Question about Power supply.....

[NeoNight]

ok I have a 12v ATx 300watt power supply right now (set to like 115 right now) ... as I mentioned in another thread I am upgradeing from

Mainboard :ASUSTeK Computer INC. CUSL2-C (changing to This ) Chipset :Intel i815E/EP
Processor :Intel Pentium III EB @ 938 MHz (changing to This)
Physical Memory:256 MB (1 x 256 SDRAM PC133 @ 133 MHz) (changing to This)
Video Card: Nvidia Corp GeForce FX 5200 [NV34.3] (not changing)
Hard Disk :WDC WD400BB-00CAA1 (40 GB) (not changing)
Hard Disk :WDC WD200EB-00BHF0 (20 GB) (going to be swapped with a 200GB 7200 RPM)
DVD-Rom Recorder:NEC DVD_RW ND-3520A CDR, CDR-W, DVD-R (48x ) (48x ) (not changing)
DVD-Rom Drive : Pioneer DVD-ROM ATAPIModel DVD-106S 0122 (32x ) (not changing)

ok so is a 300watt 12V good enough for that? or should I get a 400watt or so?

 

[skarrob]

Dude go with a 450 or 500 power supply there not that much money and you will have all the power you will need in the future

 

[duffers20]

The Tagan TG480-U01 480W is a really good PSU. Seen the results of a stability test and it was the only one to pass all tests apart from 1 (ie the best one they tested). Its also a very good price at the moment.

 

[Asus]

I'd recommend getting a new PSU. Considering that you are trying to save money, I would recommend a Thermaltake Power Supply. They are pretty good and don't cost as much as the other units.

I have seen a number of Tagan PSU fail in different reviews or forum comments. They test well though.
(if you'd like I can link)

 

[NeoNight]

Ok but its not absolutely necessary for me to change it now riiiiight? (edit: opps about the switch thing) I should be ok unless I decided to go and upgrade the vid card to the Geforce 6 series or something (though of course I'd have to get one with AGP support......). I am a little bit low on cash right about now and I don't have access to a debit/credit card so its like it'll be a bit of a hassle for me to order anything else now. (i'd have to order via money order/pre-paid check) :|

 

[oni_666]

What do you mean in your first post, by its set to 115, and in your last post that you could set it to 230.

Do you mean the small red switch on the back of your PSU?

If I remember rightly this can be set to either 110 or 230, that is 110 volts or 230 volts dependant on which country your in.
If your in the UK this should be on 230 and I think the US uses 110 volts, in their main electric circuits.

Some psu's don't have this switch and some do.
It does'nt alter the wattage of your psu, just the voltage, put the switch in the wrong position and wave good bye to your pc.

 

[baron insig]

dont stet it to 230!!!#

that is telling the psu that you are receiving 230 Volts from mains rather than 115 ( american and europe are different

v=ir

ramping it up to 230 increases resistances in psu ultimatly u will get a lower ampage out

watts= amp x volts

oh yeah your psu might explode cos thats what i do to old psu's ( i in uk) flip the switch resistance in psu plummets blue spark fizz bang bye bye psu

So dont change it you could do no end of damage

 

[NeoNight]

oh crap thanks! for the info lol oh boy did you guys just save me alot of trouble. in any case I should be fine for now though right? as long as I don't flip the red switch lol

 

[Vorac1ous]

Don't listen to them NeoNight, for they are brainwashing you. With that CPU & video card, a new PSU won't do much & you're better off keeping what you have. But if you're upgrading then yeah, go for a 450W-480W.

 

[Muhahahaha]

I just got a 500W PSU, is 30A on the 5V rail enough for my new rig (below)? The 3.3V rail is 28A and the 12V rail is 34A. I think those should be fine, just wondering.

 

[Rocketman9mm]

well, check out my specs in my quote, i'm running all that plus extra fans, lights and stuff on a 420W. 2 hard drives, 2 media drives, 6800 ultra OC by BFG. its always a good idea to go with more power, but i've been fine with a 420 even though they suggest a 480 for my vid card. if i did go to 480 would I get more performance out of the card? i don't know.

 

[gweedodogg69]

I got a 580 watt PSU for $23 bucks and it works GREAT. Powering 3 HDs a CD Burner, Nvidia 6800 Ultra, 4 fans.

 

[Asus]

It isn't the Watt of the Powersupply that you should look for. And 300Watt that you have could work just fine or it may not be enough.

Check the rails (+3.3,+5 and +12) and what the amps are on each. The one you really want to look at is the +12 rail. You shouldn't have less than 15amps on that rail. A good average is 18-20amps. A lot of the new PSUs are getting closer to 30's or Dual 15amp +12 rails.

Of course if you want to risk it, one way to know if your PSU isn't good enough is to wait til it fails. Which could take your board with it.

I got a 580 watt PSU for $23 bucks and it works GREAT. Powering 3 HDs a CD Burner, Nvidia 6800 Ultra, 4 fans.

I wonder how long that will last. Keep us updated.

 

[Muhahahaha]

Yeah, lol. When I was looking, any high power PSUs for that low of a price were definitely not good enough. You get what you pay for.

 

[NeoNight]

It isn't the Watt of the Power supply that you should look for. And 300Watt that you have could work just fine or it may not be enough.

Check the rails (+3.3,+5 and +12) and what the amps are on each. The one you really want to look at is the +12 rail. You shouldn't have less than 15amps on that rail. A good average is 18-20amps. A lot of the new PSUs are getting closer to 30's or Dual 15amp +12 rails.

Of course if you want to risk it, one way to know if your PSU isn't good enough is to wait til it fails. Which could take your board with it.
I wonder how long that will last. Keep us updated.

ok thanks a bunch man! I took your advice and went and got a 450watt (which ended up being a 480watt, mistake on the retailers part hehe) with rails set at.... +3.3V (20A) +5V(40A) +12V (20A) -5V(0.5A) -12V(0.5A) +5VSB (2.5A) all for 35+tax= $38.00

only problem am having now is with the heatsink that came with the amd. For some reason I can't get it to fit on the cpu because of these 3 black cylinder shaped things thats right next to the socket. I can't line up the heatsink properly because of them and the fact that the heat sink is a bit on the big side lol. :rolling: