Getting a good PSU for overclocking A64 3000+ with my setup, Thanks!

[irenealan]

Hi:

I have posted message below in the Cooling/Case forum, but I have a different question to ask the CPU Overclockers community. If I would like to overclock my A64 3000+, is there a better suggestions on what PSU should I get? Thanks for everyone's help, following is the description of my system and what I am looking for thanks:

I have a system with A64 3000+ on a Chaintech VNF3-250, 1gb Corsair PC3200 ram, 9800 Pro, 3 HD (2 internal, 1 external) and 2 optical (1 internal CD-Rom and 1 external DVD burner). Can someone suggest me what PSU should I get for the system. I would like something that gives more than enough power for my system... I guess something with a high 12V? Sorry I am very new to PSU so I don't know what's best for my system, thanks!

Also is there any good deal running currently for the power supply, my budget is around $60 - $80 with a $20 buffer so I guess the most I can spend is $100... of course the cheaper the better =) thanks.

Irene

 

[dennisjai215]

a 400w quality psu will serve u good and is more than enough, but i'd spend the cash on a 430w true antec PSU atleast
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-908&depa=0

 

[PhoenixOrion]

As dennis suggested, any "quality brand" 400w will suffice. These would be antec, enermax, fortron, thermaltake to name a few.

Just looking at newegg.com I just saw 530watt by sparkle. I'm going to buy this myself since, if I'm not mistaken, sparkle is a psu label made by fortron. Also has dual front/back fans instead of dual back/bottom for a nice straight air flow "shotgun effect."

 

[DaNorthface]

i would get this Text

 

[xxichibanxx]

you have a lot of devices you're using, and it's going to take up some juice and you're going to want stable current going through. i'd definitely get at least a 400watt, i'd recommend you get above that though. i have an Antec550 right now and i love it. i can control my voltages. but it cost me $100. all the names above are great. i usually buy Antec ( i have 3 antec p/s) but all the others are great competitors. your video card and processor are going to want plenty of juice. and i would get a quality powersupply. bad powersupplies can screw up great systems. don't go cheap on what your system lives on.

 

[irenealan]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
As dennis suggested, any "quality brand" 400w will suffice. These would be antec, enermax, fortron, thermaltake to name a few.

Just looking at newegg.com I just saw 530watt by sparkle. I'm going to buy this myself since, if I'm not mistaken, sparkle is a psu label made by fortron. Also has dual front/back fans instead of dual back/bottom for a nice straight air flow "shotgun effect."

I think I will get an above 400w PSU from one of the four brands you suggested, just wonder if there's any big difference between the four? If not then is there any one deal on anyone of this brand? If the quality is pretty much the same for all four then I will go will the one that's on sale and save some money to buy a better case. Please help thanks!

In addition, I wonder if the name "True Power" of Antec really has a special technology that makes such PSU of Antec outrun other types of Antec PSU or even other brand of PSU? Thanks.

 

[irenealan]

Originally posted by: xxichibanxx
you have a lot of devices you're using, and it's going to take up some juice and you're going to want stable current going through. i'd definitely get at least a 400watt, i'd recommend you get above that though. i have an Antec550 right now and i love it. i can control my voltages. but it cost me $100. all the names above are great. i usually buy Antec ( i have 3 antec p/s) but all the others are great competitors. your video card and processor are going to want plenty of juice. and i would get a quality powersupply. bad powersupplies can screw up great systems. don't go cheap on what your system lives on.

Thanks for everyone's help so far. Yup I agree with ichiban and I won't mind to spend money on the PSU just I can't justify myself to buy a $100 PSU and wonder if that's necessary for my setup. But if such PSU is necessary for my setup then I can try squeeze $20 or more for a better PSU. Just wonder if there's any good deal going on for a decent PSU that has both a good brand and an above 400 or even 450W power. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[pelikan]

Fortron/Sparkle are some of the best. The 400W would easily take care of your needs.

 

[DaNorthface]

you just neglect my post. The power supplies i am recommending are made by Channel Well. They are the makers of Antec PSUs. I'm sure they'll meet you needs and are a lot cheaper without the big antec names printed on the sticker.

the link below is the same thing as the enlight i suggested, but a about 7 bucks cheaper. Same internal parts - by channel well

LINK

 

[DaNorthface]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
As dennis suggested, any "quality brand" 400w will suffice. These would be antec, enermax, fortron, thermaltake to name a few.

