Power Supply help please

[mehmeh]

Hey all.
I have no doubt this question gets asked a hell of a lot these days, but I'd apprieate anyones input as I cant seem to find answers catering for my sort of setup.

I have this PSU.. ***Cant post a link.. google "Xilence 420W"***

12v1 = 14a
12v2 = 13a
324W total (according the sticker: 12v1 = 156W & 12v2=168W.. Seems odd when every other company just gives the wattage for all 12v rails as one).
Combined 27a (Seems even more odd.. 324/12 = 27a but isnt it usually less than just adding the two rails together?).

Ok so.. system specs are...

Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R mobo
2GB DDR2-800
Intel E4500 @ stock
1x SATA2 HDD
1x SATA DVD
Couple of 60mm case fans
All sat inside a Thermaltake Lanbox

System was built on a budget with the intention of gradually upgrading as cashflow allowed. I'd like a new graphics card (onboard sucks!) but starting to tear my hair out about this PSU that I'd wish I never bought. Its quiet and seems reliable, but everywhere I read about 500-600W PSU's being needed for anything half decent (9600GT, 8800GT, HD4850). But the same threads say it's all about 12v amps... So while my PSU does seem gutless the amps say otherwise?

Thanks in advance.

[moogle]

You don't need a beefy PSU to run those graphics cards (except for maybe the 4850 I suppose), it depends on what you're running in total and that setup doesn't require much power I dont see why you can't run one of either card, the total amps seem good enough as well.

[Blitzen]

Your calculations are right.
You are also correct when you say that the actual is usually less once the calculation is made.

Its around £33-35.

For another £4, i would head in the direction of this: http://scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=792422

It would be more than enough to run the rig stated and is good quality.

[mehmeh]

Thanks for the replies, maybe theres some life left in the PSU yet after all then

Price of what sorry, Blitzen? PSU was about £25 I think. Only reason I'm undecided on gfx card choice is because of the PSU, prices are all so close atm but if say the 9600GT is gonna be a safer bet than a 8800GT or even a 9800GT looking at how close prices are, I'll have to decide whether I can live with the slow card or save up another £50 or so for a new PSU... grrrr never used to be this hard, wish my 6800GT was so alive lol!

*EDIT* Ah right, got'cha Blitzen.. Afraid I already own the thing LOL! If I was buying today I'd be all over the Hiper 580Watter or one of the new OCZ EliteStreams...

[moogle]

You could always try and flog it. If you invest in a good psu it will last you through most of your upgrades for a while without having to worry if you can power the next component. A modular one will ensure that you can also use the next generation of cables (Enermax PSU's for example) and Corsair do the same too. If you don't need the fast graphics card then get a medium one which won't require so much power.

[Blitzen]

If I was buying today I'd be all over the Hiper 580Watter

Whatever you do...DONT!

All bling and zero quality. Far better to be had for £50. (The 425W Enermax MODU82+ for a start).

[Pob255]

Well given that you're using a e4500 + no overclock + only 1 hdd
you've got fairly low power needs there.

The big question is was that psu even worth £25?

Just adding numbers up is often a way a manufactor uses of increasing the wattage without actually makeing the psu any better.

I'd risk a 9600gt on it but nothing better

[mehmeh]

Whatever you do...DONT!

All bling and zero quality. Far better to be had for £50. (The 425W Enermax MODU82+ for a start).

Really?! In all honesty I am learning as I go with PSU's having been one of those people who never really cared untill their rig exploded in a hail of blue sparks LOL!, but am still at a loss as to branded stuff.. Antec, Hiper, OCZ, Corsair, all seem much the same by the specs, gonna have to hit up some reviews..

Anywho.. wouldnt a 425W, even a real quality one be pushing it once I start adding a power hungry graphics card and future upgrades into the mix?

I'd risk a 9600gt on it but nothing better

That was gonna be my next question .. The difference in power requirements between a 9600GT and 9800GT.. Plenty of places are banging out those Xpertvision 9600GTs for £65, they seem better value than the 9600GSO's but cant get away from the cheapo feel.. Maybe one of those and a new PSU... Eitherway I am convinced enough now it has to go...

Thanks for all the help guys and gals..

The next question is.. Anyone care to offer a few PSU recommendations for sub £50?.. Will checkout that one you advised now Blitzen, but at 425W theres only so much they can cram on the 12v rails, right? and if I'm sacraficing a flashy new gfx card for it, wanna be sure I won't be in this position again for a few years.

[Webby]

9600GT is better that a 9600GSO in performance terms so dont even consider one of those!

A 4850 will need about 110W so if your PSU can do what it says then I would expect it to have no problems, but I would be personally happier with a 400W+ Corsair, Enermax or Seasonic generally lower wattage PSUs with a single 12v Rail are better than multiple rails because you can guarantee that a rail is not being overloaded.

