I'm unsure about PSU replacement wattage

[redstring]

Hello,

I'm replacing a 550W Diablotek I bought about a year and a half ago.

System specs:

Gigabyte HD 6850
Athlon II X4 640 OC @ 3.6GHz (from 3.0)
10GB Ram (2x3gb + 1x4gb)
Cooler Master Hyper 212+
500gb HDD (1)

This case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156063

Has: 2x80mm, 2x120mm fans


What do you think? Do I need a 600W or would I be alright with a 550?

 

[o1die]

I would go with a 600w in a branded name: antec, corsair, ocz, seasonic, xfx, or enermax. These brands are tested and rated properly under load. Diablotec is low end; I wouldn't use one.

 

[unksol]

500W is more than enough. You're only looking at a 350-400W system

 

[nikorr]

I would go with 600W too, you don't ever have to go for the bare minimum required.

500 Watt or greater power supply recommended, so why settle for bare minimum?

http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/amd-radeon-hd-6000/hd-6850/pages/amd-radeon-hd-6850-overview.aspx#3

 

[Guest]

this is a good PSU for the price - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

or the CORSAIR Gaming Series GS600 600W, but the lights arnt to everyones taste but judging by the case you might like them http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139023

 

[delluser1]

Hello,

I'm replacing a 550W Diablotek I bought about a year and a half ago.

System specs:

Gigabyte HD 6850
Athlon II X4 640 OC @ 3.6GHz (from 3.0)
10GB Ram (2x3gb + 1x4gb)
Cooler Master Hyper 212+
500gb HDD (1)

This case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156063

Has: 2x80mm, 2x120mm fans


What do you think? Do I need a 600W or would I be alright with a 550?

Tom's March 2011 value build
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/budget-gaming-pc-phenom-ii-radeon-hd-6850,2903.html
Overclocked PII X4-925 / HD 6850

306 watts from the wall running Prime and Furmark combined
~84% efficient 380 watt psu
~257 watt DC load on the psu when running a pair of power viruses intended to simulate MAX load, not the kind of power consumption you're going to see unless that's all you do
Buy what you want, just know that a good quality 500 watt psu isn't the "bare minimum"

 

[redstring]

Thanks for the great replies guys. I definitely won't be buying a Diablotek again. I've had it maybe a year and a half and it's been giving me trouble for the last 4-5 months. Thankfully it hasn't fried anything. (knock on wood)


Given that I trust Tom's builds - and the 2011 value build is almost the exact same computer I built, aside for a few things like my extra fans, 212+, cd-rw, and the case.

If I rule in those extras, I think I should be able to get by perfectly fine with a quality 500w brand like Seasonic or Corsair.


Thanks again,

RS

 

[redstring]

Best answer selected by redstring.