PSU Advice

[Munson]

I'm almost set to order up the bits for my new build, but I'm unsure if my existing OCZ 700w PSU will be up to the task. I'd really rather not change it, as it will make the build more complex. However, I don't want to suffer the same issues I had with the last build, namely the PSU flaking out.

In the rig will be;

Vista Ultimate 64bit
Asus P5NT nForce 780i (will be OCd)
Quad Core 45nm 'Extreme' Yorkfield 3Ghz (will be OCd)
4GB Geil Black Dragon 8500 DDR2 (will be OCd)
2x 8800 GTS 512 (will be OCd)
1x Raptor 10k 74GB

So, given that I intend to OC this lot, and my PSU is 'only' 700w, what do the geeks recommend? Deal or no deal?

 

[David]

I got a 625 with v similar specs and I've read I can overclock it well, mines a corsair, think you shut be ok mate. Surely wait and see how you go then buy if you need?

 

[Griff]

It'll be more than capable.

 

[David]

Can i ask you roy, why did you choose the black dragon stuff over the OCZ SLi stuff? on a nvidia chipset the SLi yiels much better results or so i've read...

Other than that we have identical spec, except i have Q6600 - gettting it all delivered on Saturday! can't wait.

 

[Cookie]

It'll be more than capable.

Indeed

Absolutely no reason to change.. your setup won't even get anywhere near the peak of 700w

 

[The Hoff]

Ignore the peak wattage (700w), the real consideration is how many amps it can live with on the 12v lines.

What does it state on the sticker on the PSU?

(Eitherway I'm sure it will be plenty, OCZ make decent units)

 

[Rasclart]

As the Hoff said check the Amps on each of the 12V rails.

Suck it and see Roy. Build it and stress it. If it doesnt flake out then jobs a good un. If it does buy a new PSU

 

[The Hoff]

Aye I usually leave a PC overnight running Prime95 with lots of passes before I'll consider it solid.

 

[Munson]

Cheers dudes, I figured it would be ok but didn't want to risk it as I've read that if a PSU goes into meltdown, it can possibly take out the mobo. However, it is actually a good quality unit so I guess the odds are extremely slim. In any case, all the bits are on order and should arrive in time for my birthday - tomorrow!

RE: Geil Black Dragon - I went for this because it's very well respected and overclocks extremely well

 

[David]

roy, what cooler you getting for it?

prob best you benefit from my experience, just had the motherboard arrive along with a Zalman cooler flower...doesn't fit, well pissed off, will have to find anotehr cooler now argh

 

[Rasclart]

Cheers dudes, I figured it would be ok but didn't want to risk it as I've read that if a PSU goes into meltdown, it can possibly take out the mobo. However, it is actually a good quality unit so I guess the odds are extremely slim. In any case, all the bits are on order and should arrive in time for my birthday - tomorrow!

RE: Geil Black Dragon - I went for this because it's very well respected and overclocks extremely well

The PSU I know you have shouldnt fry your parts fella. If it senses Spikes or Instability the more expensive ones usually have enough protection not to monster your components

 

[The Hoff]

^You won't find many (if any) PSU that guarantee your hardware won't get shorted. You can however buy anti-surge protection that wires between your component and the PSU cables themselves.

Eitherway I wouldn't trust a PSU not to take other components with it.

 

[meady100]

In my builds I always used to get the cheapest PSU that would do, I thought that it didnt matter. Major mistake. By chance I had to buy an expensive quiet one by necessity and the difference is mind blowing. The whole system is now almost silent like a laptop! The loudest thing is the disk accessing. Get the best and quietest you can afford, seriously you wont regret it...

 

[Munson]

Guys, no offence, but if I didn't know my shizzle, I wouldn't have started this thread, and would have just waited til it blew up That sounds daft, but I asked the question to be sure, not because I know nothing. Chris dude you know it makes sense eh? Remember when I built TheBeast2 and the PSU told me to go f**k myself, blew up and told HL2:Ep1 to go f**k itself too

 

[Mark One]

Just don't get one of the scan.co.uk really cheap ones. I had 1 blow up, and it took the motherboard on board sound with it

 

[Munson]

roy, what cooler you getting for it?

Zalman CNPS9700

 

[Munson]

Dear Mr Daniel Taylor, Your Order has been packed and is in the process of being shipped.
----------------------------------------------------------
Goods Shipped:
£599.99 x 1 - Intel Core 2 Quad Extreme Edition QX9650 "LGA775 Yorkfield" 3.00GHz (1333FSB)
£5.99 x 1 - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g)
£149.99 x 1 - Asus P5N-T Deluxe nForce 780i (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
£101.99 x 1 - Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 64-Bit Edition DVD - OEM - 1Pk (66R-00838)
£124.99 x 1 - GeIL 4GB (4x1GB) PC2-8500C5 1066MHz Black Dragon DDR2 Dual Channel Kit (GB24GB8500C5QC)
£39.99 x 1 - Logitech G9 Gaming-Grade Laser Mouse
£174.99 x 2 - BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
£5.99 x 4 - Akasa AK-171 Copper RAM Heatsinks
£33.99 x 1 - Zalman CNPS9700-LED CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)


Some birthday present :approve: As long as the PSU holds up!

