How powerful should my PSU be? Please help!

[sushi1]

Hey
Quick question the check the power i need from my PSU
I just found this bundle http://www.ebuyer.com/220863-coolermaster-elite-330-case-with-coolermaster-extreme-power-500w-psu-rc-330-kkpl-gp
it gives a good case and PSU for only £55 I just dont know if the PSU is up to it, will 500w be enough?
My PC
CPU: Intel Core i5 3450
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7
Motherboard: Asus P8H61-M LE/USB3
RAM: 8GB DDR3 (2x 4GB)
Hard Drive: 500GB
Optical Drive: 24x
Graphics card: MSI GTX 560 Ti 1024MB DDR5 TWIN FROZR II
Internet: TP-Link Wireless-N150 PCIe card

If i could make to with 500w rather than 600w then i would save quite a bit
(wont be overclocking)

Thanks

 

[jay_nar2012]

500W will be fine but 600W will give you more headroom for future upgrades.

 

[Temile]

500w is more than enough power. My wife's system is more powerful than that and it only uses 270w (i7 2600k and 560 448). However, that Cooler Master does not get good reviews:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-eXtreme-Power-Plus-500-W-Power-Supply-Review/728/10

I'd keep looking for a sale. Read this, it will explain how much power you need and why quality is more important than quantity:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/324368-28-computer-power-supplies-guide

I know the Corsair 430w has been on sale in the UK recently...that will be sufficient and it is a better unit.

 

[sushi1]

Ty! looks like ill the the bundle i showed, just for ease of mind both the case and PSU i showed are fine right?

 

[FlintIronStagg]

The rig you want with no overclocking will run on that psu.
However, that psu is extremely inefficient and noisy as reviewed on hardware secrets
I say dont crap out on your psu and get something better. By better I mean brand. Seasonic, antech, lr corsair 500w or greater would be the way to go.

 

[hunter315]

There is a reason that PSU gets stuck with that case for so cheap, their extreme power plus series is cheap and not good at all

Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 500 W is the perfect example to explain why maximum power isn’t everything. This power supply can really deliver 500 W, but with efficiency above 80% only when you pull between 40% and 60% load (between 200 W and 300 W) and electrical noise level above the maximum allowed if you pull 80% load or more (i.e., starting at 400 W).

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Cooler-Master-eXtreme-Power-Plus-500-W-Power-Supply-Review/728/10


I would suggest going for the XFX 450 or Corsair CX500 if you are on a really tight budget, either of them can run that card fine, no reviews of the CX500 out there and the only issue jonnyguru found with the XFX was high 12V voltage but that was only an issue with unrealistic crossloads(you cant do that without trying)
http://www.ebuyer.com/264381-xfx-450w-core-edition-pro-psu-p1-450s-u2b9
http://www.ebuyer.com/278634-corsair-500w-cx-v2-psu-cmpsu-500cxv2uk

 

[sushi1]

Ty
would http://www.ebuyer.com/269259-corsair-600w-cx-series-v2-psu-6x-sata-2x-pci-e-cmpsu-600cxv2uk and http://www.ebuyer.com/172779-casecom-6788-all-black-case-km-6788-black be better?

 

[FlintIronStagg]

yes much better than the cooler master psu you had originally linked
that corsair will last you a long time and do the job well

 

[Temile]

Since you seem to be on a budget: http://www.ebuyer.com/271798-corsair-430w-v2-cx-series-psu-cmpsu-430cxv2uk

Read this and consider whether you really need 600w: http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9138

 

[sushi1]

Since you seem to be on a budget: http://www.ebuyer.com/271798-corsair-430w-v2-cx-series-psu-cmpsu-430cxv2uk

Read this and consider whether you really need 600w: http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9138

I may well add to the PC down the road so i feel the 600w will leave me room to grow

 

[FlintIronStagg]

specifically room to overclock
you dont want to operate at your psu's limit all the time, psus tend to operate at better efficiencies when they are below 80% load

 

[sushi1]

Is it possible to over clock the 3450 a little? Bear in mind I am just using the stock cooler

 

[Temile]

Not with a 3450--that's not an unlocked chip. 600w is great..I was just giving the OP options because he's obviously concerned about cost. My guess is that system will draw less than 250w, maybe less than 200.

 

[FlintIronStagg]

Not with a 3450--that's not an unlocked chip. 600w is great..I was just giving the OP options because he's obviously concerned about cost. My guess is that system will draw less than 250w, maybe less than 200.

a REAL overclocker can overclock that chip

 

[mailpranshu]

Hi Sushi 1,

I had been using a PSU from the same family for over a year and a half. I used to not overclock it and have left it on my rig.( dual core + 6670)

It worked well and frankly I never had any problems.

But my new rig(2600K+7870) did not work out so well. there used to be random shut downs, and I got a power fluctuation message on my Asus board more than once while starting up. I was scared to use it to overclock and frankly changed it to a Corsair TX 650 as soon as I got a chance. The 600W PSU is more like a 450W PSU and is deceptive labeling.

Please don't crimp on the most important part of your PC. My PSU did not blow up but I lived in fear. Close to $1500 of equipment could have got screwed just so that I would have saved $20.

Hell, buy a smaller Ram kit or a smaller HDD but buy a quality PSU please.

Regards...

 

[sushi1]

Ty everyone, think i know what im doing now

 

[Temile]

Ty everyone, think i know what im doing now

Don't keep us in suspense!