Will your PSU affect your ability to OC P4 Northwood?

[Uclagamer_99]

I am currently using a P4 1.6A on an ASUS P4B266-C mobo...i'm running 2100 Crucial DDR, Geforce 3, SB Audigy, Linksys Ethernet Card, 3Com Modem...stock HSF w/ AS3

i've been running it off a very generic 320W PSU...I think it's a Turbolink? but anyways I've seen some of you guys getting your FSB at over 150....mine won't even boot at that setting

if i upgraded to a better PSU would that affect my ability to up the FSB and have my cpu boot? i don't think my memory had anything to do with it not booting since i can run 125FSB w/ 3:4 divider which is effectively overclocking my DDR to PC2700 speeds if I am calculating that correctly...i've upped my DDR voltage to 2.7v and my cpu core to 1.65v (kinda afraid to go higher)

for those who are getting the huge 2.4+ overclocks with their 1.6A's what kinda PSU are you using?!

thanks for any help you guys might have

 

[Nate420]

Very good question...I wondered the same thing . I have the P4B266 and a P4 1.6A due here wednesday, along with 256Mb Crucial PC2100 DDR, and was wondering how well my Antec 300W PSU is going to handle the load. Running a Asus 52X CDrom, Lite-On 32x12x40 Burner, 2 IBM 40G 7200, GeForce3, and a SB Live X-Gamer 5.1, SMC 10/100 NIC, and a USR 56K.

Can a 300W(or ^320) PSU handle a P4 system? Would a 400W PSU be overkill?

 

[Uclagamer_99]

bump

 

[MrDudeMan]

i dont know if that PSU will be sufficient. 350 would be at least my lower bound for overclocking that system. i dont know though...im not an expert, thats just what i would do

 

[Raiz]

I'm not an expert either, but the 230W power supply that I stole out of a Compaq computer 2 years ago runs my P4 1.6a at 2.4GHz just fine. If your PSU isn't giving constant power...... it will definetly hurt your overclockablility though. Generic PSU's sometimes don't give constant power to the devices causing them to fail.

 

[Dink]

I'm in the same boat. I've got a generic 300watt supply for my 1.6a and I can only run up to 145 FSB (2320MHz), and it's even water cooled. One step over and it won't even power on. Zip, nothin. Been considering the PSU as well...

 

[prontospyder]

<<Can a 300W(or ^320) PSU handle a P4 system?>>

My Antec 300Watt runs my P4 1.6A fine....but I've only overclocked it to 2.133Ghz.

 

[DashK]

Power Supply is VERY important, not just in a regular system, but it's the most important for OCing IMO. When you overclock your stuff, the PSU is getting overclocked as well, the most.

I'd recommend a 400w supply if you wanna get a good overclock. I have the Antec 12v 400w supply, it has adjustable pots for the 12 and 5v lines too.

 

[sigmatic]

Hey, mind if I join your club?

I have a 300W Power supply. I booted at 133, and it worked fine. But after 10 minutes of running United Devices, Win2K shows the dreaded BSOD. If I shut off UD, it stays perfectly stable. I checked the Asus probe software, and it shows that with UD running, the voltage goes down - a lot. If I have the voltage set at 1.55, it fluctuates between 1.47 and 1.5. If UD is off, though, it fluctuates between 1.52 and 1.55. I was seriously considering better cooling until I saw that. Now I have to look for a good 400+W power supply. In the meantime my computer is running at 131 MHz FSB stable, but nonetheless... Very frustrating. Thanks for the post, I was considering putting one up myself.

Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[WheelsCSM]

I have a cheap Maxtop case from NewEgg ($50) and it has a generic 350W PS. NOt sure what brand, but I can do 150 fsb on my 1.6A. The only voltage that isn't right where it should be is the 12 V and that says somewhere between 11.9-12.

 

[Uclagamer_99]

well the 12V is important for the P4...and mine hovers around 11.4~11.5

 

[manko]

I'm building a new system and my 1.6A just came in today. I'm trying to decide between the Antec PP-352X and the PP-412X. I'm really leaning towards the 352, because it has dual fans and I have a smaller case, so I'm also worried about the 412 being overkill and adding extra heat.

Any Antec owners think the 350W will hold back the maximum overclock/stability of my system?

 

[sigmatic]

<< Power Supply is VERY important, not just in a regular system, but it's the most important for OCing IMO. When you overclock your stuff, the PSU is getting overclocked as well, the most.

I'd recommend a 400w supply if you wanna get a good overclock. I have the Antec 12v 400w supply, it has adjustable pots for the 12 and 5v lines too. >>


What is a good place to get Antec PSUs? Anyone know?

 

[Z24]

I had an Antec 250W (very good power supply). It met the minimum specs to run the P4. It ran, and even overclocked to 2.2 or so. Just got an Enermax 350W with manual fan adjustment, and now I'm running along at 2.4Ghz.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[DashK]

<<

<< Power Supply is VERY important, not just in a regular system, but it's the most important for OCing IMO. When you overclock your stuff, the PSU is getting overclocked as well, the most.

I'd recommend a 400w supply if you wanna get a good overclock. I have the Antec 12v 400w supply, it has adjustable pots for the 12 and 5v lines too. >>


What is a good place to get Antec PSUs? Anyone know? >>



newegg, 72 dollars.

 

[manko]

beatprice.com

Here's where I've been looking for Antecs, they have the cheapest prices on both the 400 ($66) and 350 ($42). Don't know about shipping or resellerratings. Anyone?

 

[sigmatic]

I'm ordering an Antec 400W PSU tomorrow (that's when the money will be in the account). I considered getting a 430W Enermax, but I don't think it is necessary and it is a bit pricier. Unless I am convinced otherwise, I'm sticking with Antec, and I'll be sure to let you guys know just how much of a difference 100W and a name brand can do.

 

[Dink]

Yes, Please let us know. I'd rather see if it makes a difference befor I put down a good chunk of change for a new PSU.

 

[PlatinumGold]

well i just spent $115 on a New AVC Sunflower heatsink and a New Power supply, the 350 watt one.

I should be getting both by middle of next week as i had them ship UPS Ground (free shipping i know, i'm a cheap bastard).

i'll post as soon as i get it what my results are.

for the moment, i can't get my 1.6a above 140 FSB.

 

[sirsolo]

So, did anyone receive the power supply they ordered? Did it affect the overclockability of your P4 at all?
I have a 1.8a, and can only go to about 126 FSB (using P4S333), and I am thinking that it may be my PSU as well. I've got a Antec 300W PSU and have a NIC, 80GB HD, 40GB HD, floppy, CDROM, CDRW, Radeon 8500, and a firewire card in there.

Do you think 300W is enough for these or do I need more power? My 12v line fluctuates between 11.7-11.85 according to Asus Probe 2 utility.