How much power is adequate?

[l3um]

How much should you buy in a power supply unit? And does it matter? Do you need more if you use your computer differently such as gaming or Office work?

My computer is slower than molasses.

 

[10GHZ]

300w-350w would be sufficient enough, depends on how many stuff u've installed in your computer and what type of cpu and mobo...etc but genearlly speaking 350w would give u good solid output

 

[OldBear]

Your wattage figure is correct. I add: a quality power supply.

<font color=blue><b>You get what you pay for...all advice here is free.</b></font color=blue>

 

[camieabz]

Yep. Its easy to add things without taking into consideration the PSU.

I added a DVD drive to my system last night, and the total max usage is at 262W. Now as I have a 300W <b>quality</b> PSU, I figure it should be fine, but if I want it to run without overheating it, I should really be considering a 350W one.

<b><font color=blue>~ They're coming to take me away. Ha Ha! ~</font color=blue></b>

 

[Arrow]

Here's a small guide that might help you:
<A HREF="http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/maxpc/index_cases.htm" target="_new">http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/maxpc/index_cases.htm</A>.
Your power supply shouldn't be at 100% load at any time, however.

Rob
Please visit <b><A HREF="http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048" target="_new">http://www.ncix.com/canada/index.cfm?affiliateid=319048</A></b>

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the link Arrow! That may the problem I'm having with my system now. (See my post in the 'Motherboards & Chipsets' section here titled 'Strange problem with my new system...Please Help!' Using that chart and adding up the devices in my PC, though not exact, gave me a total requirement of around ~547W...and I'm currently using a generic 400W PS. As it is, I've already ordered a 'Enermax EG651P-VE FMA' Power Supply and I'm hoping that 651W Peak should give me enough leeway to cover all my bases.

 

[camieabz]

547W !!!!

What you got? A national defense computer?

<b><font color=blue>~ They're coming to take me away. Ha Ha! ~</font color=blue></b>

 

[Guest]

What you got? A national defense computer?

HehHeh..Nah, I just have a lot of components and stuff. Understand that I used the reference chart that Arrow provided the link to and the formula listed there (total wattage for components in list you have X 1.5. So if the chart and/or the formula is wrong, then my results are too. Even if the chart is more or less accurate, the individual components I have will most likely differ a bit in wattage requirements than the general ones listed in the chart.

 

[camieabz]

I tend to make it 10/7 or divide by seven, multiply by ten.

BTW you can get a 550W supply.

<b><font color=blue>~ They're coming to take me away. Ha Ha! ~</font color=blue></b>

 

[Guest]

I tend to make it 10/7 or divide by seven, multiply by ten.

That gave around 521W...still more than my existing 400W PS I'm using now.

BTW you can get a 550W supply.

My Enermax I ordered (EG651P-VE FMA) gives a base output of 530W and a Peak of 651W...that SHOULD be enough...I hope.

 

[l3um]

My god, with that much power I might be able to heat my room in the middle of winter here in Iowa. Hehe...thanks for the help guys.

My computer is slower than molasses.