 

[Cookie]

Can I have your CPU?

 

[Nigel]

Nice specs Roy,

Happy Birthday.

 

[David]

ROY THAT COOLER WILL NOT FIT THAT MOTHERBOARD!

 

[Munson]

Care to explain why mate? I know it's the bigger fan variety, is that the problem? Cheers Nigel

 

[Munson]

Can I have your CPU?

If you send me 700 beans, yes

 

[Darren S]

Good specs there Roy - liking the mobo choice!

Make sure you post up some benchies just in stock trim - before you OC it. Would be interesting to see what that kit pumps out in standard trim.

D.

 

[Munson]

Will do Darren. I made a last minute change from 2x 8800GTX to 2x 8800GTS 512. Pretty sure that was a wise decision...

 

[Darren S]

Will do Darren. I made a last minute change from 2x 8800GTX to 2x 8800GTS 512. Pretty sure that was a wise decision...

Aye - I've been hearing a lot about those GTS's being fast little feckers. Heard some really glowing reports about the ATi 3870 cards too. Good to see that ATi & nVidia are still battling away - it can only help us, the end user, ultimately...

D.

 

[Munson]

Yeah as far as I can tell the 8800GTS beats the GTX in most applications, including Crysis & Unreal 3. The drawback is that the GTS doesn't support tri-SLI, but I can always upgrade to the next generation fairly soon anyway - another reason to get the far cheaper GTS for now. 2 of those bad boys and that CPU should be doing some pretty hardcore pwnage I hope

 

[Rasclart]

I think what he means is the cooler may foul the onboard heatsinks mate.

Good spec. Get on MSN when you have it built dude.

Happy Bday matey

As for the previous comment about the cheap Scan PSU, I dont think Roy would use a cheap PSU the one he has was over a hundred when he bought it

 

[Munson]

Yeah I am a bit worried about the size of the HSF now

 

[Munson]

Anyone want to buy a 7950GX2 with one snapped off capacitor?

 

[David]

pm'd mate. need some advice myself now.

 

[Munson]

Ok dude. The bits have all arrived so I'll start building it later. For now I'll use the OEM HSF if I can't get the Zalman to fit as per your pm

EDIT: after a quick look, and offering up all the bracketry, it looks like the Zalman will fit fine. Update later though eh!

 

[David]

i bought OEM q6600 so i don't have a HSF coming with! need to order one like today!!! going to do some research but do you have any other recommendations?

 

[David]

yeh but mate it's not the brackets it's the rentention clips which go across the middle. believe me, if i could get it to fit, i would. just spoke with overclockers people have had this issue before so i've got a tuniq 120mm CPU cooler. look preytty good and overclocers use them in their preovercloced builds.

if you can get it to fit can you let me know how so i can do it too pls? cheers dude.

 

[Munson]

Sorry mate, I've just done a test build of the HSF (without paste) and it fits like a glove

 

[David]

care to help me out here? how'd yo uget it to fit? you using Asus p95n-t delux motherboard?

pm me ? appreciate the help

 

[Munson]

You have a PM

 

[Munson]

Well it definitely fits. In the BIOS now. Having some lunch and then installing the OS

 

[David]

good work. did you use the thermal grease with the zalman or artic silver 5? good temps?

also, did you attach the optional asus northbridge cooling fan included on the mobo??

 

[Munson]

good work. did you use the thermal grease with the zalman or artic silver 5? good temps?

also, did you attach the optional asus northbridge cooling fan included on the mobo??

I used AS5. Sitting in the BIOS, the CPU temp was idling at 55c, which I thought was a bit high really, but it'll likely cool down once it's all cooked in. Something I'll be monitoring for sure.

No I didn't use the additional cooler. It may be an option when I start OCing, but frankly the Zalman is massive - 110mm fan blowing straight over heatpipe fins anyway, so not necessary IMO

Vista 64bit is installing as I type

 

[David]

awesome mate! thanks for all the help. Apparently (after reading) bios updates are a must. Think latest is 703.

you installing the offical nvidia motherboard drivers or the asus ones?

EDIT also mate. For the Zalman, did you manage to correctly fit in the bracet on the motherboard so that the little groove is placed by the hinge of the 775 arm clip? if u c what i mean?