dragonember

I'm getting together a list of parts to build a computer. I posted in another section with the specs, but heard the new athlon 64 dual core processor ran really cool and much faster than the 3.4GHz intel I was looking at, so I changed everything so it was compatible. (this computer is gonna be sick!!!)

However, I just realized since I have never built a computer I have no idea how to pick a proper PSU for this computer!

I'm going to be using a microATX motherboard so do I need a PSU that is compatible with only a 24 pin MicroATX, or are there additional requirements? All the PSUS i've seen either have 20 pin connectors or 20+4 pin connectors, so i'm hoping the 20+4 ones are compatible with mobo's that need 24 pin connectors. ( I mean I would assume so lol)

These are the specs of the computer i'm going to build:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+(65W) Windsor 2.4GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor - Retail: $114.99
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103749)

Rosewill RCX-Z940-SL 92mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail: $19.99
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835200023)

JetWay M2A692-GHG-PB Socket AM2 AMD 690G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail: $74.99
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813153064)

Patriot eXtreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail: $139.99
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820220144)

LITE-ON Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM IDE DVD Burner - Retail: 27.99
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106075)

APEVIA X-Navigator ATXA9NW-BK/500 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail: $99.99
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144168)

I dont think the PSU that comes with the case is compatible with the motherboard. If anyone could educate me on this, i'd appreciate it. thanks in advance.

1 g0t 0wn3d

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/Skusearch...iteria=BA23051

1 g0t 0wn3d

And you would save some money if you got this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...MP=OTC-Froogle
it also have 5 fan slots 2 come with led lights a temp prob and fan control

redsunx

well seems is i have to cover alot of ground lets start here

1st: NEVER use the psu that comes with case NEVER,NEVER
2nd:Dont get the cooler and you will have enough for a cpu that is a 2.80ghz not 2.4ghz it is not needed amds dont run to hot thats a good thing, and if you plan on overclocking just get a differnet heatsink and cpu fan

3rd:if you want cooling just get a couple 80mm fans
4th: I would reccomend getting a dedicated graphics card
casual gaming:256(vram)
semi-intense:256 x2 SLI (not reccomended for newer users)
intense: 300 and up (vram)
5th:I assume your on a budget so i dont think your to worried about mouse, monitor,hd,and keyboard ; am i correct?
6th:My reccomended psu wattage would be between 500-650w so you have upgrade breathing room.

do you have a SATA,IDE,SCSI(>_>) drive?
other then that your good if anyone wants to add anything go for it

more psu info: get one with at least DUAL 12V rails and make sure there is more then 20 amps on them or your gonna have alot of headaches in the future.

mobo:24 pin power connected not sure if its SLI certified
so yes your good to go then and 1 g0t 0wn3d i like his case its roomy and looks cool.

yet more psu info: yes it is its 500 watts but i still dont reccomend using the ones that come with a case but its your rig dude go for wat you want

dragonember

The only AMD processor I have ever owned runs REALLY hot and the comp freezes up because of how bad it is...granted there is virtually no cooling system other than the cpu fan int he computer. it was a prebuilt...now you see why im gonna try to build one lol. The only game I play on the computer is Neverwinter Nights and Risk lol...yea i'm a nerd, just remember bullets dont kill people magic missiles do!

anyway....

I will have 2 IDE hard drives and 2 IDE optical drives in the computer. Mostly I just need to know like how many watts amps and volts I need and how i find out. I know the processor runs at 65watts, but the other things dont say. so can I get any power supply that has 12v dual rails that is >=500watts and has a 24 pin main connector? How do I know how many amps are on each rail?

I have many mice, keyboards and a couple monitors laying around lol.

Would this PSU be compatible, work well, and cause no problems? http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec....iteria=BA23657

yes I am on a budget but I will not sacrifice performance because that will cost me more in the long term.

btw thanks for that link to the case, that one is better...and cheaper lol

1 g0t 0wn3d

You can't buy a psu for under $60-70 there is no way that it could be a good one.

1 g0t 0wn3d

Also a single rail is better as you can badly manage multi-rail psus.

Deleted090308

Antec TruePowerTrio 550W (or maybe 650W would be better, depending on what video card you choose).

dragonember

I'm not getting an aditional vid card. I dont really play games. I mean at some point in the future yes, but not right now.

