PSU help with Core2Duo system.

[dropandhop]

Hey all,

I am building a new system and I need some help with the PSU decision. I've used the PSU calculater, but I just wanna hear what you guys found in real life. The Sonata II which comes with a 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 PSU is on sale this w/e. So I am thinking about that one...will it be enough tho...do I need a 500w?!

My system will look like this:
Core2Duo 6300 (I will eventually overclock it)
ASUS P5B Deluxe
1 Gig DDR2 800
2 x ide HDs
1 x SATA HD
1 x PCI audio card
1 x PCI IDE controller card
1 x PCIe video card (dual head dvi deal, nothing too fancey)
1 x IDE CD-RW
1 x IDE DVD-RW
I will use some usb 2.0 devices and I have an external firewire enclosure that houses 5 HDs

Thanks and have fun!
Aaron

[blue60007]

What exact video card? As long as you aren't using one of the high end power guzzlers, the 450W should be fine. Not sure how it's going to hold up under overclocking, but that'll probably depend on how much power the video card is using.

PS. I assume you're re-using those 2 IDE hard drives? It would make more sense to use a new SATA drive(s) rather than using the IDE controller card...

[dropandhop]

Thanks for the reply.

They are 2 IDE Hard drives. I will be using them b/c I have them already and are all filled up. So I will be using those 2 for data and a new SATA for the OS and programs.

The graphics cards that I am looking at so far are:
GeForce 7600GT or 7300GT

I dont think they are that intense of cards. I could be wrong tho.

Thanks for the feedback...keep it commin!
Aaron

[newbuilder14]

I think you will be just fine with the included power supply and either one of those video cards.

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

When I calculated it it came under 400w, and I estimated around 5 USB devices.

[Cricket]

The 450 watt PSU in the Sonata II will be enough for your new computer.

Cricket

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by dropandhop They are 2 IDE Hard drives. I will be using them b/c I have them already and are all filled up. So I will be using those 2 for data and a new SATA for the OS and programs.

OK, that sounds good...kinda what I figured you were doing.

Originally Posted by dropandhop The graphics cards that I am looking at so far are: GeForce 7600GT or 7300GT

Yeah, 450W will be fine. The 7600GT's I looked at require a 350W power supply...

By power guzzlers, I was thinking especially of ATi's X19xx series. Those require 450W minimum, and there the PSU would probably be enough, but you wouldn't have much overclocking headroom.

[glc]

Why not just put the IDE drives into external USB housings for backups and near line storage?

[clroberts]

What is the performance difference between USB 2.0 and the IDE configuration he currently is running?

[glc]

IDE is faster, but when you start adding controller cards there is more potential for conflicts.

[dropandhop]

I have actually already filled up an 8 bay external enclosure! So those are my remaining HDs for now!

I wonder how many watts my enclosure sucks up from my computer (it has its own power supply). Can't seem to find any dox for it....any clues?

Thanks,
Aaron

[glc]

None, if it has an external power supply, other than the draw of the interface card if it uses one. If it uses USB, it's no more than 500ma, like any other USB device.

[dropandhop]

So I am still hung up on a few items here.

I didn't end up going for the Sonata II Case. Because I read that many folks had issues the inlcluded PSU. I just couldn't see myself spending a total of $150 for the case and a new PSU.

So I was wondering what you guys would recommend for a case. I'm not looking for THE best case out there. Just something to do the job at a fair price point. Fair to me is around $100 for both the PSU and case. So you know, I will probably need around a 450W PSU as well.

Thanks yet again!
Aaron

[whubbard]

Here is a good PSU, plus it has a $20 discount right now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153028 $59

Here is a PSU, which is still pretty good and it has a $10 discount right now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023 $29

Here is a kinda cool case, which is still in your price range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144102 $49

This is also a good case, not flashy, a bit sleek: (A bit cheaper )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119047 $39

EDIT: all of my prices are the discounted prices.

[blue60007]

The second PSU isn't suitable for a modern build (ie, PCI-E)...the first one looks decent, but I think this one is a better value (and FSP is a solid brand):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

[glc]

If you are planning on overclocking you need a premium PSU - plan on dropping $100 on just the PSU.

[dropandhop]

So I went with the Sonata II...thanks for all your help guys!

I wondering what I should do about cooling. Any suggestions on what fans I should get? I think the case comes with one 120m fan (i think?). Also, Should I get a better fan for the cpu then the retail fan?

My setup (should be the same as in the 1st post)..but here goes:

- Core2Duo E6300 with the retail fan on it
- 3 HDs (one of which is SATA)
- The video card has a heatsink and doesn't get too hot (Geforce 7300GT)
- 1 gig mem (2x512 DDR2-800)
- CD burner and a DVD burner
- 2 pci cards- sound card and IDE card

[blue60007]

I would try out the stock cooling first (case does come with a fan). If you want to get serious about overclocking, you'll probably want to upgrade the heatsink, but you can always do that later on...

[flanzig1]

Start with the fan/s that come which the case and check temps. If the temps are hi, then add one at a time til you reach your cooling goal.