[Solved] New Rig - Help Determining PS Wattage

You could safely go with a good quality 650W PSU.
Your system is probably only using something like 350~400W 450-500W for 2.

Have a really efficient PSU - maybe around 85%? That 500W measured at the wall socket means
the system is actually drawing 425W DC power from the PSU.

Here is an example:

Processor(s): Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.8GHz (190MHz x 20)
Cooling: Noctua NH-U12P (Supplied by Noctua)
Motherboard(s): GIGABYTE EX58-UD5 (Supplied by GIGABYTE)
Memory: 3 X 2GB OCZ Technology PC-12800 DDR-3 8-8-8-24 (OCZ3G1600LV6GK)
Hard Disk(s): Western Digital 300GB Velicorapter (Supplied by Western Digital)
TweakTown 5870 review

You guys are great, that really cleared it up for me, thank you.

W/ twin vid cards and OC'ing, my thinking is full tower case.....HAf 932 or Antec 1200

For PSU, again, w/ OC'ing and twin cards, I'm thinking 850W Corsair HX or Antec Signature 850W.

Here's a PSU calculator you don't have to d/l ....

http://www.antec.outervision.com/

for the drop downs, aside from all ya stuff (don't forget fans and connected USB / firewire stuff), I use:

single socket
85% TDP
Hi end desktop
90% CPU load
25% capacitor aging

and then multiple answer by 1.5 as PSU's efficiency drops as it gets above 70-80% load, voltages start to get wiggly, fans start to get noisy and why run something you wanna keep for a while at max rpm so to speak.

Think 3 x 2GB on the RAM for the i7

With 1 TB HD's going for $89, getting smaller doesn't really save much. Check THG charts for performance leaders (dont forget sound and temp charts)

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts [...] ks,50.html

Note, 2 TB models have different performance than their 1 TB cousins and can't be compared.

WR2 - You saved me a good amount, I appreciate it.

JackNaylor - You are correct on the RAM, my mistake.

LePhurronn - I chose the i7 965 because a friend of mine was able to provide a substantial discount because his wife works for Intel. It'd normally be quite a bit out of my budget, but with the discount it was hard to pass up. I'll check and see if he has the 975 as an option though.

Don't get a ps that meets the minimum or near minimum requirements. It'll starve your system for the power it needs and not run efficiently. The more strain you put on it it'll run hotter and wear out components quicker. For what you mentioned I'd look for something with 1 12v "rail" with 60-70 amps. You won't be sorry. Corsair...........

don't look for watts, look for amps........... id rather have a ps with 60 amps on a 10 watt ps than a 1000 watt ps with 10 amps......