Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of morning
Posts: 3610

I haven't really thought about it for awhile, then I was reading THIS thread. I'm starting to wonder if my 300w Enlight PSU is enough. PSU's have always been a bit of a grey area for me and my knowledge is a bit short on them.

Here is what I am running:

AMD AthlonXP 1600+
TT Volcano 6 Cu+ (7k rpm fan)
EPoX 8K3A
256MB Crucial PC2100
Gainward Geforce 3 Ti-200 Golden Sample
CLSB Live! Value (PCI)
Linksys 10/100 nic (PCI)
Maxtor 20GB 7200 rpm ATA/100
Seagate 10GB 5400RPM ATA/66
52x CD-ROM
Sony 8x4x32 CD-RW
3.5" Floppy
4-80mm case fans

I don't have random reboots or frequent hardlocks, but the PSU runs pretty dang hot. Any opinions are welcome...I wouldn't mind buying a new PSU. A local company has a generic (more or less) 400w dual fan PSU for $35...or can anyone recommend a decent one for under $50?

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of morning
Posts: 3610

Or I can get THIS PSU at 420w for $43.

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Super Techie

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: new jersey
Posts: 400

I wouldn't just go for any ol' generic power supply...I would rather spend my money on an Antec power supply...On Newegg they have a Antec 380W Power Supply TRUE380 psu for 75.00 dollars thats over 50 but I would trust it more.... here's the link


http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...ory=1516&DEPA=1

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"Find Them & Destroy Them"

Registered: Dec 2001
Location:
Posts: 3649

With what your running I doubt if your eating up over 250-275w. I read a guide somewhere last month, and calculating the wattages my rig (which is pretty loaded, XP2000+, r8500, 512mb ddr, 2x 7200rpm drives, sb live, modem, and 7 fans) is only using around 250. A hot PSU just means its working in my book.

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Last edited by AgentSmith on 08-08-2002 at 01:36 AM

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"Find Them & Destroy Them"

Registered: Dec 2001
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Posts: 3649

Whoa scratch that, Im running almost 300w!

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of morning
Posts: 3610

I figured (by the wattage/use posted in that thread) I'm at about 270w PLUS my 4 case fans, plus the fact I have the 7k RPM cpu fan (plugged into a 3pin to molex adapter, then directly into the PSU)...which would seem to put me over my 300w.

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Monster Techie

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Posts: 2281

You can never have enough POWER and good clean power is essential! I run all my comps through UPS's and on my high-end systems I don't use anything below 400w. I don't use anything but Antec. They have excellent and stable voltages throughout the spectrum. The new TruePower's are extremely nice! Although the older models allow for adjusting the Pots to increase or decrease the voltage slightly for different rails.
IMO, Antec!

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of morning
Posts: 3610

CompUSA has THIS ANTEC 400w PSU for $59.99 in the store ($46 internet price with $15 shipping )...I'll see if I can scrounge up a few more bucks

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Super Techie

Registered: Jul 2002
Location: Aptos, CA
Posts: 451

Yep, I think I am in the same boat ComPKnut. I will probably be buying a new PSU when I can afford one, but for now going to try to limp along on my Antec 300w. I am looking at an Enermax 431w with the dual fans.

Boy, my threads get around.

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Ultra Techie

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: PA
Posts: 561

Allways buy a good power supply
Get an Antec.
they have a 3yr waranty.
Their True power ones are great.
I have the 430 and have sold the 330.
It's fan conectors are great. they slow the fans down when it is not at high temps.
works well.
the server case 1080 is suprisingly quiet for having 6 fans total.

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Maxtor 60GB 7200RPM ATA133
MSI 128MB GF4 4200
Antec 1080 AMG w/Blue LED fans.

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Super Techie

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada
Posts: 333

Antec is good but don't dis all the rest. When you go to the store to buy, see if you can heft each flavor of 350W+ PS. The heavier is generally the better. It usually means it has real capacitors and heat sinks on the regulators.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of morning
Posts: 3610

OK, I've decided to go with a quality part...I've narrowed it down to these two.

THIS ANTEC 400w from Compusa for $59.99

or

THIS ENERMAX 330w from newegg for $55 shipped.

help me decide

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Monster Techie

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1197

Riffer's Law:

Case, PSU, Mobo, CPU, Memory, Video

In order.

For a great stable computer put your money into a good case and PSU. Then you can play with the rest of it.

By the way - I have a Coolermaster ATC 110 and a PC Power and Cooling Silencer 400. They can handle anything that I can throw at them.

I am assuming that you won't want to pay the bucks for a PC Power and Cooling, but I have heard good things about Sparkle. Enermax is porported to be good, and I have a good EG351P-VE(FC), but it has been a little dicey.

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Monster Techie

Registered: Mar 2002
Location: Carbondale, Colorado
Posts: 2281

quote:

---

Originally posted by ComPKnut
OK, I've decided to go with a quality part...I've narrowed it down to these two.

THIS ANTEC 400w from Compusa for $59.99

or

THIS ENERMAX 330w from newegg for $55 shipped.

help me decide

---

CompKnut we seem to agree on most everything so take my word for it ANTEC

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: The other side of morning
Posts: 3610

Yeah...that's what I was thinking too. My local Compusa has it in stock, plus that's a better price than I can find of the web. My split loom tubing came today...so this weekend I can change the PSU, and do all the wire harnessing at the same time

Thanks for everyones input.

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