dual power supply questions

[pr0tus]

Im trying to finish a dual pentium pro system as cheap as possible. I was just going to grab a $15 power supply from price watch, but I came across a 230w psu for almost nothing at all I'm not sure if that would have enough power for everything, but I have an old Packard bell with an AT power supply that can be turned on without a motherboard. Would I be waisting power if I just used it for hard drives and fans? This computer will be on 24/7 and the electric bill would be an issue. I thought I have read somewhere that the power supply only puts out the amount of power that you need to use, but I'm not sure about that. I wouldn't want to be waisting electric by running two power supplies when I can get one bigger one pretty cheap.

 

[pr0tus]

no suggestions?

 

[myocardia]

WAY more psu than you'll need for $21: 350 watt Allied. The only people who go to all of the trouble of using two power supplies are the ones that can't get enough out of one large one.

edit: I just realized that you said you haven't even tried the 230 watt psu. That's enough, you're only running 2x200 mhz processors, man.

 

[pr0tus]

cool, I didn't know how power hungry an old dual ppro setup would be. Ill just get the 230w.