How much power do I need?

[rendel]

Hi!

I am about to build a new system based on an AMD Phenom II x6 (with Coolermaster 212 fan), Asus M4A88T-M mainboard and two Samsung F3 1 TB harddisks in an Antec Solo case.

Currently I am planning to use a 430 power supply, but this is just based on "gut feeling" and I wonder if I can do with less...

For the time being I will use integrated graphics, but I may add a (low-end) dedicated graphics card later and possibly a TV-card.

For such a setup would you say that using a 430W power supply is a good idea or would 300W be enough?

Many thanks!

[zoran89]

I think you shouldnt go below 400w...for now i think you can pass with 300w....but in the future..even with the low end gpu, tv card... 400w is minimum .....


I have:

phenom II 1055t (x6)
2 samsung hdd-s (1 tb, 500 gb)
4 gb ram
ati 5670 (low end gpu)
dvd rw
external fan controller

by my calculations...max load power consumption is 350 w..... i have 600w PSU.....but i think 400 is minumum, just in case.....

by some tests...x6 can draw 200w while in load....
http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_ ... 55t,7.html

[quest_for_silence]

For such a setup would you say that using a 430W power supply is a good idea or would 300W be enough?

Up to now you should be easily between 150W and 180W while heavily benchmarking, at least 20% under those values at real loads.
Even with a high performance videocard (not the very beasts, however), you would not pass 250W-280W at most. I'm assuming no OC at all but a 125W Thuban.

According to me the real question is: is there any really good ~300W PSU? I don't see any comparable one, with reference to the PSUs you may find in the 400W-500W range.
Maybe just the Enermax Pro82+, but they recently changed it, with the release II, and I won't bet it performs better or equal as the old one for quietness: besides it, the 330-380W S12-II might turn out - IMVHO - a slight bit noisier at those loads, while the 300W SS Nightjar, even if silent, it is far overpriced, and right being fanless it's maybe not the very best fit in a Solo.

[quest_for_silence]

by some tests...x6 can draw 200w while in load....
http://www.legionhardware.com/articles_ ... 55t,7.html

Iirc, these are total system power draw (with a 5870).

[zoran89]

o fuck....


sry....just quick google and first result ....


but i still think 400-500w is his best choice....