Can this PSU Hold my System?

[Tudi]

Hi guys. Well, I posted several questions on this thread but I think I asked a bit too many questions and scared people off So I'd like to break it down to the one that bugs me the most, namely if the PSU I chose for my upcoming system will be enough. Here's the system:

PSU: Antec EarthWatts 750W ($160)
Processor: I7-920, 2660 MHZ ($390)
Motherboard: Gigabyte X58A-UD3R ($256)
HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB 7200 RPM ($120)
RAM: Corsair 12GB (6 x 2GB), DDR3, 1333/1600MHz ($620)
Video: Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX285, 1GB GDDR3 512bit ($460)
DVDRW: LG 52x ($25)
Case: Antec Tower Three Hundred ($80)

Additionally, I currently have a 27" monitor that I'll want to use with this system, a wirless KB/mouse it, an external USB HDD and a set of standard 2.1 speakers.

Will the Antec EarthWatts 750 be able to power this system? Are there any alternative in the same price range? I'm not too knowledgeable on PSU brands, my initial searches recommended Antec as a good PSU manufacturer, but I'm definitely not stuck on using something from them.

I might also consider buying a second SLI GTX285 when they'll be cheaper, so I'd like to futureproof my system in this sense as well. Thanks!

 

[MadAdmiral]

It should be good. Use this PSU Wattage calculator to double check. Alternatives would be Corsair, Silverstone, SeaSonic, and PC Power & Cooling.

However, I have some suggestions if you haven't already bought the parts, or can return them at no cost (I'll highlight the ones you should return even if it costs you). If you can't return them, just ignore the rest of this.

Just a quick note, your prices are really, really wierd. The i7-920 costs about $290, the mobo should be $210, RAM shouldn't be anywhere near $310 for a triple channel kit, and the gtx 285 is about half that cost. So I'll try to keep suggestion in the same cost category and ignore the prices you put up there.

CPU: Look into the i7-930. It's the new 920, and only a few bucks more expensive.

HDD: WD is a bad choice right now. Unless that's the 6 GBps version, it's a lot slower than the Samsung Spinpoint F3 and Seagate 7200.12. If it is the 6 GBps version, it's basically the same speed at a higher price.

RAM: Corasir is super expensive (at least in the US). Check out G.Skill and Mushkin. Also, make sure you're getting 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7 sticks. Also, 12 GB is overkill by a lot if you're not doing heavy encoding or other memory intensive tasks.

GPU: nVidia is a horrible choice right now. In a week, they'll be launching their new DirectX 11 cards. That means that all the older cards are already obsolete. If you absolutely need a card right now, grab an HD 5870. It's a lot better, and should be about the same price. It's also not an energy hog. If you absolutely need a nVidia card because of CUDA or other speciality uses, wait a week to see what Fermi is like.

Case: The 300 is a nice case. However, it's pretty small. I'm not sure how long the 285 is, but if it's as long as the similarly priced 5870, the 300 is going to be a tight fit. I would look into the HAF 922. It's going to be more expensive, but it's easily one of the best (if not THE best) case out there right now.

 

[banthracis]

Yes earthwatts will work fine. However, a Corsair 750TX is only $100 and is just as good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=corsiar%20750tx

Don't buy a GTX 285 as a $320 5850 has the same performance, and the $420 5870 beats it by around 10%-15%.

HDD go with the Samsung Spinpoint F3 1tb. Much better performance for less money.

Ram you don't need 12 GB unless you're using photoshop/other RAM intensive programs. 6gb is more than enough for any computer outside certain specialists.

G skill and Crucial offer very good 6 gb kits that aren't overpriced.
Gskill PI series $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231335&cm_re=g_skill_ram-_-20-231-335-_-Product

 

[MadAdmiral]

@banthracis: I don't think the OP's in the US. Look at the prices. A 750W Earthwatts isn't $160, a GTX 285 isn't close to $500, and even though Corsair is overpriced, they're not $310 for 6 GB.

 

[Tudi]

Thanks for the great replies. You're right MadAdmiral, I'm based in Romania and prices are a bit higher here. I'm not sure if newegg has international shipping, but I'll check it out in a second. I wanted to buy from a local retailer because of the convenience of assembling the system and easier warranty handling, which is my biggest concern with ordering anything internationally (bad past experiences).

Anyway, regarding the HDD choice - I saw a couple of comparison sheets that pointed out the Caviar Black WD is slightly better. I initially wanted to go for the Seagate Barracuda series but read about some firmware issues that made me switch.

GPU: I'm planning the purchase in around a month, so this is a money-saving piece of info you just gave me. I'm not stuck on Nvidia, I went back and forth between ATI and Nvidia throughout the years so I'll give the ATIs a look.

Case: Ah, I saw the HAF, looks like it's going to transform into something that will rape me at night. I'm not buying the case for looks though, I'm not the PC-bragging type anyway and I love that it seems very well ventilated. Again, thank you for the suggestion.

One last question, regarding Mobo manufacturers. Any recommendations on a 1366 Mobo with 6 RAM slots that can run at 1600 MHZ? I've only had Gigabytes and Assuses (sp?) so far and haven't had any problems with any, but I don't know what manufactures are currently considered reliable in this field.

Thanks again for all the help guys.

 

[obsidian86]

looks like it might be an aussie

 

[MadAdmiral]

Newegg doesn't ship internationallly.

The comparision chart is old. You're probably looking at the old WD vs. the Seagate 7200.11 (which did have firmware issues). The new Seagates and Samsungs are a lot faster. Check them out in the charts section here at Tom's. That's the 1 TB Seagate 7200.12, Spinpoint F3 and WD Caviar Black. There is a new version of the WD, which says it uses SATA III (6 GBps), that's a tad faster than the Seagate, but just as fast as the F3. However, it's typically more expensive.

Since you're not buying for a bit, you definitely should pay attention to the benchmarks between the newer cards. They'll sure to be out once Fermi hits the street.

Gigabtye and Asus are the best manufacturers. The boards I typically recommend for the LGA1366 are the one you choose and the Asus P6X58D Premium. I recommend the Asus a little more often.

 

[Tudi]

Obsidian, I'm actually from Romania, but I might have typed in an aussie accent (or did you mention I might be an aussie due to the higher prices on components?).

I've been trying to find a "European Newegg" site but most of them are based in the UK and only ship to the UK and nearby countries and I'm based all the way East near the Black Sea. Damn geography, it's costing me 30% more in PC components!

Here's a pickle, the 2 mobos you mentioned seem really similar in performance. On the site I was planning to buy from the Asus is 400$ and the Gigabyte is ~$255.

 

[obsidian86]

there are a few based in germany and netherlands i know one in portugal but i think overclockers.co.uk ships all over europe