How much power supply do I need?

[shaft103]

I am currently in the process of building a new Intel system that will use either a E6300 or E6400 chip. I will be overclocking this somehwere into the 3 to 3.5 ghz range hopefully. I do not use my systems for gaming so I will be running a very modest video card (will meet minimum requirements to run vista though).

How big of a PSU is necessary for my needs? Also I haven't built a system in over 3 years now. so what brands are actually good now? Would something like this get the job done or do I need to go with more watts or just a better brand (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023).

Thanks a lot for the help!

[hafa]

:welcome: to the forums, shaft103

Please read the stickies in this section here (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=458204) and here (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=232592) and spend a bit of time looking through available threads. I'm quite certain that you'll find the answer you seek there.

Also, pop into Jonny Guru's site. (http://www.jonnyguru.com/) He has a wealth of reviews and great advice.

[jiggamanjb]

How big of a PSU is necessary for my needs?
Also I haven't built a system in over 3 years now. so what brands are actually good now?
Would something like this get the job done or do I need to go with more watts or just a better brand (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023).

Thanks a lot for the help!

350w should handle it, but 400w or more would be recommened

stickys (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=458204)

better brand

a quick look at the egg gave me this one. cheap, good name, will handle your setup:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103013

[shaft103]

Thanks so much for the info guys! Looks like I have some reading to do!

[DrDuke]

Those stickies have a ton of information..

One tool from there that I have found really useful is this power supply calculator (http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp). It gives a good idea to the wattage needed and following the recommend brands listed in that first sticky should make buying the right psu easy.