How much power needed for an A6 and A8 APU?

[reaper2794]

Hey guys, so how much power is needed for an A6 or A8 APU from AMD with no additional video cards?

My friends mom wants a cheap build for just surfing, I figure why get an Intel i3 when you can have the APU and it also has a low range GPU embedded into it so why not

So what do you think guys? Can you guys recommend me some specific PSUs?

 

[jaguarskx]

Here's a review of the Llano A8-3800 APU. The built in graphics core is the HD 6550D.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/amd-a8-3800_2.html#sect0

These are the power consumption measurements:

 

[reaper2794]

Well you could go on to explain more... does this mean the highest the A8 will ever consume is like ~ 66W??

 

[buzznut]

Well you could go on to explain more... does this mean the highest the A8 will ever consume is like ~ 66W??

No, it means this is what the platform will consume at various loads. You've also got the hard drives, optical drives, fans, etc.
Here's some PSU calculators:

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

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

 

[buzznut]

400W is more than enough. Probably 300W would be about right for optimal load.

 

[jaguarskx]

The follow are the component used in the test rigs. Total power consumption is dependent on your components. If you toss in any of the video cards listed, then you can kiss that 66w max system power consumption goodbye.


Processors:
AMD A8-3800 (Llano, 4 cores, 2.4/2.7 GHz, 4 MB L2, Radeon HD 6550D)
AMD Athlon II X4 630 (Propus, 4 cores, 2.8 GHz, 2 MB L2);
Intel Core i3-2100 (Sandy Bridge, 2 cores, 3.1 GHz, 3 MB L3, HD Graphics 2000);
Intel Core i3-2105 (Sandy Bridge, 2 cores, 3.1 GHz, 3 MB L3, HD Graphics 3000);
Intel Pentium G850 (Sandy Bridge, 2 cores, 2.9 GHz, 3 MB L3, HD Graphics);
Mainboards:
ASUS Crosshair IV Formula (Socket AM3, AMD 890FX + SB850, DDR3 SDRAM);
ASUS P8Z68-V Pro (LGA1155, Intel Z68 Express);
Gigabyte GA-A75-D3H (Socket FM1, AMD A75)
Memory: 2 x 2 GB DDR3-1600 SDRAM 9-9-9-27-1T (Kingston KHX1600C8D3K2/4GX);
Graphics cards:
AMD Radeon HD 5570;
AMD Radeon HD 6450;
AMD Radeon HD 6570;
AMD Radeon HD 6970.
Hard drive: Kingston SNVP325-S2/128GB.
Power supply unit: Tagan TG880-U33II (880 W).
Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 SP1 Ultimate x64.
Drivers:
Intel Chipset Driver 9.2.0.1030;
Intel Management Engine Driver 7.1.10.1065;
Intel Rapid Storage Technology 10.5.0.1027;
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 15.22.1.64.2361;
AMD Catalyst 11.6 Display Driver.

 

[reaper2794]

No, it means this is what the platform will consume at various loads. You've also got the hard drives, optical drives, fans, etc.
Here's some PSU calculators:

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

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

If Im not mistaken, that site doesnt include the Llano APUs..?

The follow are the component used in the test rigs. Total power consumption is dependent on your components. If you toss in any of the video cards listed, then you can kiss that 66w max system power consumption goodbye.

I specifically said there wont be another video card

So is 300W safe with a hard drive, cd drive, a mini atx mobo, and the apu? or 350 or 400 or what

Anyone wanna recommend some good affordable ones?

 

[buzznut]

Im not surprised that LLano is not included yet. Low power consumption is the whole idea behing this platform. Put the GPU and CPU in the same power envelope and you've solved most of the power issues.

I think you could sub in an i3/i5 with integrated Intel HD 3000 and have a pretty good idea what Llano would consume.

For low budget, I can recommend this model I have used for a number of builds. Sleeved cables and easy to work with, quiet too:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

Another bubdget model, this is micro ATX if you need that:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104075

Seasonic 80+ certified bronze:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151085

 

[jaguarskx]

I specifically said there wont be another video card

So is 300W safe with a hard drive, cd drive, a mini atx mobo, and the apu? or 350 or 400 or what

Anyone wanna recommend some good affordable ones?

Which is why I provided those power consumption graphs which relied on the integrated graphic core.

The emphasis is that total power consumption depends on the components used. A system with 5 hard drives will use more power than a system with 1 hard drive.

A 300w PSU is more than enough.

 

[reaper2794]

Wow all those PSUs look awful /=

Do they look so damn plain just cause they're lower wattage? I know SeaSonic is extremely reputable but even theirs looks lame

 

[jaguarskx]

Wow all those PSUs look awful /=

Do they look so damn plain just cause they're lower wattage? I know SeaSonic is extremely reputable but even theirs looks lame

Does it really matter? It's going to be inside a case.

