Hullo chaps,
I'm building a new PC and have a little problem, old specs first, new specs below.
Current:
Athlon X2 4400+
Asus A8N SLI delux (nforce 4)
9800GT
2 gig DDR (a horrible mix of 2 brands and speedds DDR333 & DDR400, everything seems to be okay running at DDR400 speeds though)
2 HD's
2 Optical drives
2 Monitors
Soundblaster audigy 2
New spec
monitor (already bought)
logitech 5.1 speakers (already bought)
Antec Sonata III with 500watt 80%+ Earthwatts PSU
Phenom II 965 (3.4ghz)
4GB kingston hyperx DDR3 1600mhz
X 2 western digital caviar black 1tb (will probably raid them)
x 1 SSD or velociraptor OS drive
Asus Xonar D2X (soundcard)
Not sure about motherboard or CPU coolder yet and will keep current gfx card until nvidia fermi comes out and prices fall (will prabbably get a 5870 or its refresh part, nvida are a horrible shifty company!).
Basicly, my current comp has a 450 watt crappy PSU and used to power a 7800GTX until it got fried, which is a little bit more power hungry than 9800gt. never had any problems with it.
Do you think the (decent) 500watt psu can cope with 3 HD's (one possibly a small SSD) a 125watt phenom II, ram, mboard, 2 optical drives, a couple of usb devices attached and soundcard without falling over? i know it will be fine until i get a new GFX card, which is the part im worried about. I want this to last a good 3 or 4 years before pissbily dropping in a new proc, extra ram and new gfx card, will be socket AM3 so should be a decent upgrade path.
The case and PSU come as a bundle.
Building a new computer
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Re: Building a new computer
I'm also thinking about getting an SSD boot drive. The OCZ Agility series seem to be in a good price/performance bracket ( http://www.guru3d.com/article/ocz-agili ... gb-review/ )
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Re: Building a new computer
Don't forget the dueling monitors.
Re: Building a new computer
IMHO a 500 watt PSU will not be adequate, all the moreso if you intend to overclock any components. Links in this post are to CANADIAN sites, so expect to pay 30% less.
I recently did a lot of research and settled on buying a Seasonic x750 for my computer, after my old one started to give me stability problems when I overclocked my GPU. Adding three new hard drives might've done it too. This one is so efficient, it runs on passive cooling most of the time, with the fan only starting if you need it to. The temperature in my computer room immediately dropped a couple of degrees after I installed this thing, and it's now a lot quieter for when I'm watching movies.
If a $200 PSU, regardless of any benefits, is a hard sell then try this one: Seasonic x650. It's usually about $40 cheaper and you can probably find it for less if you shop around, it's just rated for 100 watts less. The recently-released OCZ Z-Series are also very similar if you can find them for a good price I'd recommend them. They are manufactured by Seasonic and rebranded.
Aside from that your new build looks pretty solid. If I may comment on your SSD choice, I would advise you to either buy a very small one (30 gb or less, just for your OS) or a good-sized one, like 120 gb. Anything in-between will just lead to heartache as you have to constantly second-guess what you want to run fastest. The WD Blacks are a good decision, but do some research about speed differences between the different capacities. For example, IIRC the 1.5 gb is either noticeably faster or slower than the sizes of its siblings.
I recently did a lot of research and settled on buying a Seasonic x750 for my computer, after my old one started to give me stability problems when I overclocked my GPU. Adding three new hard drives might've done it too. This one is so efficient, it runs on passive cooling most of the time, with the fan only starting if you need it to. The temperature in my computer room immediately dropped a couple of degrees after I installed this thing, and it's now a lot quieter for when I'm watching movies.
If a $200 PSU, regardless of any benefits, is a hard sell then try this one: Seasonic x650. It's usually about $40 cheaper and you can probably find it for less if you shop around, it's just rated for 100 watts less. The recently-released OCZ Z-Series are also very similar if you can find them for a good price I'd recommend them. They are manufactured by Seasonic and rebranded.
Aside from that your new build looks pretty solid. If I may comment on your SSD choice, I would advise you to either buy a very small one (30 gb or less, just for your OS) or a good-sized one, like 120 gb. Anything in-between will just lead to heartache as you have to constantly second-guess what you want to run fastest. The WD Blacks are a good decision, but do some research about speed differences between the different capacities. For example, IIRC the 1.5 gb is either noticeably faster or slower than the sizes of its siblings.
Re: Building a new computer
I have the 500W Antec power supply that came with the Sonata II. It powers my one 500gb HDD, my Core 2 quad Q9400, and my ATI Radeon HD 4870 just fine.
However, it had a little difficulty when I connected an additional 8600GT (though that may just be because I filed off the end of the PCIe slot and wedged the card half-in). If you want 3 HDDs and a fermi-level GFX card, I'd certainly recommend something more powerful.
I was looking for a new power supply a while ago, and came across these two:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817148040
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817159107
They're dirt cheap and have 4/5 star average reviews.
However, it had a little difficulty when I connected an additional 8600GT (though that may just be because I filed off the end of the PCIe slot and wedged the card half-in). If you want 3 HDDs and a fermi-level GFX card, I'd certainly recommend something more powerful.
I was looking for a new power supply a while ago, and came across these two:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817148040
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817159107
They're dirt cheap and have 4/5 star average reviews.
Re: Building a new computer
Dirt cheap and power supply are the worst-combining words in PC building. I had an Ultra X3 600w PSU prior to the one I just posted about.
