New PSU should be my next upgrade???

[mjw21a]

I recently installed an AverMedia DVB-T PCI HDTV tuner card in my PC. I have found that when using this card I need to decrease my voltages to my GFX card (and therefore the overclock), RAM (overclock) and CPU (overclock).

Considering that my CPU can hit 2.4GHz without the TV card, and likewise my GFX card can reach an impressive overclock to 320MHz GPU and 590MHz VRAM.

Do you think it's voltage regulation issues with my mainboard or is my trusty little 330W Antec TruePower PSU at fault. :(

Also, do you think I could get away with a 400W PSU if upgrading or should I go for the 500W for $50 more (I don't wan't to spend the money, but if it's necessary)

400W - http://www.gamedude.com.au/prod_show.php?art_no=psSF400p_black_12
500W - http://www.gamedude.com.au/prod_show.php?art_no=psSF500_plug_black

[EWBatOVAclockin]

Eh, that first sounded like an mobo issue with the PCI lock. If you have that turned on then yes it might be a PSU issue. Even though your system doesn't demand much it could need alittle more juice to keep it stable.

The 400w psu should be fine. But if you want a rock solid stable 500 water then get the blue storm. There only 90 bucks SHIPPED at www.electroseller.com

PEACE

[mjw21a]

I'm running the Asus A7N8X-E deluxe which is a rev 2 board using the nForce2 Ultra chipset. Admittedly the TV tuner card is the only PCI card I have installed so you may be right, but I thought nVidia had this worked out.

What's the default MHz for the PCI bus. Perhaps I can set this manually (it has the options in the BIOS in 1MHz increments)

BTW - To my knowledge you can't get Forton PSU's in Australia. Add about 20 to 30% on to the price you gave me and that's what it would cost over here if you can get it somewhere.

[man_utd]

33/66 are the pci/agp frequencies.

[mjw21a]

Thanks, I'll try setting this tonight and see if it makes a difference. It'd be nice to fix the issue without spending any money. (Saving for a 19" TFT).

[N3buchan3zzar]

First figure out how much power you really need here (http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp) and keep in mind thats pretty much your nominal power. Most PSUs rate max not nominal so figure a 400Watt max is about 300W nominal. Unless you buy like PCP&C, OCZ, Fortron etc as they rate usable not maximum. Thats why a PCP&C 510 is SLI rated for a pair of 6800Ultras on an OCd AMD 64 system.
In aussie land look up AOpen or Sparkle as they are FSP(Fortron)

[mjw21a]

Changing the frequencies didn't work.

Damn, my recommended power supply wattage is 364W whith everything running stock. I'm just running a little Antec TruePower 330W PSU and everythign overclocked way past this!

It's pretty self evident why things aren't as stable as they should be when using the TV tuner. Time for a new power supply I think.

I could probably get away with a 400W PSU, but if I add another PCI card this might not be enough. What do you reckon guy's? Should I dish out the extra $50 for the 500W PSU?

[firebat45]

Ultra makes good powersupplies, they too rate usable watts not max, my "500" watt is actually closer to 630 watt max output, but they gaurantee 500 continuous. a 400 watt continuous, which is around 500 max, can be bought for $60 canadian, which in america moneys should be around $0.35 j/k (stupid canadian money sucking so much) btw mjw21a, you could try putting a desk fan blowing on your PSU, the cooler they are the more power they output, and it just might be enough to squeeze the last little bit you need out of it

[Midnight Dream]

hehe, you need a PSU like I have. No idea what it is about it, but it owns. a simple 130W PSU, running 4 HDDs, 1 CDRW/DVD, 1 AGP Vid Card, 1 PCI Vid Card, 1 Soundblaster, 1 IDE Card, 2 80MM fans, and an 4x20 Char LCD.

[fldrice]

If you go for the 500watt, I recomend the the 500 watt zippy or FSP550-60PLG/PLN

[tyrant222]

man thats a big price difference between the two.

