Is 400W enough?

[Coops07]

Hey im planning on building a new system, here are the specs:
Case: Thermaltake Xaser Tsunami VA3000BWA Aluminum
Optical Drives: LG GSA-4167 (OEM) + LG CDR-8162B DVD-ROM
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0 GHz Socket 939
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SATA (WD800JD) 80GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer
Memory: OCZ DDR Platinum Rev2 1GB (2x512M) PC3200 400MHZ 2-2-2-5
Motherboard: DFI Lanparty UT nF4 Ultra-D nForce4 Ultra Chipset Socket 939
Power Supply: Enermax Liberty 500W ATX 12V Ver2.2
Video Card: Sapphire ATI Radeon X800 GTO2 256MB DDR3 PCI Express

The thing I was doubtful from the beginning was the 500W power supply. Although I am planning on overclocking the video card by doing the unlocking/overclocking as high as I can as well as OC'ing the memory and CPU (planning on getting a better cpu fan) I was wondering if I would be able to run on just 400W. The PS i'm getting is good quality but i'm still doubtful. If I can save the money it would be nice but i'm just wondering if I can get away with a 400W?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Personally Enermax isn`t one of my tiop 5 PSU`s...

I would go with a fortron myself...since cost could be an issue.
Fortron has no bling bling just good solid performance!!

I would be more concerned about how many amps are on your 12v rails....

Just my opinion!!

 

[thesurge]

you'd be fine with a fortron 400w, and enermax is a great company.

 

[jimbob200521]

that enermax should work fine, but there are other brands out there...

 

[fibes]

You should be fine with the Fortron. You can always spend $10.00 more and opt for the 450W version @ Newegg. To give you an general idea of how much power your computer requires goto this site.

 

[foodfightr]

Originally posted by: fibes
You should be fine with the Fortron. You can always spend $10.00 more and opt for the 450W version @ Newegg. To give you an general idea of how much power your computer requires goto this site.

I second this. Forton is much more reliable than enermax!

 

[Skott]

I dunno... you are overclocking and everything overclocked does eat more power even if its a easy overclock. Personally I'd feel better with a good 450w-500w psu than a good 400w psu but thats just me. What if you add more or bigger power thirsty components later on? 400w kinda chancey methinks.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Can`t go wrong with this CPU...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN ATX12V 450W Power Supply 115/230 V NEMKO, TUV, CSA, IEC, UL, CE - Retail -- $49.99!!!


That will take care of you just fine!!!
Thats the best PSU you can buy if your on a budget!!

 

[stevty2889]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Can`t go wrong with this CPU...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN ATX12V 450W Power Supply 115/230 V NEMKO, TUV, CSA, IEC, UL, CE - Retail -- $49.99!!!


That will take care of you just fine!!!
Thats the best PSU you can buy if your on a budget!!

err...don't you mean PSU??

 

[Allio]

Originally posted by: foodfightr
I second this. Forton is much more reliable than enermax!

You're insane. Forton is much cheaper than enermax, and probably a better deal for most people, but the Liberty is one of the best PSUs of any brand out there.

 

[aaqubit]

yep. i just built a very similar machine:
3200+ (OC-ed 200MHz), sapphire gto2, 2x512 (@DDR440), a8n-e and i'm using antec's 400W smartpower

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: stevty2889

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Can`t go wrong with this CPU...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN ATX12V 450W Power Supply 115/230 V NEMKO, TUV, CSA, IEC, UL, CE - Retail -- $49.99!!!


That will take care of you just fine!!!
Thats the best PSU you can buy if your on a budget!!

err...don't you mean PSU??

duhhh

 

[Reapsy01]

I'm thinking 500W is 2x as much power as you need. Still it can't hurt.

 

[KoolDrew]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

 

[sniperruff]

forton, enermax, antec and seasonic are all good.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

I just got the 400W version of that PSU on sale for $43 (down from $52) Cdn from NCIX.com, which is a bargain IMO (It's for my fathers' PC)

 

[dderolph]

Originally posted by: fibes
You should be fine with the Fortron. You can always spend $10.00 more and opt for the 450W version @ Newegg. To give you an general idea of how much power your computer requires goto this site.

That site was not working when I tried it. Anybody else?

Here's one that I've used: JS Power Supply Calculator It does not have an option for overclocking allowance.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I have an enermax ps in every pc in my house. I also recently installed a liberty 620w in my newest nf4 machine and I will always choose enermax unless something better comes along that is reasonably priced.

 

[Coops07]

I think i'm going to stick with the Enermax probably.... I dunno, as much as I believe you guys and I've heard many good things about Fortron but I've had good experiences with Enermax in the past so I think I'll stick with the Liberty 500W. Thx for your input. Those are very cheap tho, so i'll keep an eye out for the future.
Just another question. Any articles I can read to learn about amps in accordance to power supplies to know if it's a good PSU just by looking at it rather than reading reviews/testing myself?

 

[Tostada]

Enermax is good. I've got an Enermax 365W that's taken about 6 years of really brutal use. That said, I don't get Enermax PSU's anymore because.

1) Fortran is as good as Enermax and it's a lot cheaper
2) SeaSonic is better than Enermax and it's about the same price
3) Antec is about as good as Enermax and saves you money if you're getting a case

So, if you want to save money, get a Fortran. If you're already getting a case, get an Antec. If you want the best, get a SeaSonic. Enermax just doesn't fit in anywhere. Enermax makes good PSU... there's just no point.

And why did it take them 2 years longer than everybody else to start using 120mm fans?

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: Coops07
Just another question. Any articles I can read to learn about amps in accordance to power supplies to know if it's a good PSU just by looking at it rather than reading reviews/testing myself?

I'd check out http://silentpcreview.com/ for all kinds of info on that (and a bunch of specific PSU reviews).

 

[bob4432]

off the subject, get the opteron 144 or 146 over the 3200.

as far as the psu, antec, enermax, fortron, pc&p, seasonic, ocz, hell i would take any of these mentioned.

 

[Coops07]

Originally posted by: bob4432
off the subject, get the opteron 144 or 146 over the 3200.

as far as the psu, antec, enermax, fortron, pc&p, seasonic, ocz, hell i would take any of these mentioned.

why the opteron? first of all its more than i want to spend. second of all then id have to find a new s940 mobo so im sticking with the 3200+

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Coops07

Originally posted by: bob4432
off the subject, get the opteron 144 or 146 over the 3200.

as far as the psu, antec, enermax, fortron, pc&p, seasonic, ocz, hell i would take any of these mentioned.

why the opteron? first of all its more than i want to spend. second of all then id have to find a new s940 mobo so im sticking with the 3200+

no, they have opterons in skt939 now. the reason is the usually have more o/c headroom

usually the 144 (1.8GHz w/1MB cache) is ~$150 and the 146(2.0GHz/1mb cache) is ~$170 where i think a 3200 is ~$160

 

[Coops07]

Hmmm I was looking around for some Fortron PSU's because I got curious and found some at NCIX. only place so far I've found em in Canada. I was looking at this one http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?...=AX500-A&manufacture=FSP%20GROUP%20USA
which is a 500W and its $34 canadian cheaper than the enermax. of course its not as shiny and the cabling isint as good but everywhere I read people say fortron owns. I also was looking at that 450W mentioned earlier. Do you think I could pull off this system im looking at with 450W?
As for the cpu im sticking with the 3200+ because the place where I buy my CPU's (canada computers) does not carry socket 939 opterons only socket 940's.
finally maybe some more praise for fortron psu's would change my mind...

p.s nother question, i live near toronto ontario, would I get a tax break (no gst) if i buy from ncix? heard that somewhere...