PSU for gaming rig Question

[dpr99]

Hi,

I haven't built a new machine in 6 years and I've never built a high end rig. I've never had the means. I guess I have two questions but before I ask, let me list the components:

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Intel Core i7-2600K 3.4GHz (3.80GHz Turbo) Quad-Core (going to overclock it as much as I can get away with. Shooting for 4.6 ghz)

MSI N570GTX Twin Frozr III PE/OC GeForce GTX 570 (Fermi) 1280MB (going to overclock as much as I can get away with and at some point I'd like to add a second in SLI)

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

I have a DVD RW laying around.

I have a couple 500 gig 7200 RPM Hard Drives laying around but I'm thinking of buying OCZ Solid 3 SLD3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC (good sale on it today)

I'd like to get 8 to 16 gigs of DDR3 Ram depending on what's the best deal for the best quality at the moment.

So here are my two questions:

1. With this set up, what PSU would you recommend? I'm considering:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194083
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171049

I'm not sure what I can get away with for this rig. I'd like the PSU to be modular and instead of just gunning it to be safe with overhead wattage, I'd prefer to buy the appropriate wattage for both energy efficiency and price but still have it run this thing at max load. Price is an issue because I'm already going over budget. Obviously if I have to spring for a more expensive PSU I will because I have to run this thing but if I can avoid begging the wife I'd prefer it.

2. Can I get away with this setup with just air cooling? If not I'm thinking of going with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181016&Tpk=h80

I'd appreciate any feedback on this setup, whether answering my questions or providing other info I may not be considering.

 

[Cygnus x-1]

Don't use old hard drives for your first high end rig. The hard drive is and always will be the slowest part of your computer. Going with old hard drivees will only make that worse. Get an SSD for the operating system and then raid the hard drives you have for storage.

On the PSU issue, the first one you linked is crap, Cooler Master is ok but there is better. Corsair, Antec, Seasonic,XFX, and even Enermax are better psu's. Also, you don't need 1000w for a single video card. A good quallity 550w to 650w will be plenty. You can go with a 750w psu if it helps you sleep at night or maybe if you plan to SLI. I recommend one of these

This psu is an absolute beast and would last you longer than two builds would require--------> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151087 Just google Seasonic psu's, you'll find they make maybe the best in the world.

Another Great one is-------> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021

A good Antec PSU-----> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371049

Now Keep in mind, you might be able to tweak the model types and how much you spend, so this is just an example of what's out there.

Can't argue too much with the cooling you selected. You might be able to get away with a 50 dollar cooler at 4.6GHZ, but the h80 will look cooler, no pun intended.

 

[dpr99]

The Lepa PSU is a rebranded Enermax which is supposed to be decent I thought.

 

[henydiah]

About the both psu is good and modular, it's all depend you, if choose efficiensi is but gold certified, like Lepa G900 , see review in jonnyguru : http://jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=22
But if choose more watt is CM silentpro M bronze, best quality by FSP. Review: http://jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=166
Actually SLI gtx 570 is enough use 900W gold and worth

- H80 is good too but a bit price and performance below H100, I think very worth if go with H100

 

[Cygnus x-1]

The Lepa PSU is a rebranded Enermax which is supposed to be decent I thought.

Didn't know that, if so, then your good to go, enermax makes good PSU's

 

[rubix_1011]

H80 is good too but a bit price and performance below H100, I think very worth if go with H100

For the price of the H100, you can get the XSPC Rasa RS240 kit which will perform much better.

 

[beenthere]

Air cooling is perfectly fine for 99% of PC users. The link below shows how the popular HSFs and a few H2O coolers perform. I don't recommend H2O coolers unless you want to do H2O cooling as a hobby. The Corsair/Antec type closed loop systems are inefficient, a poor value and when they leak they can destroy your PC hardware.

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK

If you want to objectively, accurately and scientifically determine what PSU power is required for your Vid card and PC in both watts and 12v rail amps., the forum Utility link below will show you how easy it is to calculate this information and objectively determine which PSUs are quality built, reliable PSUs that can meet your needs. Be advised that the available 12v rail amps. is just as important as the total PSU wattage. You need both to be correct.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/314712-28-please-read-determine-power-required

 

[dpr99]

H80 is good too but a bit price and performance below H100, I think very worth if go with H100

For the price of the H100, you can get the XSPC Rasa RS240 kit which will perform much better.

I took a look at that water cooler and I'm not sure if I can fit either that one or the H100 in my case without some heavy modification.

 

[dpr99]

Air cooling is perfectly fine for 99% of PC users. The link below shows how the popular HSFs and a few H2O coolers perform. I don't recommend H2O coolers unless you want to do H2O cooling as a hobby. The Corsair/Antec type closed loop systems are inefficient, a poor value and when they leak they can destroy your PC hardware.

http://www.frostytech.com/top5heatsinks.cfm#INTELHEATSINK

If you want to objectively, accurately and scientifically determine what PSU power is required for your Vid card and PC in both watts and 12v rail amps., the forum Utility link below will show you how easy it is to calculate this information and objectively determine which PSUs are quality built, reliable PSUs that can meet your needs. Be advised that the available 12v rail amps. is just as important as the total PSU wattage. You need both to be correct.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/314712-28-please-read-determine-power-required

If I can avoid water cooling I'd prefer it but never having such a high end system I don't have any clue, once I'm done OC'ing, what aircooling will do the job well and still fit in that case.

I'd like to go with this:
http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2521
but I'm a little worried it wont cool enough, wont fit in my case, and more importantly, on most sites I looked for it on, it doesn't mention socket 1155 support although on the spire site, it mentions it in one place. Anyone with an 1155 ever used one of these?

 

[dpr99]

Best answer selected by dpr99.

 

[4Ryan6]

This topic has been closed by 4ryan6