EDIT: As a rough guide here is a review so you can see how the different caards stack up agianst each other remember that these values are total system draw not just the card. http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/A...assive/23.html

[Pob255]

Useful link
http://archive.atomicmpc.com.au/foru...c=7&t=9354&p=0

The thing about branded psu, is that they are not actually made by said brand (with some execeptions eg seasonic & targas & enermax & FSP )

as an example the Corsair HX520w, HX620w, VX450w, VX500w are all made by seasonic, the others are made by CWT
Antec, earthwatts and NeoHE are made by seasonic, cannot remember who makes there others
ThermalTake, all are made by CWT
OCZ, the GameXtreme is made by FSP (I think there others are as well)

Seasonic, enermax are both very highly rated companies who actually manufactor PSUs.

Price is often the big give away to a PSU's quality, if it's twice the price then there's often a very goood reason for it.
But price is not the be all and end all, you do need to do some digging as well

Oh and apparently Hipper have stepped up there and improved the quality of there current PSUs.

Oh and you'd be amazed at what you can actually run on a quality PSU, most systems with a single graphics card don't actually pull more than 300watts from the wall. (but a pc is more than just total wattage so don't be totally fooled by that, esp as the numbers on the side of your psu cannot always be trusted)

with a decent 450ish watt psu you should be able to happly put a GTX260 or HD4870 in your system.

Should ask what resolution do you use? ie monitor size, and do you play 3d games? (these are the two main factors in gpu requirements)

[mehmeh]

9600GT is better that a 9600GSO in performance terms so dont even consider one of those!

Yeah I had gotten that feeling from the reviews etc, but when discounting the Palit/Xpertvision 'cheapo' options theres a £30+ difference in price, which would be nice to go towards paying for a new PSU, then flog it in a few months, hoping prices on stuff with have settled down and nVidia might actually have a new card out. Did try a HD4670 before anyone suggests it, less said about it, the better

Cheers for the linky, interesting to see the difference between say 9600GT and HD4850 isnt actually that large. Deffinetly making sense atlast.. My comp will also draw nowhere near what there system was, but if I'm right in thinking, the pathetic 13a & 14a I've got accross two rails is whats really gonna cause me problems with loading one up? Allthough I do have a 6pin PCIe connector, so that'll draw from say 12v2, while mobo etc draws from 12v1, I think? And also gets confusing as according to the label both rails can be 100% loaded.. That crazyiness in itself i enough reason to get a new one I think.

[mehmeh]

... apparently Hipper have stepped up there and improved the quality of there current PSUs.

...Oh and you'd be amazed at what you can actually run on a quality PSU, most systems with a single graphics card don't actually pull more than 300watts from the wall. (but a pc is more than just total wattage so don't be totally fooled by that, esp as the numbers on the side of your psu cannot always be trusted)

TBH I hadnt heard of Hiper at all untill a few days aho when I started googling, alot of america peeps seem to be singing their praises.
Lesson learned on that too. After bad mouthing the 425Watter recommended, I looked up the specs and it walks all over my 420W even if it only has a supposed 5watts more.

Thank you for that link aswell.. Had assumed alot of the claims made by companies were over-rated, more to cover themselves when people try to run a 8800Ultra on the 350W PSU that came with their 10quid case and burn the house down in the process LOL!

Gaming wise.. 22" Monitor at 1680x1050, but quite happy at 1280x1024 or even 1024x768 providing I can jack the quality up and throw in a little AA/AF.
3D games yep, mostly CS:S and older stuff atm 'cause the powerhouse that is Intel GM3100 grinds to a hault at the first sign of DX9c or Shader model 3/4 (COD4 had a right go at me ). Once sorted, COD4, Crysis, GTA4 (if/when it hits PC), pretty much anything and everything really.

Thank you for the continued help and advice, apprieate it.

*EDIT GRRR Double post, sorry. Thats what I get for using tabs!

[Antagram]

OCZ, the GameXtreme is made by FSP (I think there others are as well)

Is that still the case now that OCZ have bought out PC Power & Cooling? Or maybe they are reserving their PSU's for the premium market.

[moogle]

Is that still the case now that OCZ have bought out PC Power & Cooling? Or maybe they are reserving their PSU's for the premium market.

Oooh, now maybe we can get some PC Power and Cooling PSU's here for once.

[mehmeh]

Have done a little reading around, checked some prices.. Wouldnt mind some opinions on what I've come up with?

OCZ StealthXStream 600w (£50) (or the 500W £40?)

OCZ ModXStream 500W (£53)

Modular would be nice and the ModXStreme seems to have more wattage available on dual 12v@a than the supposed more powerfull StealthXStreme over quad 12v@18a (quality?). What are the pro's and con's of more rails?

Also like the look of the Corsair 450W VX (£50) - At a push I might be able to go for the 550W version (£58), but the 520W TX is pushing it a bit too much... Pro's and Con's of the Corsair single 12v rail approach? as trend does seem to be towards multiple rails...

Also quite like the 500w Seasonic S12II-500 on Scan.. Feeling I got is its the dogs, but the Corsair 520W is basically the same thing but with modular cables.. Also read the OCZ units are made by FSP?

Opinions, maybe one I havent considered? Anyone got a link to a trusted review site that does PSU's? I'm guessing at this point it becomes more of a fanboy thing?

[Pegasus123]

I'd get the Corsair 450W VX psu, it's built by seasonic and is a very good PSU, much better quality then the OCZ ones.