Picking A Power Supply

[Lancelot59]

Well I'm up for picking a power supply for my new machine. I'm thinking of something in the 700-800W range.

I plan to run a mobo, GFX card, water cooling system, 4 or more hard drives, two or so optical drives, a floppy drive, lights, and a few other doodads. Will a 800W PSU be able to support all that?

Also are modular PSUs really worth the extra cash?

[J-Roc]

800watts would do all that and then some. If your going to be running a lot components, i'd sugjest an 80% certified PSU so help keep your electric bill down.

I would say modular PSU's are well worth the extra cash only if your going to be showing off the computer with a window or whatnot and want a neat and tidy apperance. For a beige box computer i would say no. You could allways tuck the unused cables in an empty drive bay.

[blueonblack]

I second J-Roc's advice on the modular PSU. I bought a PSU recently, and though I love it and it has all the power and connections I need, the cables are a major irritant. If you plan to show off the inside of the box (as I did but now can't), buy modular. If not, don't worry about it. And do the research, large wattage is not the bottom line.
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[Lancelot59]

800watts would do all that and then some. If your going to be running a lot components, i'd sugjest an 80% certified PSU so help keep your electric bill down.

I would say modular PSU's are well worth the extra cash only if your going to be showing off the computer with a window or whatnot and want a neat and tidy apperance. For a beige box computer i would say no. You could allways tuck the unused cables in an empty drive bay.
Well we all love low electrical bills. My case will have a window but I think a modular would be better because the top blow hole sits not too far in front of the PSU spot...I could just make a little drawer to keep the other cables in.



And do the research, large wattage is not the bottom line.

True dat. I picked the 700-800 range as a guess cause I'm not all that up with newer power requirements for devices, and figured because the ye-olde one I have runs two optical drives, two HDD, a GeForce 6400 and a floppy needs 600W. So I knocked it up a notch.

But what does make the "bottom line" besides available output wattage? In your opinion what are some good PSU makers? I've heard Rosewill is decent.

[blueonblack]

But what does make the "bottom line" besides available output wattage?

Amperage is the big one, a large total-watt output isn't going to help if it won't provide the current your hardware needs. Number of 12-volt rails is also important, but I've seen newer PSUs with a single rail carrying 90 amps.

Here is a good calculator for figuring what you need. Don't remember if this one will calculate total amperage needed but if not there are others that will.

http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6454
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[Lancelot59]

I put a bunch of stuff in and it recommended 705W. So I'll just add up the specs once I finalize parts and crunch it then.

[Wecrookie]

I have just ordered this ;

http://www.tagan.com/index.php?c_id=32&products_id=172&p_cata_id=65

Got it from microdirect,£114. with delivery.


It was one of two that i liked recommended to me after my old PSU died.

I have only heard good things about them.
Enermax,Coolermaster,Corsair,Antec Seasonic are some others that were also recommended.

hope it helps

yours wecrookie:eek:

[Lancelot59]

I actually browsed NewEgg before you posted and that Tagan PSU is on my semi-final list.
LINK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817814014)
But meeting the specifications I listed those brands didn't appear on the Newegg site. Other semi-final brands are ThermalTake, Gigabyte, Xigmatek, and Apevia. I didn't see any Enermax, but 1 Cooler Master, and 1 Antec PSU also made the list.

[985323]

id say use this one, cant go wrong with corsair http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3438609&CatId=2533

[Spawn-Inc]

i second, third and forth the corsair one, what ever you choose don't skimp out on the psu.


btw what did you choose to get 700 watts from the psu calc... my current system in rig, with 16 fans runs 550 a little bit higher.

[Lancelot59]

5 HDDs, a desktop mobo, A 9800 GX2 gfx card (they didn't have a GTX 280), a floppy drive, a dvd rw, three USB devices, three cold cathodes, a few large fans, and a swiftech m665 water pump.

I might've missed some stuff. That's just what I can remember.

[Lancelot59]

After much debating and deliberation with the voices in my head I've decided to go with this power supply:
LINK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006)

It's cheaper then the other one that made the finals.
LINK (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817814014)
but I don't really need 800W, but by getting the corsair one I'm missing out on having a modular power supply. Thanks for the help everyone! Now I just need to pick a mobo, ram, cpu, and a few other things.

[J-Roc]

You also get the elusive 8pin pcie power dongle with that corsair model. Thats a bonus right there!

[Spawn-Inc]

You also get the elusive 8pin pcie power dongle with that corsair model. Thats a bonus right there!

? i don't see anything about what your talking about... then again i don't even know what your talking about to look for so. power dongle?


are you just talking about a 8 pin pcie plug?

[Lancelot59]

I think that's what he means.

[Eclecticos]

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9743/abstaganqu7.jpg

The ABS Tagan BZ Series 800W is Pimp.

[J-Roc]

Spawn, get off the chesterfield and read some hardbacks eh. ^O.o^

Dongle = Cord

I dont understand the need for the extra 2 pins(6+2). My research indicates that they are just grounds.