 

[reaper2794]

Does it really matter? It's going to be inside a case.

Im a picky guy haha, I want even a $300-500 to look nice even on the inside xD The rest of the parts look great XDD

Thing is like, you can usually tell if a PSU is a heap of junk, so these look like those crappy no name PSUs basically, only way I can tell its not is because its SeaSonic

 

[someguynamedmatt]

Man... at least put an Antec in there. Would probably last one heck of a lot longer, too.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/BrandSubCategory.aspx?Brand=1516&SubCategory=58&name=Power-Supplies&Order=PRICE

No reason whatsoever not to go with one. A good Antec better than anything Thermaltake will ever make. Take your pick.

I know what you mean... I think the inside of my PC looks better than the outside. That's what happens when you put an extra $50 to get parts with matching colors...

 

[buzznut]

Im a picky guy haha, I want even a $300-500 to look nice even on the inside xD The rest of the parts look great XDD

Thing is like, you can usually tell if a PSU is a heap of junk, so these look like those crappy no name PSUs basically, only way I can tell its not is because its SeaSonic

Well, like I said I've used the Thermaltake TR2 for several builds. It works fine and looks pretty nice to. Perhaps if you gave us a budget we could find a nicer PSU.

 

[buzznut]

Man... at least put an Antec in there. Would probably last one heck of a lot longer, too.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/BrandSubCategory.aspx?Brand=1516&SubCategory=58&name=Power-Supplies&Order=PRICE

No reason whatsoever not to go with one. They're one helluva lot better than anything Thermaltake will ever make. Take your pick.

I know what you mean... I think the inside of my PC looks better than the outside. That's what happens when you put an extra $50 to get parts with matching colors...

All those power supplies are over 400W, except the BP which sucks. The OP asked if he could get away with 300W..

 

[someguynamedmatt]

All those power supplies are over 400W, except the BP which sucks. The OP asked if he could get away with 300W..

Yeah, but when you consider the fact that they're basically the same price as what's been already suggested, I don't see a problem here. I'd MUCH rather have a little bit of extra wattage than not quite enough.

The VP-450 would give the future owner a little room to add in an accessory or two, like a GPU if there would ever be any need for it, an extra HDD or two, or something along those lines. I'd say that the headspace of a PSU that costs $5 more would be worth it over a 300w unit.

 

[simon12]

You can get away with well under 200W a PSU that can supply 100W reliably should do it see:

 

[simon12]

Sorry I meant to say 150W not 100W

 

[someguynamedmatt]

...wow. I never knew it used that little power. Maybe I'm wrong... that Seasonic 300w unit should be plenty of power if that's all the more it uses. Sorry about that.

 

[reaper2794]

Im just gonna get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

It's a tad over $30, it's by Corsair, and looks just as sexy as their higher end PSUs if not better

and you guys thought Id be satisfied with some plain white PSU... (chuckles)

 

[buzznut]

Yeah, but when you consider the fact that they're basically the same price as what's been already suggested, I don't see a problem here. I'd MUCH rather have a little bit of extra wattage than not quite enough.

The VP-450 would give the future owner a little room to add in an accessory or two, like a GPU if there would ever be any need for it, an extra HDD or two, or something along those lines. I'd say that the headspace of a PSU that costs $5 more would be worth it over a 300w unit.

Oh, i agree with that. It looked like a budget build, but he still hasn't given a budget for the PSU..

The power requirements are very minimal, could probably run it on a crappy 160W unit from gateway for a year or two. Nothing wrong with the Seasonic I mentioned though.

Given a $50 budget, I could certainly recommend the Earthwatts 420, although its certainly overkill for grandmas PC.

 

[buzznut]

Im just gonna get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

It's a tad over $30, it's by Corsair, and looks just as sexy as their higher end PSUs if not better

and you guys thought Id be satisfied with some plain white PSU... (chuckles)

See?? You can pick out a decent power supply all on your own! :lol:

 

[reaper2794]

See?? You can pick out a decent power supply all on your own! :lol:

I believe in myself Buzznut!!! Thank you! I believe in myself! Im not gonna stand up to being bullied by that kid in my class anymore!

*takes shirt off and runs outside into the pouring rain*

IM FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

!#!$% I CANT GIVE BEST ANSWER TO MYSELF FML!!!

 

[buzznut]

I believe in myself Buzznut!!! Thank you! I believe in myself! Im not gonna stand up to being bullied by that kid in my class anymore!

*takes shirt off and runs outside into the pouring rain*

IM FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

!#!$% I CANT GIVE BEST ANSWER TO MYSELF FML!!!

:lol: :lol:

Thats AWESOME!

 

[reaper2794]

Lmfaooooo ._.