View Full Version : How important is a good Power Supply
Chronical
08-28-01, 01:35 AM
I'm getting a 1.4ghz t-bird and a KG7. I run 2 hard drives, a cd-rom, and a burner aswell. Right now i just have the regular 250watt one PSU that came with my case.
Should I invest in a new PSU aswell? If so how many watts? 350w? 450w?
FuzzzMan
08-28-01, 02:17 AM
I may be wrong here but it is my understanding that if your running any AMD over 1 GiG you need at least a 300 watt PSU
At least thats what I am told.. and if you can afford it.. I don't think you can go wrong.. I say you can't have to much power :)
Look at it this way.... do you want to tow a 30ft cabin cruizer boat with a honda civic or peterbuilt semitruck? obviously the civic wouldn't even get over a speed bump - the ''bigger'' you build your computer the more power you need to get it moving and keep it going.
1.4gig athlon - you would be better off with a 400 watt PS a 300 will work but 400 is way better, - for future upgrading.:cool:
I recomend a new case completely - the ANTEC line would be a perfect fit - look for the sx-1040 case, it will hold all the stuff you listed and has a 400 watt supply for around 130bucks - and will have room to hold more!
Mr.Lansing
08-28-01, 04:31 AM
250Watts is definetely not enough for a 1.4Ghz (2 H.D.D = 1 CD-ROM + 1 CDRW)
cause i'm just running 1 H.D.D + 1 CD-ROM + 1 CDRW
and i'm using a 465watt Enermax PSU
if i were u i would go for 400 or more watts
well actually i fink 350watts will be okay be a bit too on the dangerous side
P.S 250watts PSU's are NOT USABLE NOWADAYS
it'll be enough for a DURON 600 not o/ced (I FINK)
!-=sky=-!
08-28-01, 06:42 AM
it would be enough for runing a o/c thunderbird.......but the 12v or 5 v(cant remember where vcore takes power from) will drop
that's a sign when u need a new psu
infidel
08-28-01, 08:55 AM
Originally posted by Xeonetic
I'm getting a 1.4ghz t-bird and a KG7. I run 2 hard drives, a cd-rom, and a burner aswell. Right now i just have the regular 250watt one PSU that came with my case.
Should I invest in a new PSU aswell? If so how many watts? 350w? 450w?
Everybody says that you have to use at leat a 350W PSU, but my machinge (TB 1.4) runst fine on 250W. Have a look at: http://home.powertech.no/ewp/overclock.htm
ArmyLifeSucks
08-28-01, 09:11 AM
Look below at my system. I used to have a Enermax eg-258p-v, I think it was a 250 watt PSU and when I got my fans to complete my system I started to get errors running common programs. I removed removed my heatsink fan and unplugged all the case fans, opened the case and put a big box fan next to it and I didn't get errors anymore. As soon as I would hook my heatsink fan back up I would start getting errors again. I went out and bought me a Enermax eg465p-ve(fc) (I think it is a 465 watt psu) and I don't get errors anymore. From what I know about PSU's the eg-258p-v only had 100W of usable power for the 3.3v and the 5v. The one that I have now has 220W of usable power on the 3.3v and the 5v. I don't know what size PSU to tell you to get, but the more power the better. I think I remember reading somwhere that you need at least 18A on the 3.3v to power an Athlon processor.
DeltaSierra
08-28-01, 10:19 AM
I've had several PSUs that were too small for the job, and the problems they cause are soooo weird and variable that they'll make you nuts. I agree with Jbell...the Antec case line is great and they make a darn good PSU. I use a 400 watt PSU with my T-bird 1.4 in an Antec 1240.
!-=sky=-!
08-28-01, 12:14 PM
well.......i would recommend 400+ psu for any 1000+ cpu
and 350+ psu for anything under
my 2 cents
merlin704
08-28-01, 12:19 PM
I have the Enlight 7237 w/ 300PSU and i must say this is a very nice case. I paid $68 (including shipping) for it from belkin.com. has plenty of room for upgrades. Mine came with a 7k RPM front case fan. Hope this helps you out.
AMD Duron 700@784
Global Win FOP38
ECS K7VZA Rev.3.0 w/KT133A
Geforce2 GTS 32mb DDR 230/380
256mb of Micron PC-100
SB Live!
Western Digital 20gb ATA 100
this is one subject that is very hard to give advice on... actually, no.. my advice would be: try and run it on the 250w.. you never know.
i know people with 400w+ enermax psus who can't run 1.4ghz chips... and i myself and some of my mates are running 1ghz-1.4ghz+ on generic 300s that aren't even on the amd recommended list. it's entirely up to your psu, and the rest of your system!
i'd say try what you have... if it doesn't work, then get another. no need to buy new if you don't really have to..
good luck! :)
One of the most important components of your system is a good PSU. If you are thinking of overclocking your 1.4 birdy then I would recommend
getting a 400Watt PSU e.g Antec or Sparkle are good quality PSU's....
I dont know about you but I would not buy a Z-71 four wheel drive truck and then go get the centrifical clucth out of my go kart and expect much else but trouble...I agree 250watt power supply's have no business in a 1.4 T-bird and really not with one that has all the stuff you are hooking up...Play it safe and get a 400watt psu...the Antec cases these guy's are talking about are the bomb the SX635 comes with a 350watt psu for about 90.00 and the SX1240 tops the list for about 170.00... thats shipping included...Good Luck !!!
Chronical
08-29-01, 05:07 PM
I don't really wana buy i new case cuz the one i have now fits perfect on my desk. Anything a 1/4" taller wouldn't fit. The only downside is it has no case fans...
What would you guys suggest? Install a couple of my own case fans?
Chronical
08-29-01, 05:10 PM
Actually i just took the side off and it does have one place to install a fan in the front that'd come out through a bunch or holes in the front of the case. And there's another potential place in the gap between my pci cards and the side of the case.
infidel
08-29-01, 05:42 PM
Originally posted by Xeonetic
I don't really wana buy i new case cuz the one i have now fits perfect on my desk. Anything a 1/4" taller wouldn't fit. The only downside is it has no case fans...
What would you guys suggest? Install a couple of my own case fans?
Look at this:
Pretty coo, huh? I explain how it's done at http://home.powertech.no/ewp/index.htm under Overclocking.
infidel
08-29-01, 06:00 PM
Hey! Look at this:
infidel
08-29-01, 06:03 PM
Hey! Look at this:
I suddenly saw the figures in my system tray. This is while I'm running CuteFTP, Oulook, Explorer, System Mechanic and Sandra!
Chronical
08-30-01, 02:55 AM
cooling ribs on the cpu?
infidel
08-30-01, 03:02 AM
Originally posted by Xeonetic
cooling ribs on the cpu?
OK, then, the cooling ribs on the cooler on the CPU. :cool:
Originally posted by Xeonetic
cooling ribs on the cpu?
say what?
Chronical
08-30-01, 05:12 AM
Originally posted by infidel
Look at this:
Pretty coo, huh? I explain how it's done at http://home.powertech.no/ewp/index.htm under Overclocking.
He mentions it in here.
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