Power Supply needed for HTPC?

[lasergecko]

I'm looking to build an HTPC and based on a couple of online calculators, it looks like I'll need at least a 275W power supply. This seems low. I'm looking at building the smallest HTPC possible with the following components:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 - mini ITX
CPU: Intel Core™ i3-530
Memory: 4 GB
OS: Windows 7 64bit
Hard drive WD Caviar Black 1 TB Internal hard drive - 600 MBps - 7200 rpm
Disc Drive LiteOn iHOS104 - Blu Ray Burner

What power supply would you recommend?

Any suggestions as far as small case would be greatly appreciated too.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[tomoyo]

Wait why low? 275w seems ridiculously high actually. I assume you don't have a video card, and you're using a dual core clarkdale. I'd say your max load is probably 120-150 w on that system. So literally any good quality psu would work, all the way down to the 200w ones.
The only things unlikely to work would be things like picopsus under 120w.

 

[fffblackmage]

I'm looking to build an HTPC and based on a couple of online calculators, it looks like I'll need at least a 275W power supply. This seems low.

What makes you think 275W is too low? The i3-530 only has a 73W TDP, and that's the most power consuming component in your rig. I would think max load is closer to 100W for the entire rig, actually.

I would probably get this:
$36 after promo code - Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D

There are lower wattage PSUs, but I would stick with a known reliable brand. Antec, Seasonic, Corsair, and FSP are good brands.

The only things unlikely to work would be things like picopsus under 120w.

I think even the Pico PSUs would work; 120W is enough. I'm not too familiar with Pico PSUs, but the ones I've seen were DC-to-DC, so that might makes things a bit more complicated to set up.

 

[llee]

Read this: http://www.itxgamer.com/powersupplies/dont-need-as-much-power/

You'll be fine with a PSU ranging from 120-150 watts. Don't go wattage crazy and buy a 400w. Puh-lease...

 

[Slugbait]

I think you're looking at the wrong online calculators. Minimum wattage for your system, assuming no tuner, no fans or anything else, is 128W (recommended 178W).

But forget about the wattage. What you're concerned most about is the 12v rail. Secondary concern is the noise level. SeaSonic 300W for $46 shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151086

There is nothing worth buying at lower wattages at newegg. Personally, I would splurge on the 350W SeaSonic for just $3 more: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151077.

The Antec linked to earlier is less expensive, and Anand's gave it a decent review, but I don't think Antec had SeaSonic build this series of EarthWatts.

 

[Modelworks]

The reason that may seem low is you are thinking about ATX supplies. ATX supplies provide a lot of different voltages that add up to the total watts.

Watts = volts x amps, or 275W / 12V = 22.9A

The same rating as a rail on many 400-500W ATX supplies.

 

[Concillian]

I have an i3-530 overclocked to over 4 GHz AND a 5770 GPU and when I'm actually playing a game I measure about 140 Watts from the wall. Taking PSU efficiency into account ~120ish.

275 is way more than you need. I took out the GPU just to see what the kill-a-watt would read on IGP. <40 W idle and still under 100 watts during heavy usage (Prime95 or Linpack).

I double the recommend of the 300W seasonic. Efficient and of decent quality.

 

[Wide Vector]

I've got a similar question. I've been brainstorming an HTPC build with the following components:

Motherboard: Asus P5G41T mATX
CPU: Intel C2D E8400
RAM: 4GB
SSD: Corsair Nova 32GB
BD-ROM: Samsung SH-B123L
GPU: Nvidia GT 430

My question relates to the GT 430. Using a few wattage calculators I figure a 300 watt or 350 watt PSU should be enough and I those Seasonic ones linked in this thread seem great but are they enough for the GT 430? I ask because on EVGA's website they say the GT 430 requires 22 amps on the 12v rail. I checked on Seasonic's website and those power supplies have two(2) 12v rails with 17 amps each, is that okay or should I look for another power supply?

 

[Slugbait]

...those Seasonic ones linked in this thread seem great but are they enough for the GT 430? I ask because on EVGA's website they say the GT 430 requires 22 amps on the 12v rail. I checked on Seasonic's website and those power supplies have two(2) 12v rails with 17 amps each, is that okay or should I look for another power supply?

Read jonnyGURU's sticky thread, "The splitting of the +12V rail". The amps are split among rails, but in actuality you're looking at 24A (300W) and 27A (350W). In short: those SeaSonics will be fine.

You have bigger issues. First, you only have about ten gigs of storage for your media. Second, you have no tuner. Third, the mobo doesn't have coax or toslink. As far as an HTPC is concerned, what exactly would your config accomplish?

 

[Wide Vector]

Thanks for the reply, I will check out that thread.

My plan for this is to have all of my movies, including netflix, music, pictures and other media in one place and I can browse all of them from my couch. I'm not worried about storage because I will be putting together a NAS box as well using unRaid and 3 2TB drives. I also looked into a tuner card but to get all the functionality and compatibility with hi-def channels would require one with a cable card slot, and the only one I could find was about $400, not worth it to me, at least right now.

 

[Slugbait]

I also looked into a tuner card but to get all the functionality and compatibility with hi-def channels would require one with a cable card slot...

That's why I have a Hauppauge 1250 and an antenna. I don't get 2000 channels of crap, but I don't pay Comcast for HD, either. My only gripe is MNF in SD, but I live with it...