Computer Science Canada :: View topic - Determining what power supply to use

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Determining what power supply to use

Author:	the_binary_soul [ Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Determining what power supply to use
Hey I feel stupid for asking this, but how do I determine how many watts my power supply should have if I am building a computer. I am looking at this motherboard http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1022268&Tab=2&NoMapp=0 thanks

Author:	wtd [ Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:43 pm ]
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A power supply around 400 watts should work for you, but you may want to go a bit higher if you're installing a lot of drives, RAM, and a high-end video card. Power supplies are one of the cheapest, yet most important components of a PC.

Author:	the_binary_soul [ Fri Nov 05, 2004 8:53 pm ]
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ok, I'll be installing 1024mb of ram, bu I'll only have a 64 mb video card (what I am planning anyways) thanks

Author:	shorthair [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:37 am ]
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Sorry for the wee flame , but guys just because a video card has 64 meg , that does not describe it .... my 6800 is 128 meg , but requires 600 watt power minimum , If you posting specs with a video card please dont just put hte ram size , ther are 3000 dollar cards out there with 64 meg of ram This is a common ccurance with people . they get caught up in hte numbers il garuntee you that if you ask 100 people which is beter they will say a 256 over a 128 video card , just becasue peple seem to believe that its the main perspective on video cards

Author:	Leftover [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:55 am ]
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600 watt? and who makes that? if that's a desktop machine I find it hard to believe that your graphics card needs that much. The 6800 requires a 400 watt PSU and reccomends 480. No where could I find 600 watt on the web, and I even took the liberty of calling our suppliers this morning and asking them what they thought a 6800 needed, the highest answer I got was 420. You are partially right about the 64mb card bit, matrox has soem bitchin duel DVI 64mb cards with 32 pipelines, but most likely if the user just posted 64mb video card, they probably aren't experts, and therefor dont have big expensive graphics cards like that, therefor no reason to flame, if anything asume its a basic 64mb card or ask nicely, its not nice to flame the new guys . As far as that mobo goes, a 350W is minimum for it. I would reccomend a 400-420 for best performance. If you plan on having a full case (2 hdd's, 2 rom drives, graphics, sound, tv etc.) then it would be better for you to get a 450 or a 500. As far as a basic system goes though (Mobo, cpu, 1gb ddr, burner, 1hdd, graphics, sound) a 420 would be more then enough. You can get a ThermalTake PurePower 420 watt duel fan for around $70 Canadian. Good luck.

Author:	wtd [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:05 am ]
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Well, you could buy a PowerMac. Those have 650 watt power supplies.

Author:	Leftover [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:23 am ]
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but not because the graphics on em alone needs it

Author:	Andy [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:35 am ]
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read the specs of each component, they will tell u how much power is needed...

Author:	wtd [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:40 am ]
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Leftover wrote: but not because the graphics on em alone needs it The 6800 Ultra DDL might.

Author:	Leftover [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 1:53 am ]
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Nope. http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1591397,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532 Quote: Instead of a 480-watt power supply, users can use a quality 350-watt power supply, Nvidia is now specifying Like my suppliers told me.

Author:	wtd [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 3:39 am ]
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They're talking about the "stock" 6800. The one Apple uses pushes four DVI signals through two DVI ports. It's a different beast, and that PSU isn't there for drives (one optical, and two hard drives... max.

Author:	Martin [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:07 pm ]
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The new alienware computers use 1000W PSU's.

Author:	Andy [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 12:19 pm ]
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o that 4 ghz one?

Author:	Martin [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:21 pm ]
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Yep. Dual vid cards too.

Author:	Leftover [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:42 pm ]
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What are you talking about? Don't you do research before ya post stuff? the alienware 4ghz machine comes with a 480 watt, and if you go to custom, the biggest you can select is 650 watt.

Author:	shorthair [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 2:44 pm ]
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in my post i was stating that to run my pc i need a 600 watt , well i need 520 but i got a 600 to make sure and to allow upgrading yes your right about hte 6800 only needing 400 , but remember your pc does not just power your video card you have all your other periphials to power , other people have made this statement for me , But how do you see 600 as being a little too high... oh and guys the 6800 is insane it needs TWO 12V CONNECTORS i was astonished at hte sheer power it needed just to run , and yes they say 400 is what you NEED , as i stress the word NEED.......... so 600 is quite reasonable in my case

Author:	the_binary_soul [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 4:07 pm ]
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woah, my post has been swept away from me. Ok ok, sorry. Truth be told, video cards are not my area......infact I'd probably be lucky to know half the stuff about hardware as some of the guys here, but thats why I'm asking.

