Quick question.

F

Froztblade

New Member
I have a new build, which will use an estimated 320W (based on this)

I have a Coolermaster 460W XtremePower is it likely to be sufficient?
And if not how far would I have to go for sufficient power to maintain decent efficiency?

Edit:
Realised it might be useful (Idiot that I am)
System specs:
AMD Phenom x4 965
Sapphire HD4850
4gb (2x2gb) Corsair dual channel kit
3x120mm case fans

Advice would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks.
 
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Froztblade said:
I have a new build, which will use an estimated 320W (based on this)

I have a Coolermaster 460W XtremePower is it likely to be sufficient?
And if not how far would I have to go for sufficient power to maintain decent efficiency?

Edit:
Realised it might be useful (Idiot that I am)
System specs:
AMD Phenom x4 965
Sapphire HD4850
4gb (2x2gb) Corsair dual channel kit
3x120mm case fans

Advice would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

460W should suffice, but I'm not sure how good CM PSUs are as I never really used one.
 
:confused:
Stoic Sentinel said:
460W should suffice, but I'm not sure how good CM PSUs are as I never really used one.
Click to expand...

no clue.... (oh and btw, is there really any need to quote the OP as the second poster? no.)

Wattage has nothing to do with it in reality. That PSU is only ATX 12 design standard, which means you have only 18A (1 of the rails) available to the 12V system minus the CPU. This means your graphics card etc has only 18A. You need at least 26A on the 12V rail.

That PSU is a POS and inefficient - but hey, for $40 US, what do you expect.

Minimum for your set up -look here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004&Tpk=550%20corsair for $90 US, but the 650W version is the same price: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16817139005

Both the above PSUs have excellent 12V rail amperages, +80% efficiency, Active PFC, MTFB at 40oC, 5 year warranty etc etc

In a nut shell, if you want your system to be at risk of massive failure and damage, get a cheap PSU. The PSU you have mentioned is insufficient for your needs, plus the PSU's i have linked to give you great upgrade potential.
 
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It's interesting you say that CoolerMaster PSUs are pieces of shit since it was originally recommended to me by a guru at this forum.

However fair enough, as for the Graphics Card, that doesn't seem right at all since it has been running this graphics card completely safely and with no issue (except one issue, but that was to do with my own idiocy with fans) for near a year, and a year before that running a 8600GT

However I'll look into an improved PSU, Corsair are a no. My friend has one which has started SPARKING with less than a years use. However I'll look into Antec since they're generally accepted as a decent supplier from what I've read.
 
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bigfellla said:
:confused:

no clue.... (oh and btw, is there really any need to quote the OP as the second poster? no.)

Wattage has nothing to do with it in reality. That PSU is only ATX 12 design standard, which means you have only 18A (1 of the rails) available to the 12V system minus the CPU. This means your graphics card etc has only 18A. You need at least 26A on the 12V rail.

That PSU is a POS and inefficient - but hey, for $40 US, what do you expect.

Minimum for your set up -look here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004&Tpk=550%20corsair for $90 US, but the 650W version is the same price: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=n82e16817139005

Both the above PSUs have excellent 12V rail amperages, +80% efficiency, Active PFC, MTFB at 40oC, 5 year warranty etc etc

In a nut shell, if you want your system to be at risk of massive failure and damage, get a cheap PSU. The PSU you have mentioned is insufficient for your needs, plus the PSU's i have linked to give you great upgrade potential.
Click to expand...

Froztblade said:
It's interesting you say that CoolerMaster PSUs are pieces of shit since it was originally recommended to me by a guru at this forum.

However fair enough, as for the Graphics Card, that doesn't seem right at all since it has been running this graphics card completely safely and with no issue (except one issue, but that was to do with my own idiocy with fans) for near a year, and a year before that running a 8600GT

However I'll look into an improved PSU, Corsair are a no. My friend has one which has started SPARKING with less than a years use. However I'll look into Antec since they're generally accepted as a decent supplier from what I've read.
Click to expand...

EXCUSE ME? corsairs are a no? corsairs are one of the best brands of power supplies. corsairs are wayyyyyyyy better than antec power supplies. either he did something wrong or it was just a dud, which is why there is warranties. coolermaster power supplies are fine, good quality. not the best, but still pretty good.

EDIT:to bigfella-- you say it only has 18 amps, but it has two rails, 18 amps on EACH. it is def. enough power for that setup
 
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ganzey said:
EXCUSE ME? corsairs are a no? corsairs are one of the best brands of power supplies. corsairs are wayyyyyyyy better than antec power supplies. either he did something wrong or it was just a dud, which is why there is warranties. coolermaster power supplies are fine, good quality. not the best, but still pretty good.

EDIT:to bigfella-- you say it only has 18 amps, but it has two rails, 18 amps on EACH. it is def. enough power for that setup
Click to expand...

Fair enough, my apologies for offending your soul :P

I'll look into Corsair as well.

Well, would you be of the opinion that upgrading my PSU would be a necessary or worthwhile endeavour, and if so would a 550W Corsair/Antec be sufficient?
 
Froztblade said:
Fair enough, my apologies for offending your soul :P

I'll look into Corsair as well.

