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What power supply should I get?

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Hummingbird, 2009/12/05.

  1. 2009/12/05
    Hummingbird

    Hummingbird Inactive Thread Starter

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    Silly me: I bought the wrong power supply because I didn't pay enough attention to my graphics card's requirements. It needs 18A on the 12V rail; my 400W power supply only has 14A on the 12V rail (I haven't plugged anything in yet). Are there any other system components that require a certain amperage?

    I've already spent as much as I'd like; I'm not upgrade-crazy (all I can forsee is adding a few more hard drives), so if you can recommend a power supply that is inexpensive and merely adequate, that'd be great. Thanks!


    Here's what I have:
    Core2 Quad at 2.83ghz
    nVidia 9400GT
    2 sticks and 4 gigs of ocz pc2-8500
    2 internal SATA drives
    Gigabyte ga-ep45-ud3p motherboard
    3 120mm case fans
    DVD+RW drive
     
    Hummingbird,
    #1
  2. 2009/12/05
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    As has been posted before on WindowsBBS, you can calculate your requirements using eXtreme Power Supply Calculator Lite.

    You'll need to show more specs for your GPU. There are many Nvidia 9400GT cards... different RAM configurations will have different power requirements.

    To be honest I have my doubts that your (or any) graphics card would use 216W (18A x 12V = 216W). According to Nvidia the 9400GT has a Maximum Graphics Card Power of 50W, which would require 4.16A.

    I will never recommend a cheap PSU. Good & stable power is more important then most people realize. Also, a more efficient PSU will save you $$$ on your power bills!
     
    Arie,
    #2


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  4. 2009/12/05
    Hummingbird

    Hummingbird Inactive Thread Starter

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    I paid for the pro version of the power supply calculator and it said:

    Recommended PSU Wattage: 265W
    +3.3V +5V +12V
    4.8 A 9.6 A 16.8 A

    Minimum UPS rating: 379 VA
    Recommended UPS rating: 500 VA



    "To be honest I have my doubts that your (or any) graphics card would use 216W "
    It says on the side of the box that it requires 18A on the +12V rail.
    Unless I'm going completely blind and it says 1.8A.
    This is what I have: http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-01G-P3-N...raphics/dp/tech-data/B001EH8FZA/ref=de_a_smtd

    "different RAM configurations will have different power requirements. "
    You mean the RAM onboard the graphics card? This is my system RAM:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013SLEQM/ref=ox_ya_oh_product


    I wouldn't know a power supply from a dill pickle, so I just got this one because it was cheap and had good Amazon reviews (I did use the Extreme Power Supply Calculator Lite):
    http://www.amazon.com/400-WATT-PC-POWER-SUPPLY/dp/tech-data/B000X1R5HM/ref=de_a_smtd


    I'm getting discouraged here, so tell me the name of a good and stable power supply and I'll buy it.
     
    Hummingbird,
    #3
  5. 2009/12/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Confirmed on the EVGA site, but the power consumption of the card is only 50 watts (4.16 amp) as Arie posted with 512 Mb onboard RAM.

    To get 18 amp on the 12 volt rail you are looking at a really pokey PSU and they are not cheap ....

    My 600W Seasonic gives 18 amp on the 12 volt rail, but the 500W version gives only 17/16 amp and lower wattage versions far less.

    I would be very inclined to su_ck it and see. I can't see undercurrent doing any harm.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2009/12/05
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Yes, that's what I was asking for. Difference between the 512MB and 1GB version.

    I see that EVGA recommends 18A on the +12V rail (for the 1GB DDR2 9400GT).


    I use a Corsair PSU, but Cooler Master also makes some good ones.

    For you a CORSAIR CMPSU-450VX would do the job. The 12V is labeled @ 33A.
     
    Arie,
    #5
  7. 2009/12/05
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    That's why I like Corsair. My CMPSU-650TX "does" 52A on the 12V :)
     
    Arie,
    #6

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