How much power?

[ksachdev]

I'm building a new computer but I have no idea how much power I need.
My setup is a bit irregular, so I don't know what to do here.

1 x Intel i5-760 Quad 2.8GHz
1 x Gigabyte P55A-UD3
2 x 2GB DDR3-1333 1.5V CL7 RAM
6 x 7200RPM SATA2 HDs (RAID 5 using Onboard Chipset)
1 x 40GB SSD
1 x DVD-RW Drive
1 x GeForce GTX 460 Fermi Hawk OC 780MHZ 1GB
1 x Card Reader
4 x Cold Cathodes
3 x 120mm LED Fans

Right now, I'm looking at a Corsair TX750.
Is that enough or should I go higher? Any recommendations?


Thanks

 

[ksachdev]

Truthfully, I'm not putting a video card in it. I just put a decent one in the post in case I want to at some point. Don't want my PSU to be too low in the future.

 

[Unolocogringo]

You will need some sort of video card in this machine.
The motherboard does not have an onboard video chip or connectors for a monitor.

 

[ksachdev]

Really? Damn, OK. I have an old X1600 Radeon that I'm not using. I'll just use that for now. But let's talk power. Is 600W alright?

 

[Scott2010au]

Personally I wouldn't be adding things like cold cathodes to a build in which you are not 100% certain of the power requirements.

The main reason people are asking about the video card is that is where a fair amount of your projected power usage is going.

The HDD's are hard to predict as it they are not specified, but it should fall between 30 and 60 watts (internally), or 43 to 85 watts externally for them.

The SSD might only use 5 watts. (I'd double check, since it may be an older Gen I or Gen II unit).

PS: You only really need two fans in a machine, either both on exhaust, or one for fresh air, and one for exhaust.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Plug ya system into this

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

I'd recommend a Antec EA-650. It's equivalent to the Corsair TX series but the $50 price tag can't be beat ($69.99 - $15 MIR - $5 coupon code)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

 

[g048989h]

Have you tried going to www.antec.com and using their PSU calculator yet?
If not give it a try then add a few watts, if it tells you 450 buy a 550, if it tells you 550 buy 600. Really I think a good quality 600 -650 watt PSU will run your rig plus a decent video card. Stay away from off brand, OCZ, Corsair, Antec and Seasonic, silverstone are decent brands. Plan to spend between 90 and 120$. Buy modular if possible. Dont be fooled by the number of +12V rails. 1 is fine. Amps in the 45-55 range in that watt class is where you will be.
There was a pretty good round up article posted on this site although most of the PSU were 750 watt plus, it would give you an idea of the best brands.
Good Luck

 

[ksachdev]

I tried the Antec calculator. It's a great tool, but the number it gave me was always 800+
I thought that was ridiculous, so I posted here instead.

 

[g048989h]

I used neweggs and wow you're right. with a 5850, your cpu, high end MB and 6 HDD's it says 672 watts. That doesn't include the fans or the lights. Doesnt leave room for much upgrading either. I guess I learned something about multiple hard drive arrays, they cost a lot of power.
750 to 850 it is.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-psu-efficiency,2796.html
The above link is to that article in case you want to read through the test results since your power requirements are in the same range as the PSU's they tested.

 

[ksachdev]

Yea, looks like it's about 40W per HD. I don't think I'll be able to get by with a 750W. Especially if I want to ever OC in the future. I'll have to go at least 850+
What do you think?

 

[g048989h]

I think 850 would be safe. Your CPU is 95watt at 1.3V stock, OC'd to 3800 at 1.4Volts it's a 150 watt chip. I have no clue if you would be able to OC it that far, I think you would, but am not sure about it neeing the 1.4volts to get there. I think 800-850 is safe. I would be comfortable running that wattage on a top quality PSU with your specs. I think it would give you a little room to add that GFX card later. something you said earlier, adding a X1600, I think that card draws 130 idle and 240 load watts which is roughly the same draw idle/load as a gtx460 768mb. I am not sure why I thought you needed to know that, it seemed relevent when I began typing it.

 

[ksachdev]

That's interesting, does a 1600 really draw that much power as a current mid-range GPU? It's so old. I'm pretty sure I bought it almost 5 years ago.

I'm looking at the Corsair TX850W. Reviews are great, it has the connectors I need for the fans and lights, 5 year warranty.

 

[g048989h]

Completely agree with Dadiggles comment that the best info is here with the experts but have to disagree with the suggestions to run the smaller PSU. Sorry Dadiggle. I thought the same thing as you, i thought a 650 would be over kill but the various power calculators tell us different. I wouldn't want to advise someone to go smaller and be wrong. I often learn the hard way but can't advise others to do th same. If an 850 will cover all the bases and then some and he can afford it he should go with it, IMHO.

 

[ksachdev]

Yep, that's what I'm going to do. I'd rather be over than under. I've chosen the Corsair TX850W. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[ksachdev]

Best answer selected by ksachdev.