This is my system:
Asus P5B-E mobo rated 1066 mhz fsb @ 1600 mhz fsb
Intel E8400 3.0 ghz @ 3.6 ghz
MSI Radeon 4890 @ 890/1000
4 GB PC2-9200 DDR2 @ 800 mhz 4-4-4 (underclocked due to mobo voltage limitation)
OCZ Vertex 120gb
WD SE16 500gb
Creative SB X-Fi
DVD-R burner of some kind that I use once a year
If I attempted to push the 4890 any harder, I would immediately get artifacts and crashes. After installing the new Seasonic PSU, I'm now able to run it at 920/1100 rock solid. This means I must have been pushing the limits of what my PSU was capable of delivering, despite it being rated for 600 watts. I've also now added three 1.5 tb WD Green hard drives.
The system the OP is describing would not be much different in terms of power requirements from the one I just described. As a rule of thumb, you should not expect 500 watts from a 500 watt source - 500 watts is what it is theoretically capable of delivering under ideal conditions, and not necessarily for an indefinite period of time. A 500 watt PSU should typically run with a 250 watt load.
A 500 watt PSU or a $50 700 watt PSU would not be a wise choice.
This is my system:
Asus P5B-E mobo rated 1066 mhz fsb @ 1600 mhz fsb
Intel E8400 3.0 ghz @ 3.6 ghz
MSI Radeon 4890 @ 890/1000
4 GB PC2-9200 DDR2 @ 800 mhz 4-4-4 (underclocked due to mobo voltage limitation)
OCZ Vertex 120gb
WD SE16 500gb
Creative SB X-Fi
DVD-R burner of some kind that I use once a year
If I attempted to push the 4890 any harder, I would immediately get artifacts and crashes. After installing the new Seasonic PSU, I'm now able to run it at 920/1100 rock solid. This means I must have been pushing the limits of what my PSU was capable of delivering, despite it being rated for 600 watts. I've also now added three 1.5 tb WD Green hard drives.
The system the OP is describing would not be much different in terms of power requirements from the one I just described. As a rule of thumb, you should not expect 500 watts from a 500 watt source - 500 watts is what it is theoretically capable of delivering under ideal conditions, and not necessarily for an indefinite period of time. A 500 watt PSU should typically run with a 250 watt load.
A 500 watt PSU or a $50 700 watt PSU would not be a wise choice.
Last edited by Caydr on 21 Jan 2010, 22:17, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Building a new computer
Blah no one replied quickly enough so i've already bought the case and 2 WD drives!
I won't be getting a Fermi, just waiting for it / 58xx refresh for pricedrops due to competition. I certianly wont be useing crossfire or SLI, one high end card will do me fine.
On another note, the case came locked, with hte key sealed inside a box wedged behind the 3.5" bays which can only be removed with hte case open, which was locked......
Luckily the i could get the 5 inch panelsoff the front and unscrew the lock from the inside, screw you antec!
thanks for replies anyway, hopefully PSU will be enough so long as i dont go for a vaporware fermi, from what ive read the PSU can actually pull just under 600watts and be fine.
I won't be getting a Fermi, just waiting for it / 58xx refresh for pricedrops due to competition. I certianly wont be useing crossfire or SLI, one high end card will do me fine.
On another note, the case came locked, with hte key sealed inside a box wedged behind the 3.5" bays which can only be removed with hte case open, which was locked......
Luckily the i could get the 5 inch panelsoff the front and unscrew the lock from the inside, screw you antec!
thanks for replies anyway, hopefully PSU will be enough so long as i dont go for a vaporware fermi, from what ive read the PSU can actually pull just under 600watts and be fine.
Re: Building a new computer
This is why it's my duty to troll OT every day. If I take a couple days off, some poor guy might ask a computer question and not get a timely answer 
You'll probably be fine though, just don't overclock too much.
You'll probably be fine though, just don't overclock too much.
Re: Building a new computer
U can place multiple PSU's in the case if there's room. Just connect a ground connectors with only one wire.
It can actually make better thermal balance and efficiency as PSU's are running cooler and not near their limits.
It can actually make better thermal balance and efficiency as PSU's are running cooler and not near their limits.
Re: Building a new computer
Okay... Unless anyone can spot any glaring issues, i'm gonna order this later today or tomorrow.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158603 Scythe Mugen 2 Socket 478, 775, 1366, 754, 939, AM2+ Processor Cooler - will just about fit case.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141346 - Asus Xonar D2X Soundcard - 7.1 PCI-Express
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/186428 - MMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz Socket AM3 8MB L3 Cache 125W Retail Box Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160880 - MSI 790FX-GD70 AMD 790FX AM3 DDR3 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173108 - CZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz/PC2-12800 Gold i5 Memory Kit 1.65V CL7(7-7-7-20)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149434 - Western Digital WD1500HLFS 150GB Hard Drive SATAII 10000rpm 16MB Cache - OEM WD VelociRaptor - SSD's i was looking at are still a bit too small / expensive.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158603 Scythe Mugen 2 Socket 478, 775, 1366, 754, 939, AM2+ Processor Cooler - will just about fit case.
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/141346 - Asus Xonar D2X Soundcard - 7.1 PCI-Express
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/186428 - MMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition 3.4GHz Socket AM3 8MB L3 Cache 125W Retail Box Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160880 - MSI 790FX-GD70 AMD 790FX AM3 DDR3 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173108 - CZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 1600MHz/PC2-12800 Gold i5 Memory Kit 1.65V CL7(7-7-7-20)
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149434 - Western Digital WD1500HLFS 150GB Hard Drive SATAII 10000rpm 16MB Cache - OEM WD VelociRaptor - SSD's i was looking at are still a bit too small / expensive.