Handy PSU Calculator from Antec

[Crazy Buddhist]

Here (http://www.antec.outervision.com/PSUEngine)it is

Specify socket, no of chips, processor spec, memory, disks etc and power usage. Includes an Overclocking tool to include headroom for those tinkerers amongst us.

Give it your specs and it spits out a PSU power recommendation.

CrazyB

[BuzzKillington]

That's awesome! But wth is "Capacitor Aging"? It changes the wattage requirements quite a bit.

[Crazy Buddhist]

That's awesome! But wth is "Capacitor Aging"? It changes the wattage requirements quite a bit.

There is an explanation on the page. It relates to the reduction in PSU output that results from heavy or continuous usage around a year or so after new. This is normal seemingly and depends on if the machine is on 24/7 used for heavy gaming a lot or just spits out the odd letter and email, for example.

It's news to me and having read the explanation I don't feel explanated. I'd google-fu it if I wasn't laying on the sofa in a state of extreme lethargy. I'm sure if you google: What is PSU Capacitor Aging? (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+PSU+capacitor+aging) << for example by clicking on that link ... you'll find out quick enough. Let me know what you learn :smoker:

[SXRguyinMA]

nice find

[BuzzKillington]

There is an explanation on the page. It relates to the reduction in PSU output that results from heavy or continuous usage around a year or so after new. This is normal seemingly and depends on if the machine is on 24/7 used for heavy gaming a lot or just spits out the odd letter and email, for example.

It's news to me and having read the explanation I don't feel explanated. I'd google-fu it if I wasn't laying on the sofa in a state of extreme lethargy. I'm sure if you google: What is PSU Capacitor Aging? (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+is+PSU+capacitor+aging) << for example by clicking on that link ... you'll find out quick enough. Let me know what you learn :smoker:

I found quite a few sources that all had pretty much the same explanation but none of them mentioned how to determine wear or how accurate the calculator would even be if you decided to bring wear into the equation.

If you don't select wear, you could be running an i7 system with 4sticks of ddr3 and 2x275's in sli and hit under 650... but if you say 10% wear it will bump it up a bit... if you say 50% wear you're looking at over 900watts? Does this mean by the time your system is a couple years old you're going to either need a new mobo or psu? or would you be better off planning for the cap-wear and just get a 1000w lol.

[Crazy Buddhist]

...

If you don't select wear, you could be running an i7 system with 4sticks of ddr3 and 2x275's in sli and hit under 650... but if you say 10% wear it will bump it up a bit... if you say 50% wear you're looking at over 900watts? Does this mean by the time your system is a couple years old you're going to either need a new mobo or psu?

PSU - yes, MOBO if you don't get to the PSU quick enough - maybe


or would you be better off planning for the cap-wear and just get a 1000w lol.

Yes. PSU's lose power with use. Don't get one that will drive your build .. get one that is 20 - 30 % higher than you need minimum.

My current machine is rated at about 350W and it burned out a 450W PSU in under two years. There is a 750W PSU running it now since two years which allows for the PSU power to drop and for me to add in more hardware. I went more extreme than you need to .... but that's my way.

CrazyB

[Mark_Hardware]

I got an 1100w.... but that's my way. :whistler:

[FuzzyPlushroom]

I'll be running a pair of 8800GTs on a two-year-old, "650w"-badged 500-550w as of a few weeks from now.

My way has traditionally been adequate. If it catches fire, it gets a CP-850.

[slaveofconvention]

According to this calculator, I only need a 329w psu for my main PC - Q6700, 8GB Ram, 2HD, 1 DVDRW, Card reader, ATI 4870 plus the stock 4 fans in the Antec 900 - why did I spend so much on the Hiper 680W????? lol

Oh yeah, cos vga manufacturer said min 500W PSU required for this Video Card...

[XcOM]

its ok, it calculated i only need 263w PSU,

AMD 2800
ATI 3650
2 DDR DIMMS
2 HDD's
one HP 120mm Fan
one PCI NIC
and a few usb devices,

good job i have a 400w psu then isn't it/