I think to be safe id do 500+W too.

like mentioned the zippy is awesome. cant go wrong with fortron, or enermax either.

[fldrice]

I just notice that you're from Australia so maybe the TTGI isn't too bad since zippys and fortrons are a hard to find item.

[mjw21a]

man thats a big price difference between the two.

I think to be safe id do 500+W too.

like mentioned the zippy is awesome. cant go wrong with fortron, or enermax either.

Not really. $50 Australian = $39 USD. Besides, the 500W PSU is like the Antec NeoPower. No excess cables as you only plug the cables into the PSU as they're needed. More features than current Antec PSU's anyways, and at a lower price.

I just notice that you're from Australia so maybe the TTGI isn't too bad since zippys and fortrons are a hard it find item.

Yeah, Fortron, Sparkle, Zippy's etc are all quite rare in Australia. You can see all the most popular brands available in Australia here: http://www.gamedude.com.au/meny2.php?maingroup=POWER%20SUPPLY

The pricing from that store is also about the cheapest you'll find in Australia. The old TTGI PSU's weren't meant to be all that good, but I've heard a lot of good (and pretty much no bad) about the new generation of TTGI Super Flower PSU's.

Besides, their pricing for what you get is pretty much unbeatable here in Australia.

Looks like I'll have to save up. I should have the cash for this in 3-4 weeks.

If there's anything better in their range please mention and recommend it to me. Just keep in mind that $119 is absolutely the most I'm willing to spend on a PSU. The PSU also needs to be as silent as possible.

[JDizzle]

Since you're in Austrailia, you should look into getting a Topower PSU. I've heard they are the exact same as OCZ's powerstream line up.

[mjw21a]

Since you're in Austrailia, you should look into getting a Topower PSU. I've heard they are the exact same as OCZ's powerstream line up.

What are they like for noise? These things cost more than TTGI products also.....

[fldrice]

Problem with Topower is not all of their psus are top notch, and it was only recently that their psus started to gain recognition for decent performance. The P6 units are the same as the powerstreams but I don't see any on the site.
I found one here: http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/index.php?redir=http://www.auspcmarket.com.au/show_product_info.php?input[product_code]=CA-T626&input[category_id]= ouch!

[gastro54]

Would a sparkle/fortron PSU be the best bang/buck for the 400w-500w range? I hear some of them have dual 12v rails?

[fldrice]

Would a sparkle/fortron PSU be the best bang/buck for the 400w-500w range? I hear some of them have dual 12v rails?
Most likely...The Blue Storm models have the dual rails and are atx 2.0 compliant.

[mjw21a]

I think I'll go with the 500W TTGI Superflower 500W PSU. It offers the best features/performance over here for what I'm willing to pay.

[fldrice]

yeah that's probably the best choice for the budget minded.

[mjw21a]

LOL. Most Aussie's a cheap and would go with something dodgy like an Omni or Codegen PSU. I just think the TTGI is better value than the Antec NeoPower. I'd prefer to pay $119 for a 500W PSU than $199 for a 480W PSU with less features.....

[fldrice]

Actually, I think every average overclocker is cheap. Why did you think I recommended the fortron? Good Luck!

[N3buchan3zzar]

Have you tried looking for AOpen PSU's down in Australia? I'm not positive but believe someone told me that they are FSP(FortronSource) products. Check the sn and they should read like "FSP550-60pln" or something similar. I'm getting an OCZ here soon from a friend who's moving but I will always consider Fortron the best bang for the buck period. If it says 18 or 15 amps its per rail with 2 rails otherwise its the one with the 3x amp rail...a beast. Just don't forget that unless your looking at a top line PSU always subtract about 25% to get your usable wattage. IMHO only pcp&c, zippy(they used to make pcp&c's),OCZ, and FSP(Fortron) are guaranteed to run listed wattage. I've also heard Antecs truepower series is now rated at actual not peak but can't swear to it.

[mjw21a]

I thought the TruePowers were always rated at peak. It's the older SmartPower's that arn't.