[OBLIVIONLORD]

Currently I have this 500w Apevia that came with my Q-Pack2 case powering the following components....

Amd 4600x2
Ati x850xt-pt
2HD's: 1x250gb 1x400gb
1 Wireless PCI card
1 USB keyboard & 1 USB mouse
4x1Gb Corsair memory
2x120mm fans: 1 case + 1 CPU
1x80mm case fan

The videocard is supposedly rated for 130w or so at load which I got the info from this site....

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...r,1065-10.html

I basically got the figure from taking the idle wattage which is total system and subtracted it from load wattage which was a 130w difference.

The 4850 is according to this link from the same Tom's site to be at 120w of a difference...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0,1964-15.html

Now I am taking into account that this really isn't a fair apples to apples comparison since the software used for both cards are different since that's the main thing that's going to try to stress the cpu/gpu equally. Unfortunately I can't find 1 specific site that does a power consumption test using this old card along with this newer card all on the same software. Therefore this is a ballpark figure that I have to go off of.

Going off of all of that. If I use a Q9300 which is 65w rated vs the 4600x2 which is 89w then that should be ok. If the old videocard consumes about the same as the new videocard then really I should be just fine with this PSU.

Unless anyone has any objections then I would really like to hear some insight. Thanks

[Adragontattoo]

I dont know if they have improved but I personally wont go near an Apevia PSU even if I was paid to.

Last one I had, overvolted to 13+ volts, every cap in the PSU was the Fuhjjyi yellow caps of death and bulging among other things.

[Razzy]

Like above poster, I wouldn't use it. Play it safe and read the stickies above for the recommended PS for like $50 or so.

[WonderingSoul]

I played around with one when I got my X-Qpack2. With three high speed fans connected to the 12V, the unit has mass drops. From about 12.11 t 11.5V just from FANS. I would avoid those things like the plague.

[OBLIVIONLORD]

Well in my case it's running strong with stable volts and I'm even oc'in the 4600x2 to a very minor degree. Not that it is anything to write home about but, it's doable. I also forgot to mention that the case has 2 120mm fans with1 80mm fan and 4x1gb Corsair memory as well. I'll edit my first post and include that.

I'm sure they don't put a whole lot of emphasis into their PSU's but, considering that things have been running well for me since I've gotten the Case in Christmas then it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by OBLIVIONLORD

it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

Often, when I see these words in relation to units the build quality of the Apevia, they're followed by another post a couple weeks later saying "my power supply blew up."

Their high end Warlock Power stuff is so-so quality. They only go downhill from there. Youngyear is still their OEM for the low end stuff, and Youngyear has never been good.

[WonderingSoul]

Originally Posted by OBLIVIONLORD

Well in my case it's running strong with stable volts and I'm even oc'in the 4600x2 to a very minor degree. Not that it is anything to write home about but, it's doable. I also forgot to mention that the case has 2 120mm fans with1 80mm fan and 4x1gb Corsair memory as well. I'll edit my first post and include that.

I'm sure they don't put a whole lot of emphasis into their PSU's but, considering that things have been running well for me since I've gotten the Case in Christmas then it wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

Have you checked your voltages with a DMM? If you are running software to measure your voltages they are always unreliable. Everest reads my 12V at something like 11.84 but I know for a fact it is not.

Still, I agree with OK. Running it only will end in your kicking yourself in the butt later.

[theELVISCERATOR]

I had one that didnt suck...I musta been lucky....(didn't know any better just looked at the 12 rail spec one night in a hurry.....impressive at the time...ASSUMING it could actually output that..rofl....)

I have since learned changed my mind from you build your system around your PSU first...

then mobo..then cpu then ram then GPU....well thats my parts method...

[Melan]

I used that 500W for about 8 months with my E6300 and 7600GT. Honestly I didn't have any problems, but at the same time it wasn't a very power hungry setup to begin with. Apevia isn't exactly a popular brand on these forums though. So most would tell you to get something better.

[madhatter256]

Apevia is so so and I'd only recommend it for a low-end system. Yours has a videocard that relies more on the 12volt line and that is the weakness to almost all value PSUs out there.

Because of that video card, I would not buy it and get like an Antec Basiq or ThermalTake or whatever they recommend for your pricerange.

You can still get a reliable PSU for less than $50, just don't use it for overclocking, only for what it is meant for.

[moto211]

I know they cost more than the apevia, but the $90-$150 dollar price range seems to be the sweet spot for great PSU's lately.

*edit*
I'm not saying that all PSU's in that price range are good, just that there are a lot of good PSU's to be had if you're willing to spend $90+

here's one that's not much more than the apevia after rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139003

[OBLIVIONLORD]

The old ATI card that Im currently using is drawing about as much as the new ATI card according to the site. The old processor Im using is drawing more wattage than the new Intel Quads. Taking those 2 factors in account. I should be in the same position that I am in now.

If the draw is the same or less then matters shouldn't change. I've been running this way for nearly a year now.

[SuperDave1685]

Take Oklahoma's advice and don't look back. You're only kidding yourself by thinking about how much juice your hardware is using and using that to feel better about your build. Buy a decent Corsair 520HX and you won't have to worry about anything.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by OBLIVIONLORD

If the draw is the same or less then matters shouldn't change.

"Shouldn't" only applies to good quality units that are well built to begin with. The Apevia is not one of them.

[OBLIVIONLORD]

That's true but this is roughly the same electrical draw. It's not like I'm drastically changing the constant. If these PSU's were that bad as said here then for the amount of stress that I'm currently doing to it, I would have seen some signs of failure which I haven't yet. Even considering that it's still doing will while oc'ing to a minor degree.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Originally Posted by OBLIVIONLORD

That's true but this is roughly the same electrical draw. It's not like I'm drastically changing the constant.

Doesn't matter. If you have questionable caps in there, and I'd bet money you do, they're still going to cook and fail. They don't care about the load, they care about the heat and the poor circuit design.

If these PSU's were that bad as said here then for the amount of stress that I'm currently doing to it, I would have seen some signs of failure which I haven't yet.

It's coming. If you've had it running for a year, it's likely coming sooner rather than later. Fortunately, Youngyear isn't quite as bad as Deer and Powmax for barbecuing hardware when they go. Seriously though, this is the OEM that gave Ultra such a bad reputation with the X-Connect. For good reason.

[WonderingSoul]

OBLIVIONLORD, I don't see why you are trying to defend a notoriously terrible power supply. You can see for yourself here on their units that came with the X-QPacks