Author:	Leftover [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 7:50 pm ]
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Oh that I know, but you did say Quote: my 6800 is 128 meg , but requires 600 watt power minimum your 6800, not your pc. And on the newer revs of the 6800 it only has one but stresses you have a stable psu that doesnt let the rails drop too far.

Author:	shorthair [ Sat Nov 06, 2004 8:49 pm ]
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poor sentance structure on my part , Im sure we agree , i just mixed up my sentance If you were an older member you would apreciate my lack of skill with a keyboard dan and I definatly take the cake when it comes to typing and hte poor part is that Konqueror has a spell check built into it , im just to lazy to use it

Author:	Martin [ Sun Nov 07, 2004 12:30 am ]
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http://www.megagames.com/news/html/pc/alienwarearea51sliavailablenow.shtml

Author:	templest [ Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:32 am ]
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martin wrote: http://www.megagames.com/news/html/pc/alienwarearea51sliavailablenow.shtml :heartattack:

Author:

Leftover [ Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:55 pm ]

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They obviously didn't do their homework.

code:

Power
Output Wattage: 650 Watts (Max)

That's the only supply they offer with that machine.

Author:	Martin [ Sun Nov 07, 2004 10:58 pm ]
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I believe that the video cards have their own PSU.

Author:	apomb [ Sun Nov 07, 2004 11:58 pm ]
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notice the extra bit of case on the top ... possibly for the extra Psu or other displaced hardware.

Author:	templest [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:03 am ]
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Or maybe just an extra, sexy-looking, intake?

Author:	apomb [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:06 am ]
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well, it uses liquid cooling, so i doubt it

Author:	wtd [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 12:47 am ]
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That case is ugly in so very many ways...

Author:	templest [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:55 am ]
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Last time I checked, mind you it was a while ago, the two huge slits on the sides where two big gaping holes used as intakes. Even if it is a water-cooling system, it might still have fans to circulate the air. Extra silent ones, perhaps?

Author:	wtd [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:50 pm ]
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Of course they still need air cooling. The water system just carries heat away from the hot parts. Their still need to be airflow to take the heat away from the water. If there's no airflow, the water gets too hot, then it stops carrying heat away from the computer bits, and eventually starts heating the system up. http://www.apple.com/powermac/design.html

Author:	rizzix [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 3:59 pm ]
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yea and the g5 has like what? 6 fans? hmm? and it supposed to be quiter than the g4 which has hmm what 1 fan? ha! that what i call good design

Author:	wtd [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:02 pm ]
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rizzix wrote: yea and the g5 has like what? 6 fans? hmm? and it supposed to be quiter than the g4 which has hmm what 1 fan? ha! that what i call good design The dual processor machines have 9 fans, and the case is divided into four thermal zones. The large number of large fans means they can run at extremely low speeds, while still moving a large amount of air, resulting in much lower noise levels. Additionally, each fan is individually controlled. If the CPU heats up, the fans in that zone can speed up, while the fans in the drive zone continue to rotate slowly. In practice, all but the busiest G5 is quieter than a whisper.

Author:	Andy [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 4:11 pm ]
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wow... damn... 9 fans sheez.. i can use that as an airconditioner haha

Author:	Leftover [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:37 pm ]
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martin wrote: I believe that the video cards have their own PSU. It would say duel power supply in the specs, and therefor need a second power cord.

Author:	Leftover [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:54 pm ]
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Also notice the 1 psu in the case.

Author:	Martin [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:10 pm ]
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Rawr, that's hot. I'll trade you my soul for one...please...?

Author:	wtd [ Mon Nov 08, 2004 11:24 pm ]
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ATX motherboards are just so incredibly badly setup for airflow, it's amazing. Air flowing in a single direction cools much more effective that air traveling in several directions, yet the RAM slots most noticeably, directly impede airflow from front to back. The cooling fins on the typical CPU heatsink do the same. It's ridiculous.

Author:	Leftover [ Sat Nov 13, 2004 12:19 am ]
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that thing's not even loaded yet, but I'll still take your soul for it. kthxbai

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