Suggestions on a budget PSU

[SHOUTSAMD/Intel]

I need another Psu for a system I`m going to be building in the next couple weeks it is older the board is an ASUS maximus extreme with an E8400 will have two hdd`s two HD3870`s DvD-Ram, card reader and about 4 fans I really don`t think I need for this over 600W-650W just to be safe. in case of additional hardware later. WHat is a good one that won`t fry everything like I have seen happen Used or new less than say $80 sheaper the better I am almost broke doing this stuff already right now Thanks for the help.

[SHOUTSAMD/Intel]

Oh yeah I`m overclocking and will have 4 sticks of G.Skill F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM two sets.

[Daniel ~]

A big thing you want to consider is what video card you will want to run.

Many of the newer cards want 750 to a 1000 watts and were talking quality power.

I'm running a Nvidia 670 GTX and it does fine with a Corsair Professional series GOLD AX 750. This is for a SINGLE card, want two? your looking at an AX 1200...

Power is the one place you don't want to come up short... Thunder Rd is much more knowledgeable about this than I. I just thought you might like a bit of personal experience to help guide you along.":O}

[SHOUTSAMD/Intel]

Well I might want to run 2 HD48xxx eventually but that is it for a later

time when I can buy another PSU anyway I have a Thermaltake TR-
600 TR2 600W

now I could use for one of the two I am building I

never thought of it but I do not think My spare PSU is gonna work for

even a single 4890 it is a Antec Earthwatts 380W It only has one 6 pin

on it I have an adapter for the second one the specs say it uses

190W max for that on GPU review. I can only try it I guess if not I`m

outta luck till I get one. How about this one Cooler Master Real Power Pro RS-650-ACAA-A1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171023

Looks ok to me but I do not know much I just read!

[Aedan]

A pair of HD3870 cards are going to be around 430W alone. If you overclock that E8400, you might be hitting 100 to 120W as well. Those two items alone are putting you at the 550W mark before you include anything else!

[Daniel ~]

And if you deny them parts power they will make you pay and pay. Don't buy cheap power! Corsair AX series Pro are good, many others, but many others are junk when you would think otherwise.

Find one you like then check back here, we have some real pros who can advice you much better than I .

Really this is so important to get right.

[booman]

I learned from a few people here at AOA to use Enermax. I've never regretted it!
I have only purchased Enermax for the last 5 years and they are still running. I just re-use them in my newer computers.

I try to stay away from SLI and Crossfire, but if you need two cards its extremely important to have a very powerful power supply.

If you can sacrifice and use one card, then you can spend a lot less money for a 600watt and still have a decent machine.

Honestly these newer video cards can match the performance of two older cards.

I have a GeForce 550 Ti 2Gig RAM that is just as powerful as my two GeForce 9800 GS's in SLI.
Go figure!

[SHOUTSAMD/Intel]

I`m Thinking a carsair or a bigger thermaltake should be good from

650-750W My price range is only aroun $80 so I`m looking for a really

good deal I can find one if I take my time right now I mainly need

one more good Cpu cooler I may just run one card for now until I can

sell this motherboard I`m gonna put up for Auction. It is not very

dirty but I want it to shine in pictures I do not think Compressed air

will make it shine any suggestions on cleaning a motheboard ?and if I

used alcohol Which works good should I avoid anything I know cotton

is hard to use Honestly the board is in excellent chape but I want it

to look as good as it performs before selling it I`ve seen the EP-UD3LR
GO FOR AS MUCH AS $100 I could add some ram for the sale I have

two kits of XMS2 pc6400 but those are working great but then I only

I would be left with only one kit of DDR2 xms 6400 4-4-4-12 the other

two sets are 5-5-5-12 or 18 these tow board I am working with

use DDR3 so I am covered there one of the kits of XMS2 is New from Corsair from an RMA just recently recieved it back. I am looking for another case and Psu right now I could use an older one I have that is 5 years old

[Daniel ~]

If your going to bust your budget anywhere...this is the place to let the cash flow!

you seem to know how to shop "Hard" so you know what to do.

Find that PS that makes you think of fast cars, shop the hell out of it and put your money down.":O}

Like Boo says a good power supply moves from build to build and can last for 5 years or more.

no power, no go.":O}

[ThunderRd]

Originally Posted by Daniel ~

Like Boo says a good power supply moves from build to build and can last for 5 years or more.

Skimping on your power supply is the surest way to create ghosts in your machine - random boot problems, strange reboots, odd crashes in either Windows or Linux, heat problems, inability to overclock, premature death of components, the list goes on and on. All of this kind of stuff puts your other equipment at risk.

All of the long timers here at AOA are *true believers*. Buy the very best power supply you can, it will pay off in spades.

