Need help choosing power supply
Winterclaw
Hi guys, I tried the extreme link in the sticky and it says I need 478w. However I have an HP m9250f and I'm adding a blu ray reader/writer and a geforce 275 and the specs on the geforce alone are 550w. So what would I really need? My current power supply is 350w (way too small).
gone
How much cash are you wanting to part with?
Lord Sojar
Indeed. Budget is required. Enermax just released their new Modu and Pro87+ units. They are the best power supplies on the market and come in 500, 600, and 700w flavors.
T1Cybernetic
I am going through a Silverstone power supply faze 
they are pretty solid power supply's and i have not really heard of any any problems with them.
These might help a bit:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...play.php?f=177
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=108088
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=42
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=589708
And here:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/ seems to know a thing or two about power supplys.
Those are where i usually go first anyway, Hope that helps mate...
they are pretty solid power supply's and i have not really heard of any any problems with them.These might help a bit:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...play.php?f=177
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=108088
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=42
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/s...d.php?t=589708
And here:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/ seems to know a thing or two about power supplys.
Those are where i usually go first anyway, Hope that helps mate...
Winterclaw
I'd like to keep it under 100-150 if possible unless there is a good reason to go with a better power supply. Even if there is, I'd still like a value option to compare to the good option.
Quaker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Winterclaw
Hi guys, I tried the extreme link in the sticky and it says I need 478w. However I have an HP m2950f and I'm adding a blu ray reader/writer and a geforce 275 and the specs on the geforce alone are 550w. So what would I really need? My current power supply is 350w (way too small).
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If you included all the devices in the power calculation (including the blu-ray player), then 478watts may indeed be you total system draw. But, of course, there may be small variations and/or incidental items not considered in that; plus, you would want some headroom for future.
I'd say any quality power supply of 500watts or better may suffice, but personally I would opt for at least 600watts in this case.
Winterclaw
Okay that's what I was wondering as well Quaker. For example a local store had a few 550 cards for under 100 but the box for the card recommended 575 as a minimum.
Winterclaw
One other thing, my current power supply had certain plug numbers being plugged into certain areas, do I need to keep this ordering or not?
Elder III
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Winterclaw
One other thing, my current power supply had certain plug numbers being plugged into certain areas, do I need to keep this ordering or not?
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Quaker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Winterclaw
One other thing, my current power supply had certain plug numbers being plugged into certain areas, do I need to keep this ordering or not?
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There would be no numbering on a new power supply. Just make sure that the proper "type" of plug is plugged into the proper type of socket. (They are significantly different, so mistakes are unlikely.)
Within a "type" of connector - for example, the SATA power plugs - it doesn't matter which one goes where, they're usually all on the same cable.
(One minor consideration could be the number of "rails" in the power supply, but these "rails" are usually split between connector types anyway, and you don't have that many devices to plug in.)
Winterclaw
Okay, thanks for the help guys. I'm leaning towards Corsair ATM. I checked out enermax, but I have a concern with them failing early, but less of a concern than with antec.
Elder III
Enermax is a quality brand, as is Antec. For a non high end build on a budget I have found that OCZ makes a very reliable PSU and they are generally priced very well. I've purchased a few of them over the past couple years and have been very impressed with the company. Corsair is very good of course, but tends too be more pricey. I would also consider Thermaltake and Silverstone if the price was right.
Lord Sojar
It's too bad the new Enermax Modu87+ and Pro87+ units aren't out, because once they come out, they will hands down be the best power supplies on the planet.
Winterclaw
When are they coming out?
Lord Sojar
Probably in March. But, again, this opens up the whole waiting game 
You can read Anand's review of them here: http://anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus...oc.aspx?i=3723
You can read Anand's review of them here: http://anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus...oc.aspx?i=3723
Winterclaw
Yeah, and TBH I don't like buying products when they first come out either. I like to wait up to a year or so just in case there are any early bugs in the item, the company has a chance to fix them. Like I wouldn't buy a new windows version until SP1 is out.
Winterclaw
One more thing, one of the cables on my current power supply has 4 prongs in a square format... what is that and can I get a converter for it because the corsair 750w doesn't have that.
Elder III
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Winterclaw
One more thing, one of the cables on my current power supply has 4 prongs in a square format... what is that and can I get a converter for it because the corsair 750w doesn't have that.
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Winterclaw
It was plugged into the motherboard, but in the rear by a fan.
I think it was an ATX connector and that I need to get something like this.
The corsair has tons of cables, but the only 4 pin ones seem to be in a straight line.
I think it was an ATX connector and that I need to get something like this.
The corsair has tons of cables, but the only 4 pin ones seem to be in a straight line.
Quaker
You should find that the Corsair has a rectangular plug that is 2 pins x 4 pins (ATX2). The plug should be able to be split into two 2x2 plugs, one of which will plug into your motherboard's ATX connector.
Winterclaw
Quaker, due to the bad (dumb) placement of some transistors right next to said ATX plug, I don't think I have the room needed to put an ATX2 plug. There's a fraction of an inch separation between the power plug and two transistors (one with some weird copper coil thing going on).
Elder III
I don't know about that particular power supply, but it should have the atx2 plug split at least 1/2" from the end, allowing you to simply bend the other half of the plug up and away from the mobo.... leaving it out int he open like that won't represent any problem and should solve that problem for you.
Quaker
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Winterclaw
Quaker, due to the bad (dumb) placement of some transistors right next to said ATX plug, I don't think I have the room needed to put an ATX2 plug.
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For example, I recently installed an Enermax Tomahawk 400watt PS into a machine. The cable for the ATX2 connector was wrapped in sleaving so I could only bend the unused half up and out of the way. But your supply may have the wires less closely bundled together.
Barring that, there are adapters you can get.