Need Help - Upgrading step 1: PSU...

Hi, hoping this is the right place to put this - (was thinking about the shopping section)...

(You should be able to see my current comp. spec under my name at the left?).

I'm planning to do a major upgrade at some point early in the new year - (It'll take me a few months to save up enough cash) - but I need to upgrade some of it now:

I'm ultimately planning on upgrading to a C2D system, (which also means upgrading M/B cooler & RAM), (I'll probably upgrade to a C2Q in about a year or so), and using my friends old graphics card - (he's got an old Ati X1950XT spare since he upgraded to an HD4850) - (which I'll also replace in the next year with an Ati 483/50).

However, since I'm currently using 4 IDE drives, and any new M/B only supports 2, I was going to need to replace 2 of them. Since I'm also using an old PSU, that would also, therefore, need to be replaced with a new one that supports the new connectors (PCI-E/SATA etc.).

Yesterday, my old IDE NEC DVDR died. I've got a spare DVD drive and CD burner - (have to swap cables over) - but I really need a new DVDR.

Since I'm going to be upgrading soon, though, I don't really fancy getting a quick-fix IDE drive. With that in mind - (since my current M/B supports SATA) - I'd like to get a SATA DVDR. But that will also mean getting a new PSU first?

So thats why I'm asking this:

I have £75 to spend in total for a new PSU and SATA DVDR. Bearing in mind that the PSU will need to supply all of the above - (though the scan/corsair power supply test thingy said anything from 450-550W) - I'm assuming a 550-600W would be best for when I upgrade in the future? I'd rather get a decent make that's QUIET, since I use my comp as a DAW - (though no live recording) - and since the 300W zalman PSU I'm currently using is VERY nice in that regard, I would like it to continue...

So, any ideas about what PSU I should be looking at, and where from? (Never bought anything online before - only time I ever spent any money online was for playing Eve Online - (I DID try to buy a M/B for £0 once, but they noticed the mistake immediately :( :p). (I live in Leeds if that helps at all?).

Thanks,
Darren.

Corsair HX520w and as for a DVDRW, most/any will do, Samsung are good apparently :)

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Originally Posted by format

Corsair HX520w and as for a DVDRW, most/any will do, Samsung are good apparently :)

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Thanks. (Dunno about Samsung though - had an old CDRW from them and it didn't last long... (My current LITE-ON CDRW has lasted a LOT longer).

I just had a look at the corsair PSU's. The 550HX is the modular one, and it appears to be slightly too much - (£70+P&P for that wouldn't leave enough for the DVDR).

The VX is the wired one, but even at £10 cheaper (£60) it's about £10 too much... :(

Maybe I should post a thread in the shopping section about a good 550-600W PSU for £50?

Hmm, ok after further research the Corsair VX does seem to be the one to go with - guess I'll have to wait a week for the DVDR... :(

DvdRW are only £15 and sometimes £10 when on specials(scans today only). BFG PSU are supposed to be very solid and their 500W is only £53 at scan.

I am thinking about the 550 over the 520, since I'd prefer a little more headroom for future upgrades.

Scan have the VX550 at £65 inc. P&P. Have seen it for £5 cheaper - (overclock.co.uk) - but don't know what they are like...?

If I tell you that you only need a 400W PSU will you believe me?

With your requirements in mind ie quiet and will enable you to power everything you want, I would look at the Corsair VX450W (£48), VX550 (£58) or the Enermax Pro82+ 425W (£52).

Oh and if you get to 20 constructive posts here on Hexus you will qualify for free delivery on Scan, no Spam mind!

If you are still going to be paying postage consider ebuyer, their 5 working day postage will set you back ~£4 and the PSUs are about the same cost as Scan (the enermax is slightly cheaper!)

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Originally Posted by KeillRandor

Since I'm going to be upgrading soon, though, I don't really fancy getting a quick-fix IDE drive. With that in mind - (since my current M/B supports SATA) - I'd like to get a SATA DVDR. But that will also mean getting a new PSU first?

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While it deffo would be a good idea to sort a decent PSU for your planned upgrade, if you wanted a quick fix for now, there is no need to upgrade your current PSU just to gain SATA plugs. For pennies you can buy adapters that will take molex plugs to SATA.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?W...15cm+Certified

Can also get similar plugs that'll take molex to PCI-e 6/8pin, allthough thats probably not such a good idea from what I've learned the past few weeks.

Longterm though would be a wise investment to sort your PSU... Just grabbed a Corsair 520W HX myself off the back of advice from peeps here and am chuffed to bits with it. :)

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Originally Posted by Webby

If I tell you that you only need a 400W PSU will you believe me?

With your requirements in mind ie quiet and will enable you to power everything you want, I would look at the Corsair VX450W (£48), VX550 (£58) or the Enermax Pro82+ 425W (£52).

Oh and if you get to 20 constructive posts here on Hexus you will qualify for free delivery on Scan, no Spam mind!

If you are still going to be paying postage consider ebuyer, their 5 working day postage will set you back ~£4 and the PSUs are about the same cost as Scan (the enermax is slightly cheaper!)

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So a 400W will be enough for a Core quad, an HD4850, 4-5 drives and my sound card, (not that that'll draw much since it's a PCI card connected to a rackmount with it's own power)?

According to the corsair power configurator thingy, it reccomended a 450W minimum, though it didn't seem to change whether or not I selected a C2D or Q - (should it have?). I'd prefer to get a higher power one, just so I'm not pushing and it's quiet... (The sound chart on teh Corsair PSU's does ramp up quite quickly when you get close to it's maximum output). With all that in mind, the 550W I think will do.

I know about the 20 posts, but I don't know if I manage to get that amount in time - (1 day - am planning on buying the PSU tomorrow!).

Unless there's a place round here that would like to read my U.S. election Haiku's? ;)

To put it into perspective my system (click under my name for details) under full load from F@H CPU client and GPU client draws 230W from the wall, factor in that my PSU is ~85% efficient and my PSU is supplying ~200W.

Now I have a heavily overclocked duel core, a 3870 and a watercooling pump included in that. A 400W PSU really is enough.

Now where higher powered PSUs come into their own is when you have multiple graphics cards or when you are hunting for peak efficiency (that is ~50% load) and have a reasonable load to start with.

An overclocked Q6600 with a 4850 and 4 drives will be looking at 300W max which is why I am happy to recommend a 450W PSU.

You can get those Molex to SATA adaptors off Ebay, which may be cheaper due to postage costs.

However if you also buy a DVDR you may be able to get up to £20, I'd go for the Pioneer 20x DL writers as they are very quiet.

Also Corsair VX450 is a nice PSU, plenty of SATA & Molex. Only one 6 pin PCIe connector however.

My system is under my name to the left, running on a HX520W from Corsair (awesome PSU if I'd may add) and with my graphic card, CPU and all, it's running usually not even passed 300W ^^