How much can my poor little Antec 380W handle?

[Nick Burns]

I have just purchase some new components. Here is everything that needs to be powered:
2 X Raptor Hard drives
2 X Optical drives (dvd-burner and cd/dvd-rom)
9800pro 128 MB
DFI Ultra Infinity
2500+ mobile
Swiftech MCP-600 pump
1 low speed 120mm fan
1 12-24v blower that will run at 12v off of power supply
2 Cold Cathode lights
So the question is: Will my silent 380W Antec be able to handle all of this plus overclocking, or should I go with the louder Antec True430W that I have laying around? Will the 430W be enough or do I even need to go bigger?

[Top Hat Theater]

Yeesh...that's a good bit of draw. I'd put the 430w in however wouldn't be surprised if the rails dipped under load. I'm certain the 550w TruPower could do it just fine but no sense in needlessly upgrading unless you find out the 430w can't cut the mustard.

~THT

[dalilman52]

well...the only time when i need to upgrade a psu and can tell that it isnt doing the job is when the rails start to drop real low or raise real high, and when it starts to randomly reboot, or shut down

it usually reboots or shutsdown only when u play like a grapics intensive game or doing something that is stressing the psu beyond its border

if these things mentioned above are what u are experiencing, or if the voltage rails arent quite as close to spec as you would like, then id suggest putting in something beefier liek the 430

(remember to check volts with DMM, not software readings)

[JKeefe]

I think you'll be fine.

I have an Antec SmartPower 350W. It runs:
2 optical drives
floppy drive
fan controller with 4 fans, all dialed down
1 IDE HDD
2 WD 36GB Raptors
1 128MB 9800 Pro
P4 2.4C @ 3000 on 1.6V
1 GB of overvolted DDR400

12V: 11.92
5V: 4.97
3.3V: 3.28

Is your silent 380 a SmartPower or a TruePower? SmartPowers do not have independent voltage regulation, while TruePowers do (although as you can see my SmartPower seems to be doing just fine, and has almost as much to power as your PSU does).

[schismspeak]

I say just use the 380, unless you start to run into problems, I doubt you will though.

[chilly charlie]

you should be fine.... got to

http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

and it says your max requirements are 377 watts if my assumptions are correct....usually you calculate 70% of that due to the fact that it is giving you max power comsumption and unless you run absolutely everything at once you will never use close to that even with you 10 to 15 percent overclock.

[Diggrr]

I'd try using the 380 first. Mine's doing great (though no volt mods) and is only actually drawing 212 watts, the hardest I can push it.

Have at it!

[xiaolanhua]

I have a TruePower 480W...for my rig in my sig...

Well, I think 380W will be good enough for you...



Computer Maniac ;)

[Susquehannock]

These 300w Fortron (fsp300-60atv) can run my OCed
Soltek rig just fine.
Quality over quantity ... stability over high spec numbers. ... etc .... :D