Just looking at newegg.com I just saw 530watt by sparkle. I'm going to buy this myself since, if I'm not mistaken, sparkle is a psu label made by fortron. Also has dual front/back fans instead of dual back/bottom for a nice straight air flow "shotgun effect."

the bottom fan is to help cool the cpu

 

[o1die]

I recommend the channel well, as it only has one fan, and I like quiet. One vender in pricewatch lists it for $43.

 

[DaNorthface]

Originally posted by: o1die
I recommend the channel well, as it only has one fan, and I like quiet. One vender in pricewatch lists it for $43.

most channel wells have two fans. One 90 mm on the bottom and a 80 mm on the back. The 80 mm is running at 5 volts though - so both fans are very quiet. Thermally controlled too.

 

[irenealan]

Originally posted by: DaNorthface
you just neglect my post. The power supplies i am recommending are made by Channel Well. They are the makers of Antec PSUs. I'm sure they'll meet you needs and are a lot cheaper without the big antec names printed on the sticker.

the link below is the same thing as the enlight i suggested, but a about 7 bucks cheaper. Same internal parts - by channel well

LINK

Sorry DaNorthface, I did not ignore your post just I am looking for a brand name PSU as another person suggested in the thread. Since I am new to PSU, I don't know about Chanel Well and don't know it's made by Antec also... Just wonder so the Chanel Well PSU will have the same quality as the Antec?

Also just wonder about the "Shot Gun" effect of having the front and back fan... is that better than the top and bottom fan? Thanks.

 

[Corpun]

This place http://www.atacom.com has the best going price on the antec purepower 430 at $59+6 shipping and no tax if you dont live in california. Its not that far from where i work, i actually drove down just yesterday and bought one as i wanted a new PS to go with the new vid card im getting. Its a heavy sucker, no noisier than the antec 300w it replaced though. You do have to place a phone order with Atacom and mention pricewatch to get this price although they do have a toll-free order line, however if you would rather just order it online for a couple more bucks newegg would be the way to go.

Edited for insufficient-caffine-in-bloodsteam errors

 

[DaNorthface]

Originally posted by: irenealan

Originally posted by: DaNorthface
you just neglect my post. The power supplies i am recommending are made by Channel Well. They are the makers of Antec PSUs. I'm sure they'll meet you needs and are a lot cheaper without the big antec names printed on the sticker.

the link below is the same thing as the enlight i suggested, but a about 7 bucks cheaper. Same internal parts - by channel well

LINK

Sorry DaNorthface, I did not ignore your post just I am looking for a brand name PSU as another person suggested in the thread. Since I am new to PSU, I don't know about Chanel Well and don't know it's made by Antec also... Just wonder so the Chanel Well PSU will have the same quality as the Antec?

Also just wonder about the "Shot Gun" effect of having the front and back fan... is that better than the top and bottom fan? Thanks.

Brand name psu companies like sparkle, enermax, antec don't make their own power supplies. So if you buy a brand name psu, you're just paying extra money for the sticker. Channel Well is the company behind many Antec, Enermax, Enlight, and many other power supplies. Channel Well designs and manufactors the power supplies, and Antec/Enermax/Enlight just markets them. If you ever bought a sony product, especially cd/dvd drives, you're not actually getting a product sony created. They were most likely made by LiteOn. It's the same situation here for PSUs. To answer you question "will Chanel Well PSU have the same quality as the Antec?": yes Antec's are Channel Well. And about the shotgun affect, i prefer the bottom and back fans because it helps cool the CPU - a noticable benefit. Where as the shotgun affect doesn't have any noticable benefits - except your cpu temps might go up a bit. AMD recommends that there is a fan on the bottom of the PSU as well.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I run the Deep Blue rig in my sig off a True330 including the 6800GT@431/1.11ghz, which should demonstrate that a nuke power plant isn't required even for a overclocked A64 3000+ system.

 

[RedScare]

just get the Fortron 530. its enough power that you wont have to worry "do i have enough?", its cheap, its QUALITY. i was sooo close to buying an Antec True550, but then i did a lot (a LOT) of reading, on many different forums, many different reviews, and realized that for the money Fortron is definitely the way to go. and it even outperforms Antec. hard to find a better PSU unless you wanna shell out another $100 for PC P&C.

 

[Lyfer]

The Fortron 530W retail unit is only $74 at monarchcomputer.com, it has adjustable POTS which is only found on high end PSU's. Just get this unit, SET IT AND FORGET IT!

 

[Zebo]

Like everyone says any major brand...enermax, antec, fortron, seasonic, sparkle will do fine. I like high 12V rail models because both modern processors and highend vid cards draw thier power from there....enermax is my preferred OC weapon.