Legit Reviews

I am reformatting my brother's computer (mine is functional now, but I still have some work to do). I have two PSUs.

I have a 400 Watt PSU and a 550 Watt PSU.

My brother's system will be the following:

AMD 4200+ X2, DFI Lanparty MB, 4 sticks of RAM, 8800GTS, Audigy 2, and 2 Hard Drives.

Will a 400 Watt PSU run this OK? I would rather use the smaller one, but am concerned about the Watts if he decides to play a game.

Depends on the Manufactuer

Both are Antec PSUs.

your pushing it with 400W, I'd go with the 500

What are the 12v rails like on the PSUs?

Specifically what core is the 4200 X2, and which GTS is it? Is the processor overclocked?

The PSU calc from outervision says you need about 21a on the 12v (I have the pro version, so it tells you that) with a 337w PSU reccomended. So you will probably be able to get away with the 400w antec. That is throwing in a Manchester core 4200, and a 640MB GTS. So if he has the newer versions less power/amps will be needed.

Dan

it also depends on the kind of harddrives they are. im assuming SATA 7200rpm right?

DMB2000uk wrote:What are the 12v rails like on the PSUs?

Specifically what core is the 4200 X2, and which GTS is it? Is the processor overclocked?

The PSU calc from outervision says you need about 21a on the 12v (I have the pro version, so it tells you that) with a 337w PSU reccomended. So you will probably be able to get away with the 400w antec. That is throwing in a Manchester core 4200, and a 640MB GTS. So if he has the newer versions less power/amps will be needed.

Dan

Your assuming too much here dan, this is assuming you have 100% efficiency on the antec, which it doesn't, and your assuming outervision is 100% accurate which its not. I would rather see a 100W cushion. I mean why use the 400W when you have the 500W.

DMB2000uk wrote:What are the 12v rails like on the PSUs?

Specifically what core is the 4200 X2, and which GTS is it? Is the processor overclocked?

The PSU calc from outervision says you need about 21a on the 12v (I have the pro version, so it tells you that) with a 337w PSU reccomended. So you will probably be able to get away with the 400w antec. That is throwing in a Manchester core 4200, and a 640MB GTS. So if he has the newer versions less power/amps will be needed.

Dan

The core is a Manchester. I thought it was something else, but I looked it up in my receipts at Newegg. I didn't realize there was multiple ones.

The GTS is the 512 version. I will check the amperage on the 12v. Is looking at the side ok?

Yeah, looking at the side is ok. While you are at it post both model names of the different PSUs so I can see their specs online.

Like Matt said, is the 550W actually going to be used for anything else? If not you may as well throw that in for peace of mind.

Whole system combined rail load, i.e. not just 12v, could be the crunch point for the 400w.

Dan

Antec SP-400

and

Antec TPII-550


I am willing to, but I was hoping to get by with a little more efficient system for him.

Efficiency doesn't have anything to do with the total watts of the PSU. The PSU doesn't pull down 400 or 550 watts the whole time it is on, just what the PC needs.
You could use a 1000w PSU and the PC would still only draw its ~200-300w of real world power use.

Both of the PSUs aren't rated for anything special AC to DC efficiency wise, so you may as well throw in the 550w for peace of mind.

Dan

Alrighty, I thought it was pulling literally 550 watts at load.