Is this PSU good enough for my setup???

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, Cases & Mods Is this PSU good enough for my setup???

Hello everyone,

This will be my second time building a PC. The last one I built was a Pentium IV system 8 years ago, so I had a bit of catching-up to do on the hardware available today. Anyway, the purpose of the PC is both home theater and light 3D gaming, and it will be connected to my 46" 1080p Samsung LCD via HDMI. In the future, I may want to add an additional video card for Crossfire. Here is my system so far:

MSI 890GXM-G65 AM3 AMD 890GX Motherboard $129.99

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Quad-Core CPU $179.99

ATI Radeon HD 5750 Video Card 1 GB $149.99

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory $99.99

Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $94.99

HEC Black 0.7mm Thickness SECC 7K09 Micro ATX Media Center / HTPC Case $54.99

Samsung SH-B083L/BSBP Blu-Ray Drive $69.99

I used Newegg's PSU calculator and got a recommended PSU rating of 470 watts. Because I am using a Micro-ATX form factor, that has limited the PSUs to a max of 550 watts. The only one I found rated at 550 watts was this one:

Athena Power AP-MP4ATX55FEP8 550W Micro ATX SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817338038

Is this power supply acceptable for my setup? Thanks for the help, guys!

Reply to bigrig00

I'd go with a different case, like this one, which seems well liked.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163166

That way you can put a regular ATX PSU in it and get a much better brand.

Something like one of these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139008
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151078
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371029

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by aebome on 07-30-2010 at 08:24:12 PM

Reply to aebome

thats a shitty psu. athena power is right there with raidmax. this is/was a raidmax
http://www.corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=622747

Reply to shovenose

aebome wrote :

You won't need 470W with a quality PSU, and you need a good brand power supply. If a bad psu goes, it can take other stuff with it, which you definitely do not want. It doesn't appear that there are any on Newegg for Micro-ATX PSUs.

I'd go with a different case, like this one, which seems well liked.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811163166

That way you can put a regular ATX PSU in it and get a much better brand.

Something like one of these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139008
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151078
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371029

Thanks for the reply. The reason I wanted to go with that particular case was it was pretty short (only about 4 inches) and it would fit nicely in my AV rack. However, I think in the long run I'd probably save myself a lot of headaches by going with a case that is a bit taller so squeezing in the components won't be as difficult, as well as fitting a larger, better-quality ATX PSU. Of those 4 PSUs, which would you recommend?

Reply to bigrig00

I think any of them would suit your needs well. The Corsair is extraordinarily well liked here in the Tom's Hardware forums, and is known to punch above its weight. The Antec NEO 400 is also excellent, and high a higher efficiency rating than the Corsair, while maintaining 30Amps on the 12V rail. I think for the money, these two are the best bang for the buck. Also depends on where you want your fan (back or bottom, the case can accommodate either).

Just to point it out, the Antecs do NOT come with a power cord, so if you don't have one, you'll need to order one of those as well. Not a deal breaker in my opinion.

If it helps, I built a computer this past march for my father, who has basic computer needs, and used the Corsair. I looked at the Antec NEO, but it was more expensive at the time and cost was a concern for him.

Reply to aebome

If the 965 and HD5750 are both on stock, consider this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151090

Reply to Timop

Also, just to comment on the rest of your build, I would look at the Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB, as it is cheaper and faster than that WD.

Also switch your processor to the 955 BE, its exactly the same chip just with 1x multiplier less. Just go into the bios up the multiplier by 1 and viola, a 965BE at $20 savings.

Message edited by aebome on 07-30-2010 at 09:55:00 PM

Reply to aebome

You could actually do a few changes.
CPU-955 basically the same cpu x mutiplier by 1 = 965 speed/save $20
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103808
HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152185
Check out the e-mail promotions two different 5770's for $139.99
PSU-one of these if your're going to crossfire
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 207-002-TS
Antec Neo 400w $30 e-mail promotion/or the $30 mir Corsair if only using single gpu
http://promotions.newegg.com/NEema [...] nding.aspx
Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129066

Reply to davcon

I think Davcon missed the point of the HTPC build with some of his suggestions (case/crossfiring), but his suggestion about getting at 5770 at the same or lower price than a 5750 is a good one.

I thought that the reason you had chosen a 5750 was because you needed a low profile card, but it doesn't appear that 5750s are available in a low profile version. If you don't need a low profile version of a GPU (you won't in that Silverstone case) grab one of the 5770s at the same price point. The PSUs discussed above can handle it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161338
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102873

Message edited by aebome on 07-30-2010 at 10:58:03 PM

Reply to aebome

There are online tools to help you size up your power supply. Most of the top brands of PSU provides this tool. Corsair, Antec, Coolermaster..etc provide such tools

http://www.corsair.com/highqualitypower/default.aspx

Antec PSU calculator

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

Cooler Master Power Calculator

http://www.coolermaster.outervision.com/index.jsp

These tools will allow you to determine the capacity (Watts) of your PSU.

The general recommendation is buy the known good brands such as Corsair, Antec, Seasonic, Enermax etc.

Site to that review PC PSU

http://www.jonnyguru.com/index.php

Reply to leon2006

Thanks again for the input, guys...

Regarding the video card, I actually meant 5770, not 5750. I agree that the performance increase of the 5770 is more than enough to justify the price.

So, apparently not all Watts are created equal. 300 watts in one PSU is not necessarily 300 watts?

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to bigrig00

You have to look at the specs of the PSU how the power is distributed to the different voltage rails

Reply to leon2006

bigrig00 wrote :

So, apparently not all Watts are created equal. 300 watts in one PSU is not necessarily 300 watts?

Correct. Thats true of a PSU at any level. With a modern PC system you want as a hefty amount of +12v power for your CPU and video card.

COOLMAX CA-300 300W 180watts of +12v power

SeaSonic SS-300ES 300W 80Plus Bronze Efficiency 288watts of +12v power

Reply to WR2

For a really good example of exactly how not all wattage ratings are the same, depending on brand, look at this review. Good site too.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.p [...] y&reid=187

For an opposite example, of a great PSU overachieving, look at this review.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.p [...] y&reid=140

Reply to aebome

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