must...have...more...mods!

[~* InSoM *~]

sorry it was a typo, you wont fry anything if u put in a higher PSU, but you can knacker ur PSU if you dont put a big enuf one in... sry, didnt read it b4 i posted.

[~* InSoM *~]

eg, i have a 550W PSU, and only using bout 400W... I then have 150W in reserve to add something else... you multiply it by 1.8 just to give urself and extra margin...

[GrahamGarside]

I doubt your using 400W

[skool h8r]

I understand now, thanks for the correction. no i'm not using 400W but it will always be ther in case i need it. Like if i upgrade most of the computer, it will be handy. Plus that 600W PSU is the cheapest i've seen and it looks good as well. The one thing i had trouble with on another mobo a few months ago was the front panel connectors. I eventually had to take off the front panel slightly to see which wire was which. I'll have a spare case then with a PSU so i'll probably build it up and use it as a home/web server (i'm already running one now on this 'puter) or just a file store.

Thanks.

[~* InSoM *~]

well from the method I have been told how to do it, from what I have in my machine, i should have a minimum of 520W PSU

[Áedán]

Maplin (and others) sell an interesting little device that will allow you to measure exactly how much power you're drawing from the mains... It's called a "Watt Hour Meter".

[~* InSoM *~]

mmm... sounds interesting, might have to have alook next time i am in town...

[skool h8r]

hmm, according to my results, i need at least a 400W PSU but the method isn't totally accurate as you said at the bottom.

[danrok]

It's easy to over estimate the wattage needed. It wasn't until I hooked-up mine to a UPS that I realised how little power it needs when running. The UPS has monitoring software.

That said most systems need a good whack of juice when starting up - just for a couple of seconds, if that.

[danrok]

Originally Posted by skool h8r

hmm, according to my results, i need at least a 400W PSU but the method isn't totally accurate as you said at the bottom.

400w should be more than enough if the PSU is of good quality. Only PC's with lots of drives, powerful water pumps or SLi systems need more.

[skool h8r]

ok. Well, in a few minths (or years) i might actually get a water cooling setup. still 'controvercial' though.

[GrahamGarside]

Originally Posted by ~* InSoM *~

well from the method I have been told how to do it, from what I have in my machine, i should have a minimum of 520W PSU

for your celeron d system?
that could probably manage on a good 250W psu, 300 to be safe

[~* InSoM *~]

i already fried 2x 300w PSU's which was put down to too much load
(since Nov)

[skool h8r]

hmm, yeah that is a bit damned. That's why i'm going for a higher rating PSU. Then, if i add anything more, i won't be at as much risk.

[Daniel ~]

Ok, I'll bite, what does your average high end- graphics card and overclocked CPU draw in terms of power while folding?

[danrok]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

Ok, I'll bite, what does your average high end- graphics card and overclocked CPU draw in terms of power while folding?

300w maximum I would say with watercooling running as well.

[~* InSoM *~]

to be honest, I dont fold... (smack my backside) but for my wattage, i have used the list ip ut above of approx wattage, most bits in my machine i dont have packaging anymore and the rest is so old... so I problem am miles off... just trying to average out...

Stock CPU's are 70W for P4 and XP, and 90W for A64 (supposedly), but surely they aint allowed to put incorrect figures in magazines etc, (not that it stops em),

but you still cant deny the 2x fried PSU's, and boy, did they make a bang

[danrok]

My CPU appears to use an EXTRA 30w when folding compared to idle.

[~* InSoM *~]

what did you use to test it?

Also will it show mem, AGP, etc? interested now to see how accurate that list is which i posted above...

[GrahamGarside]

p4's are far more than that insom the a64 also draws much less than a p4, it's just amd are more honest about their ratings than intel
those 2 fried psu's, I take it they weren't very good makes?
theres no way your celeron system needs more than 300W though, even if somehow you managed to make every component draw it's maximum load.

take a look at this page to see what sort of power usage folding@home needs

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article169-page3.html

as you can see a prescott system needs around 30% more power than an equivalent A64 and a northwood 15%
even factoring in another 100W for a top end card still puts power requirements under 300W, the important thing to look for is the 12V line/s ratings, 18A is probably bare minimum, and newer units which offer 2 lines won't struggle.

A64 Quiet Power Article