Why are cheap PSUS bad?

Deleted090308

The manufacturers use cheap (and inferior) components. If you're lucky the PSU will produce 70% of the promised wattage, i.e. 500W is really 350W.
If you click the "Power supply info" link in my sig, you'll find a very good PSU guide.

redsunx

well to find out how many amps there are, if your using newegg go to the sepcifications and go down to input currents and you wil see something like this

"+12V2@24A"

Kalim

Don't go with that cooler. You can do much better than that, lower noise too, with like a Zalman, Thermaltake (etc - too many to list).

And no way that PSU- it's quite funny how users love the "bling" factor on these PSUs so manufacturers make the junkiest PSUs possible and add a lot of bling to them to market them appropriately to their customers.

Because you don't have a vid card, the power pulled will not be much at all. Any 500W would be more than sufficient. The best 500W PSU out there is probably an Enhance 5150 (same as SilverStone Element) or a Antec Earthwatts 500W.

Antec Earthwatts 500W $73.33: http://www.provantage.com/antec-ea500~7ANTS02V.htm

Enhance ENP-5150GH $68.51: http://www.etech4sale.com/Enhance_Te...id-302335.html


They perform better than a SilverStone Zeus 750W, although they are in different power bands. The Coolermaster iGreen 500W is top quality too.

dragonember

What bling? I was looking at the amount of volts and the connectors it had. What cooler are you talking about, the heatsink?

The earthwatts power supply has only a 9v input current. Would that be sufficient, or should I go with dual 12v?

This one looks decent, but input current is only 10a,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817194011

This one looks better, but same problem as one above:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817154019

Why do I need 24 amps on each 12v rail? (sorry if I'm being a pain, I knwo nothing about PSUS)

But I think this one would be good for the computer I'm building, best for the price too:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817812002

Please le tme know what you guys think

Kalim

The Apevia PSU aka fire. Known to blow up and catch fire but comes packaged for pretty looks.

Yes, the Rosewill HSF.

I don't quite understand the 9V input current you're referencing, but reckon it's the electrical outlet amps you're reading. You need to look at the "output current" values stated there. Have a read of this article for much better PSU understanding: http://www.techsupportforum.com/hard...selection.html

A PSU has +3.3V, +5V and +12V rails mainly. The main aspect you need to look at nowadays in terms of rails is the +12V rail amps available (etc).

Those two are not sufficient quality, especially the second.

This one's much better.

Although not better than the two I listed before - not even close in efficiency, rail stability, ripple, build quality (etc).

dragonember

I was referring to what redsunx said:

I was noticing none of the PSUS lived up to the dual rail 20+amps on each rail for input current on any of the PSUS listed here and on newegg

Like the Antec earthwatts has 9a input current, but output is +3.3V@24A,+5V@24A,+12V1@17A,+12V2@17A,-12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2.5A so unless redsunx meant output not input, (which I hope so because if he wrote that as he meant it I am REALLY confused) none of these are adequate.


Is 3 amps all that big a deal?

Kalim

Like I stated, you will need to read the PSU article I linked to understand better. All is covered there effectively and it is too much to cover here.

And yes, redsunx meant the output current, I assure you that would be the only correct answer.

3 amps between?

linderman

Kalim is 100% correct



The Earthwatts 500 is a very good choice as is the Enhance



you really need to read the PSU sticky; then the light will come on in a major way

dragonember

Yes that article was very helpful, my thanks goes out to all who participated in writing that for such a clear concise guide.

12v2@17a versus 12v2@20a

this a big deal?

redsunx recommended at least 20 amps on each of the 12v rails. the earthwatts has only 17 amps on each rail.

You guys ever hear of this PSU, it looks better than the earthwatts:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189012

linderman

The 20 amps on the 12volt rail which was reccomended to you was a combined rail rating


I have only seen one PSU that actaully has 20amps on a 12volt rail

this is because the ATX specification for multi railed psu's limits them to 20 amps per rail

what you must pay attention to is combined rating


we have give you some good reccomendations here, but you are still highly flavored by cheaper prices

enjoy >>>>>> cheaper prices get you this

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1194420

dragonember

alright thanks for the help everyone, I think im gonna go with the earthwatts PSU. there goes the bank lol.