Hi guys...
I realise it's generally bad karma to sign up to a forum to ask a question, but forgive me just this once, please... I've read everything I can on every topic I can, but PSUs have me stumped because it's such a critical component and I want to be on the safe side.
I've been researching my arse off the last few weeks - I'm moving house soon and the missus has very kindly granted me some cash to spend on a new computer in exchange for saddling myself to 3 decades of crippling debt. A bargain, you'll agree.
After much discussion and changing-of-heart, I'm more or less settled on a PhenomII x3 720 on a Asus M4A79XTD mobo with 2x2GB DDR3, with optical SATA drive and probably a couple of SATA HDD's (I'll borrow some from my old system). I've spent hours pondering and rereading reviews and decided I'm going to plump for one of the shiny new 5770's with a view to Crossfiring another one in a year or so's time when they're cheaper and games demand more. I'll have it all in an Antec 200 case with an extra 120mm fan for airflow.
Various calculators recommend between 400-600W, which is a massive range and thus completely useless to me, even disregarding the fact none of them list the 5770 yet. Looking at 5770 reviews the Crossfire systems seem to draw around 400W at the wall in top-end i7 systems, so I'd like to ask - is it realistic to assume these numbers are correct and reliable enough to build a system around? Is it terribly bad practice to buy a PSU so close to the estimated power usage or should I leave 50% extra space that won't ever get used?
I'm looking at getting the Corsair 450W HX Modular PSU because of Corsair's reputation, the airflow benefits of modular and, quite frankly, the superb price point on that unit. If I need more then I'd have to jump another £20 (+40%) to get the 650W TX PSU, a not-insignificant rise in investment.
I'm likely to do some overclocking if the x3 and 5xxx is as easy to overclock as promised, but not to any enormous lengths.
Guide me, oh knowledgeable ones, and fill me with your insight! (in a non-erotic manner)
I realise it's generally bad karma to sign up to a forum to ask a question, but forgive me just this once, please... I've read everything I can on every topic I can, but PSUs have me stumped because it's such a critical component and I want to be on the safe side.
I've been researching my arse off the last few weeks - I'm moving house soon and the missus has very kindly granted me some cash to spend on a new computer in exchange for saddling myself to 3 decades of crippling debt. A bargain, you'll agree.
After much discussion and changing-of-heart, I'm more or less settled on a PhenomII x3 720 on a Asus M4A79XTD mobo with 2x2GB DDR3, with optical SATA drive and probably a couple of SATA HDD's (I'll borrow some from my old system). I've spent hours pondering and rereading reviews and decided I'm going to plump for one of the shiny new 5770's with a view to Crossfiring another one in a year or so's time when they're cheaper and games demand more. I'll have it all in an Antec 200 case with an extra 120mm fan for airflow.
Various calculators recommend between 400-600W, which is a massive range and thus completely useless to me, even disregarding the fact none of them list the 5770 yet. Looking at 5770 reviews the Crossfire systems seem to draw around 400W at the wall in top-end i7 systems, so I'd like to ask - is it realistic to assume these numbers are correct and reliable enough to build a system around? Is it terribly bad practice to buy a PSU so close to the estimated power usage or should I leave 50% extra space that won't ever get used?
I'm looking at getting the Corsair 450W HX Modular PSU because of Corsair's reputation, the airflow benefits of modular and, quite frankly, the superb price point on that unit. If I need more then I'd have to jump another £20 (+40%) to get the 650W TX PSU, a not-insignificant rise in investment.
I'm likely to do some overclocking if the x3 and 5xxx is as easy to overclock as promised, but not to any enormous lengths.
Guide me, oh knowledgeable ones, and fill me with your insight! (in a non-erotic manner)