New power supply?

[wasabi-warrior]

Alrite, yes i know this question is asked a lot, but i also know that every power supply is different, and every build as well, so. . .

I have a Thermaltake Silent Purepower 480W PSU.
My current build is housed in a case with 8 fans (thats including the CPU fan) all at 10cm diameter. It has a generic DVD drive, one 500GB HDD, and one 1TB HDD. It has a GA-g41m-es2l mobo, and a pentuim e5200 @ 3.3Ghz (OC'd, but no voltage increase compared to standard).
Now heres the question:
I have a 8400GT gfx card, being replaced with an ATI HD5770. Now, the power supply has no 6-pin connector for PCI-e cards (which i need).

Will my power supply cope with installing this card, and do i get an adapter for the gfx card; OR should i just buy a new PSU?

Cheers for the help

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

Just check out the amps it needs. If the PSU has enough on a particular rail, then get an adapter.

Or, you know, get a new quality 80+ one.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

How do i check the amps for the graphics card, and how do i check how much Amps on a particular rail?

EDIT:
I found these specs from a google on my PSU:

Ouput
Order of values is +5v / -5V / +12V / -12V / +3.3V / +5VSB
Max Load: 40A / 0.3A / 18A / 0.8A / 30A / 2A
Min Load: 1.5A / 0A / 0.2A / 0A / 0.3A / 0A
Load Reg.: +-5% / +-10% / +-5% / +-10% / +-5% / +-5%
Ripple V(p-p): 50mV / 100mV / 120mV / 120mV / 50mV / 50mV

Make any difference?

 

[amnotanoobie]

How do i check the amps for the graphics card, and how do i check how much Amps on a particular rail?

EDIT:
I found these specs from a google on my PSU:

Ouput
Order of values is +5v / -5V / +12V / -12V / +3.3V / +5VSB
Max Load: 40A / 0.3A / 18A / 0.8A / 30A / 2A
Min Load: 1.5A / 0A / 0.2A / 0A / 0.3A / 0A
Load Reg.: +-5% / +-10% / +-5% / +-10% / +-5% / +-5%
Ripple V(p-p): 50mV / 100mV / 120mV / 120mV / 50mV / 50mV

Make any difference?

If that's really the sticker of your psu, I'd recommend getting a new psu. You only have 18A on the 12V, and you could easily exceed that.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

I live in Ausralia. Our prices are different (its $45.00US with those rebates), and newegg dont ship here at all .

Theres a shop i can head to with cheap deals on comp parts.
(these are all in AUD)

Theres also a SuperFlower Gaming 590 for about $70


Any of these a particular good deal?

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

I'd go with any of the corsairs at and above 550 watts. Or either of the antec earthwatts.

You want a quality PSU.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

Alright, thanks for the help.

Will those PSU's take upgrading? Im gonna be upgrading my sytem sometime in the future and i dont wanna buy a new PSU again.
Would it be wise to get something above 550W (like 750W) or wont I really need that if the rails have enough amps?

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

Depends on how much upgrading. The 550W one will probably be fine, but if you want no question, besides maybe fermi card or crossfiring 5870's or something, go for the 600-750 range.

 

[Onus]

Of those PSUs, the only ones I'd trust are the Antec and Corsair. How much wattage you need will depend on what your system has in it when your upgrading is done.
I'd get either an Antec Truepower or Corsair HX; 650W for any single video card, and 750W if you plan to run multiple GPUs. If you don't mind forsaking modular cables, Antec Earthwatts are also good, or Corsair TX.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

Alrite, ill definitely consider those PSU's.

I would now marked the thread as solved and select a best answer, but i started a discussion by accident instead of a question .

Thanks everyone for the help.

 

[amnotanoobie]

I'm kind of shocked that it only has a single 18a rail for 480w psu.

I mean the Antec 380 has 2 rails, a 15a and a 17a and my 550w has 2- 25a rails.

Such is the cheat that are no-named manufacturers.

5V * 40A = 200W
12V * 18A = 216
3.3 * 30A = 99W

Total = 515W?

It is easier for them to up the 5V and 3.3V rails.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

Total = 515W?

haha, yea.
Even though its Thermaltake 480W, it produces up to 550 underload. Dont ask me why they called it 480W then.

 

[Onus]

No, it doesn't produce 550 under load. I'd be surprised if it is good for much over 400W continuous, particularly at realistic temperatures inside a working PC, e.g. 35C-40C.

 

[jsc]

zipzoom, now that it's too late ...

Look at his original PSU specs. Note the heavy 40 amp 12 volt rail and the presence of a -5 volt output. It's a really old PSU.

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

You mean 40 amp 5 volt right?

 

[amnotanoobie]

zipzoom, now that it's too late ...

Look at his original PSU specs. Note the heavy 40 amp 12 volt rail and the presence of a -5 volt output. It's a really old PSU.

It could be really old, or just some sucky no-name brand PSU. Generic's tend to pump-up the 5V and 3.3V just to increase the overall wattage (even if very few components use 3.3 and 5V).

 

[wasabi-warrior]

@zipzoom: Sorry, didnt realise that it makes any difference what so ever on whether i should get a new PSU or not, thats why i didnt say earlier. I dont expect you to read my mind and know that. Location for me just affects price, not whether my parts are outdated or which parts i should look at getting.

It is really old, by the way. About 4 years now, i think.

And those prices come from just one shop i know with cheaper parts and a shop front, not just internet based. I dont care if my parts come from somewhere else as long as their cheap and good quality.

@amnotanoobie:
Its thermaltake, not no-name, but yes, its still old.

 

[amnotanoobie]

Its thermaltake, not no-name, but yes, its still old.

Thermaltake has sold some not-so-good power supplies.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/332/7

Their high-end stuff may be good, but their lower tier stuff varies in quality.

 

[wasabi-warrior]

Again, sorry i didnt mension it anyway.

Anyways, either tomorrow (which its 6pm friday here when i post this, so i hope someone replies before i leave ) or in three days time (less likely than tomorrow ), im going to buy one, thats for sure, probably from that shop i got the prices from.

I really want a 750W to cover for expansion.
Antec Truepower vs. Corsair HX
Which is it?
And if someone posts me a link for a better price/part before then, i guess i'll have to think about it.

 

[False_Dmitry_II]

corsair