PSU Question Created 17 years ago2006-06-26 07:37:35 UTC by alexb911

I know this may not be the best place to ask... i just ain't member of anywhere else.... yet!

At the moment, I have a 400W PSU, and it ran my old Sempron 2600+ just fine, along with usual AGP ATI, 3pci's, etc, etc.

However, Ive just upgraded major to X2 4400+ and A8N32-SLI mobo, not yet put together, and just wondering if you think my PSU will handle it? It is worth trying, or getting a new one.

I do have another PSU, 300W, so I was also thinking also using both, although a bit more messy!!

Thanks for your feedback!

a 400w should be fine unless you go and get a SLi setup.
(i.e. 2 video cards, not just an sli motherboard)

400w will do just fine.
Don't blame us if your PSU blows up, though.

Hell, I've been running on 250w (a 3ghz p4 and an agp 9800pro) for years with no problems.

HAH! 250W? Ok, cheers guys. yeah, im not using an SLI setup, just a X850XT PE. I know they're not that expensive (PSUs that is) but in my mobo manual, it said for Athlon 3000+ onwards, you should have a 450+ watt PSU.

...and yeah - "wtf, alex read the manual?"

yeah.....Im making sure I have lots of power, my next pc will be 450watt, my current is 420watt....

orpheus if it worked that way I wouldn't have just wasted 500 fricking quid on a htpc that I thought would cost only 300. I already had a gpu, cpu, psu and mobo, for no reason the PSU which used to run this exact setup no longer works with this mobo, but works with all my other computers, the huge zalman cpu heatsink doesnt fit in my new htpc case and to top it all off I bought another heatsink and I had to physically cut and bend some of the fins for it to fit in the fricking case vertically! ARGHH

Hah! that must have been fun. i could make another computer out of spares left of upgrades, and pulling a few pieces out of my new comp - 1 stick of ram, a hard-drive - but whats the point? Id rather have one aced out comp with top specs than two medium.

All left now is to change screen - another ?400 investment!

...man, computers are an expensive hobby!!

having a compile server is awfully useful, though kind of pointless if you have a dual core system with enough ram to still play hl2 while its compiling anyway

yeah, im looking forward to that - hopefully compile times will be improved a littele - what with my mapping improving some what, they take somewhat longer than they used to.

Im still waiting on the processor - had graphics card for bout a week, and mobo came this morning... so hopefully will put together next weekend. will keep peeps updated on how it goes - or how it doesn't go! Fingers crossed about my heatsink + cpu fan as well

I think i broke my mobo putting it into the new case or possibly leaving it in the open air for 2 months..

Oh well, 45 quid down the drain for a new one.

45? what, did you make it yourself?

its a 3.2 ghz old socket 478, thats why its so cheap for a replacement. Its the first bit of hardware ive broken in 7 years of building pcs so I suppose it had to happen eventually.

yeah, also atleast you dont have to worry so much, its like only ?45, todays components are so expensive - when I put this together, Ill be using gloves and a pair of tweezers!

...actually - that probably isnt a good idea!

um, I bridged the soft power jumpers on the mobo with a screwdriver and it works again, good thing I held off getting a replacement!

great! Who says poking things is never a good idea! Good 'ole motherboards - they just keep on going

might try and sell my old kit on ebay, mobo + cpu together, might be able to get a few bob off it.

EDIT::::

Another question:

As already stated, im using an ASUS A8N32-SLI, but it has really weird connections for the PSU. I have tried the PSU and ASUS website to no avail.

My PSU has a 20-pin mobo connector, and all the other usual crap, ie, 4-pins, 3pins,.... , etc, etc

The motherboard has a 24-pin connector, an unusual 4-pin connector - not that used by common IDE devices. Also, there is an EZPlug, but I know what that is for (SLI PCI-E configs)

So which do i use? The 20pin of my psu will go into the 24-pin mobo connector, but obviously there are spare pins. I also have the weird 4-pin connector, and on the mobo its labelled "ATX12V"

All the other is wired up OK, i think! Just may need to swap some poles for the reset and LEDS, etc.

thanks a bunch

its fine to plug a 24 pin ATX plug into a 20 pin socket, normally the pins should detach. There should be a seperate ATX12v connector for the 4 pin socket the other side of the CPU from the 20 pin socket.

also, my new graphics card has a 6-pin ATX connector?? not a four pin. i was like wtf! ive never come across this before - any ideas?

EDIT: oh yeah, btw - its a X850XT PE PCI-E

its an SLI thing then that needs those power supply things.

and that wierd 12V connector from you PSU is a sata powersupply.

erm... no and no, but thanks anyway!

the weird 12V connector is for 12V power to the mobo, its a new feature i think in mobos - for best power usage - apparently!

i booted up my computer with new graphics card - a warning came up one screen saying I must connect the a cable to it.

would this work?

or should I just get a new PSU?

im sure the standard molex to 6 pin gpu thingy will work, its just a 12v rail it needs

however if your psu is so old it doesnt have one you should prolly think about upgrading it

yeah, i was coming to that conclusion....

im looking at either a Blue Storm 500W

or

an Antec TruePower II 550W

any personal recommendations? I don't want any really cheap crap - but I don't want to spend a fortune either. Around ?60-?120 is what Im looking at. Cheers

thats the price range you should aim for when buying a psu, dont get the cheap crap as its a pretty vital component to your system you really dont want to break and/or spike your pc

the Seasonic 500W PSU - S12 costs around 80 quids and should be more than enough for what you'll be doing, its also got a quiet fan in it should you wish to make a quiet pc (which isnt that hard - change all case fans for 5v 120mm , 20mm cpu hs+fan on lowest speed, zalman gpu hs+fan, job done)

Good price range. Jobabob knows sheezy.

My PSU is rather good and was about ?80. Tagan. Good brand.

You guys are kidding right? The most expensive PSU I have ever seen in my life is $50, and that includes UPS and spike protection. Most people I know have $25 jobs, and they have never had any problems. Buying the most expensive one you can possibly find is just being ridiculas.

Yes, but we in the western world dont use the 233mhz Pentium II anymore.

we also cant pay US prices and cant get access to most of your manufacturers, so we have to settle for expensive imported stuff. Even then a good psu costs at LEAST ?50 and even then itll sound like a jet engine taking off.

yeah... my mum's computer had a stock PSU in it (built by fujitsu) and it bust, so they changed it free for "the world's loudest PSU"

I am so grateful!

you'll be watching a cool film, and all you here in the background is-

[b]MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM....[/b]

it can get quiteannoying!

Guys at local tech shop recommened the Blue Storm - and I had a look / fiddle with it - nice and heavy, and nice to have 'strengthened' cable jackets...

...BUT I JUST WANNA USE MY NEW COMP NOW!