It used to be said that the single-rail 12V units were the best. I'm an old-timer, so I hold this belief, although I think it's not as critical as it once was. The Corsair units I have been using are single-rail and have 7-year warrantees. Yes, that says "7-year", although with the high quality of Corsair's products I actually expect to be using them for a lot longer than that. They are not $80, though. They're more like $150. While I appreciate that sometimes being frugal is important, I'd advise that you cut back somewhere else rather than getting an underspec PS.

Bottom line - for the demands of the rig you are planning, $80 sounds risky. Power supply advertising is tricky. Be careful - it's not always about how many watts are advertised: you have to know if they are peak watts or continuous watts first, and there are many other factors involved. You might try reading this for starters, from the site I go to for power supply information:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDFAQs

[booman]

When I am on a budget (which is most of the time) I would still get an Enermax for $100 and still get a decent power supply.
Newegg has one for under $50 but its not near the Wattage you are looking for.

I have several power supplies that have more than one rail and are modular.
Havn't noticed any problems in several years.

I've also heard that Corsair's power supplies are awesome too!

[Daniel ~]

The Corsair 750 AX Gold is truly all it can be! I can't imagine anyone being disappointed.

With PSU I can't think of another part it's easier to go wrong with....really!

I'm not nearly as conversant with hard ware as TR, Boo and well, a lot of our membership. So Here's what I do. I ask the forums specifically what they are using and how they like it.

Once you settle on one power supply from one manufacture...it's pretty easy to go to their site and get THEIR recommendations as to what you need.

The thing about power is that you don't want to get stung on your next upgrade...It's happened to me! LOL

(Fortuitously my wife doesn't demand as much from computers as we do.

A perfectly good power supply that just couldn't deliver the power needed for my new gear.

All grist for your mill.":O}

[noob]

Well my 5c worth (inflation)

As everyone else has stated, get a decent PSU. buying a cheap PSU is like putting a diesel into a Lamborghini and then running it on LPG.

If you can't afford a decent Corsair, Enermax, Silverstone, etc - basically something that passed the tests on JonnyGURU.com - Enermax Giant Ostrog Case Review - you need to save money elsewhere.

My personal list of priorities in order for spending money:
PSU
Motherboard
HDD
CPU
RAM
GPU
Case

Motherboard - look at what you actually need - I bought a mATX for about $30 cheaper than the same ATX board as I didn't need the extra ports.
RAM is dirt cheap, and unless you are overclocking you can buy cheaper.
CPU - modern CPU's are fast enough buying a SSD is going to have more of an impact in everyday computing
GPU - the CPU 3rd gen i7 integrated HD4000 will play 1080p no issues, and even older games like Sins of a Solar Empire at decent settings.
The case - well you can use the boxes everything came in at a push.

PSU - well I bought a Corsair AX650 fully modular - but my MB has only a single PCIe x16 for a GPU and with the 7970 I am getting, I will still have power to spare.

[booman]

Absolutely agree!

I normally put GPU ahead of CPU and RAM because I play a LOT of games.

Here is mine:
Motherboard
Power Supply
Graphics Card
Processor
Hard Drive
Memory
Case

When under a budget I usually have to skimp on Memory, Case and Processor because they are not a Frame Rate killer. I'll even refurbish and old case to save money.
The only reason I put Motherboard at the top is because everything else is upgradable (as long as it is supported by the motherboard), so if something fails, I can replace it, but replacing a motherboard a few years later can mean replacing everything!

[chrisbard]

thats why I am so happy with my xbox since I dont have to upgrade every year because they want me to spend my money! :P

[booman]

you still have to eventually upgrade to play newest games on the newest system.
Not to mention purchasing that 40in HD TV

I only have to upgrade A video card once every few years...

[chrisbard]

Originally Posted by booman

you still have to eventually upgrade to play newest games on the newest system.
Not to mention purchasing that 40in HD TV

I only have to upgrade A video card once every few years...

[booman]

I still use my GeForce 8800's and they were released in 2007
Thats 6 years of gaming and they can still play new games.

I purchased my GeForce 550 Ti last year and plan to keep using it for the next 4 years.

And I never spent more than $150.00 on a video card either.

I've saved money on NOT buying a HD TV, I save money by purchasing games at $10 and below...

My computers easily last me 8-10 years before I end up donating them.
Not to mention I use my computers for 3D modeling, Graphic Design, Website Design, data storage, IT functions, photography, game design, on and on and on and on.

[Daniel ~]

I have to upgrade everything every 3 months or so....A real shame I never have the money to do this...so it's just when ever I can...as in every 3-5 years.":O}

[booman]

Nobody I know has a setup like mine.
6 gaming computers in a LAN... when I upgrade my computer the hardware gets passed down to the other computers.
So purchasing new hardware is always an investment.
I end up using the hardware for years!