Well, would you be of the opinion that upgrading my PSU would be a necessary or worthwhile endeavour, and if so would a 550W Corsair/Antec be sufficient?
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sorry if i came off in a bad mood, im not good with projecting emotions in text:P. 500 watts is enough, just stick with a good brand. OCZ, BFG, Corsair, Coolermaster, Antec, pretty much any of these. but that 460 watt coolermaster is enough
 
Thanks mate, that's really what I wanted to hear, build has already gone overbudget by around £30.

I'm really tempted to get a Corsair 650/750W now XD

Would there actually be any point?
 
Froztblade said:
Thanks mate, that's really what I wanted to hear, build has already gone overbudget by around £30.

I'm really tempted to get a Corsair 650/750W now XD

Would there actually be any point?
Click to expand...

you would only need a 650-750 if you plan on upgrading in the future, like getting another graphics card
 
Ahhh, there's one thing I should mention.
It's my intention to use the new ATI Hybrid Crossfire with the 4200HD IGP technology on my motherboard since it's compatible, I can't find much information about if that uses any serious amount more wattage.
 
Froztblade said:
Ahhh, there's one thing I should mention.
It's my intention to use the new ATI Hybrid Crossfire with the 4200HD IGP technology on my motherboard since it's compatible, I can't find much information about if that uses any serious amount more wattage.
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nope, that just means it combines the motherboard's onboard graphics with your graphics card. no extra power needed, and it gives a slight graphics boost:D
 
I know what it does :P
I was just wondering if it would use extra power since the onboard IGP would need to draw power xD


And also from the tests I've seen the graphics boost can be more than slight :O

Edit:
I'm an idiot.
HD4850 won't crossfire with an IGP *facepalm*
 
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Froztblade said:
I know what it does :P
I was just wondering if it would use extra power since the onboard IGP would need to draw power xD


And also from the tests I've seen the graphics boost can be more than slight :O

Edit:
I'm an idiot.
HD4850 won't crossfire with an IGP *facepalm*
Click to expand...

it should, what motherboard are u using?
 
ganzey said:
EDIT:to bigfella-- you say it only has 18 amps, but it has two rails, 18 amps on EACH. it is def. enough power for that setup
Click to expand...

ganzey said:
500 watts is enough .... but that 460 watt coolermaster is enough
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Ganzey you have absolutely no clue! WATTAGE MEANS NOTHING!

You cannot simply add the rails up. This is the noobest mistake regarding PSUs one can make. That PSU (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817171028) only has ATX design standards specs meaning the 12V rail +2 is dedicated to the CPU. Dedicated - meaning no other component can access the rail regardless of whether the full 18A on that rail is used or not. Look here if you don't believe me: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX

That means, the rest of the 12V system (graphics card etc), has 18A. Insufficient!

To OP - that Coolermaster PSU is not good enough. Look at it this way, the 460W Coolermaster PSU has 18A available where as the Corsair can provide 33A (nearly double): http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817139003 - all for $20 more. Simple decision really - and we haven't even started comparing the quality, efficiency, warranty, fan size and quality etc etc
 
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BigFella, there's a couple of things you don't seem to fully grasp.

A: I'm from the UK, so while yes for you it may be $20, for me it's £30, or ~$50
B: I already have the CoolerMaster 460W, so it's not even $20, it's £60, or ~$100
C: I've been happily running that graphics card off it for over a year without a hint of trouble, no overheating, never once got game artifacts.
D: If you've read that Wikipedia article you might notice that the specifications at ATX12V v2.3 (which the CoolerMaster 460W complies with) have been specifically changed at Revision 2.2 to allow for a greater power draw to the graphics card because of the PCI-E requirements for a greater draw down the 12v rail. I know if I go any further than where I am I will have to get a new PSU and will probably get a Corsair or Antec of 650W or 750W.

Finally, your rant about the PSU being a "Piece of shit" seems somewhat, disputed by every other post on this topic.


I'm not spurning your advice, but I'm questioning it.
 
The ATX design standard still dedicates 12V +2 to the CPU. That hasn't changed.

That PSU is rubbish, low efficiency, cheap POS.

The fact that it hasn't cause problems yet, doesn't mean it will not. And with PSU's, when they go they usually take other components. I must be missing something though, if this is a new build, and you are asking if that PSU is sufficient, then the answer is simply no.
 
Let me explain this another way. That CPU draws 125W. This is around 10A. That current PSU wastes the remaining 8A as it is inaccessible to the rest of the 12V system.

The remaining 18A needs to provide your system with sufficient power and stability. That PSU is known to not handle heavy loads. The graphics card (at load) uses 110W (9A) leaving now only 9A (representing 100% load), for the rest of the computer.

Essentially, take out the CPU and GPU you have a PSU that can provide 9A for your system. I hope you are happy to run that PSU quite hard.

You will also notice that ATi don't have any Coolermaster PSUs certified for that card below 500W. http://ati.amd.com/products/certified/powersupplies.html#pstop

Finally, i added your system to the PSU calc and it rated your system at 443W with correct capacitor ageing.

You really need this mate: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/450W...Sli-ATX-EPS12V-PS-2-20-24-pin-5-year-Warranty
 
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