a GTX295 before going to dual cards. At that point, dual GTX295 will need something close to 1000 watts.

Reply to geofelt
rodroy   07-10-2009 at 10:55:23 PM
- 0 +

Cool, thanks. I'm just looking to make sure I'm not going to have to replace it later on, I'm looking to be able to play my games at Max settings & not suffer FPS issues.

Edit: newbie question here: If it says SLI certified on the components I'm buying, does that mean it's also good enough for Crossfire? Should I just not worry about it since the system components should be good enough for either SLI or Crossfire anyway just based on the specs of each respective component.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by rodroy on 07-10-2009 at 11:04:37 PM
Reply to rodroy
boulard83   07-10-2009 at 10:58:14 PM
- 0 +

CF 4870 or CF 4850 ( both 1gb ) is really cheap and GOOD. Especially for the CF **HD4860** 1gb taht can be found under 200$ for both card.


** SRY edit, HD4850 !!! not 4860 ;) **


Message edited by boulard83 on 07-11-2009 at 02:05:53 AM
------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
rodroy   07-11-2009 at 01:13:59 AM
- 0 +

Cool thanks... any recommendations or upgrades to any of the components I've mentioned? I've bought most of them, but I've kept the receipts & are unopened. Essentially I want to play my games at max settings.

I've chosen ATI over NVIDIA, although I was considering going with the Geforce GTX 295, but I've had some negative experience with NVIDIA & only positive with ATI. I'd still be open to giving NVIDIA another try, but not if my ATI Radeon can perform just as well without any actual noticeable differences.

Thanks

Reply to rodroy
dirtmountain   07-11-2009 at 02:40:11 AM
- 0 +

You're good to go, the Antec300 is a bit on the small side, but everything will fit.

Reply to dirtmountain
rodroy   07-11-2009 at 02:58:34 AM
- 0 +

cool... would the Antec 900 be a little better? or is there another case you can recommend for gaming purposes? I'd like to keep it at under $150 & if possible at under $100. If the 300 is still my best bet at those prices... then cool :-D

Thanks Again. :-D

Reply to rodroy
geofelt   07-11-2009 at 04:16:13 AM
- 0 +

rodroy wrote :

Cool, thanks. I'm just looking to make sure I'm not going to have to replace it later on, I'm looking to be able to play my games at Max settings & not suffer FPS issues.

Edit: newbie question here: If it says SLI certified on the components I'm buying, does that mean it's also good enough for Crossfire? Should I just not worry about it since the system components should be good enough for either SLI or Crossfire anyway just based on the specs of each respective component.


Sli certified does not mean much, except to marketing. Nvidia extracts a fee to allow it. Besides that it only means that it will run two unspecified vga cards in sli.

Reply to geofelt
boulard83   07-11-2009 at 04:32:52 AM
- 0 +

yes, a 350W PSU can be SLI certified ... to run a SLI 8500gt ...

------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
rockyjohn   07-11-2009 at 05:04:44 AM
- 0 +

The Antec 900 is a good gaming case and only costs $108 at newegg.



I like my SILVERSTONE Kublai Series KL01. Its just a little smaller but I like the door on front. It also has a setup in front to swap out a hard drive - like for use with backups - but I have not gotten around to using it yet. It's $95AR.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163096

Reply to rockyjohn
boulard83   07-12-2009 at 04:36:23 AM
- 0 +

im in love with my RC690, never had any heat issue and have lots of space, tools less, cbl management and much more. + a fan the BLOW to the GPU !

------------------------------ __________________________Le Québécois_________________________
WCed Q9550 EO + P5Q @ 3.825ghz / HTPC - E5200 + P5Q @ 3.3ghz
BFG GTX285 OC2 + PC P&C 750w . / HIS HD4850 with Sharp 42" 1080p
 Reply to boulard83
dirtmountain   07-12-2009 at 05:17:36 AM
- 0 +

^ Coolermaster RC690 is an excellent case. USB/audio/1394/e-sata top plugs. It's larger then the Antec300 or 900. $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.213790

Reply to dirtmountain
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