400w enough power for all this?

Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited July 2003 in Hardware
So I've got this dually system thing I'm setting up (supposedly... I'll get around to putting it together. Probably when the Athlon 64 is operating around 6GHz :D). I've been thinking, and I'm beginning to doubt my 400w Antec's ability to handle it all. Take a look @ the PS specs and the comp. specs and see what you think:

PSU specs:
Antec PP-403X ATX2.03 400w PS
+3.3v @ 28a +/- 5% regulation
+5v @ 40a +/- 5% regulation
+12v @ 12a +/- 5% regulation
-12v @ 1a +/- 10% regulation
-5v @ 1a +/- 5% regulation
+5vsb @ 3a +/- 5% regulation
3.3 & 5v combined output:245w max.

Eventual (read: when I get around to it) system specs:
MSI K7D Master-L motherboard
2x AMD Athlon <strike>XP2500+</strike> MP2800+ CPUs (2 2500s modded to 2800s, running @ 2.25GHz & 1.7-1.8v)
512MB-2GB DDR
ATi Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB or FX5900 Ultra 256MB
HighPoint RocketRaid 1540 4-channel SATA RAID card
SB Audigy2 Platinum
USB2 PCI card
4x Maxtor DiamondMax 9 160GB/8MB/7200RPM/ATA-133 hdds w/RocketHead PATA-SATA adapters in 2 2-drive RAID 0 arrays
Floppy
Zip250
LiteOn 52/24/52 CD-RW
Toshiba 16x DVD
5x Thermaltake SmartFan2 80x25mm case fans
2x Thermaltake SmartFan2 80x25mm cpu fans
1x Thermaltake SmartFan2 Power Supply fan
1x 92mm Sunon 40-odd CFM case fan
1-2 120mm video card fans (possibly)

So. whaddaya think- 400w enough or not?

Comments

  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited July 2003
    Nope. I think you would be better going dual psu's. Maybe another 400W for the HDD's and fans.
  • ClutchClutch North Carolina New
    edited July 2003
    I never really got the idea of the dual psu thing myself. If you get a good psu that has pretty much solid rails then you should be fine. A 400w good psu will take you further than a 500w p.o.s psu anyday. But for all of your stuff, I would go higher than a 400w.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited July 2003
    Nope. I think you would be better going dual psu's. Maybe another 400W for the HDD's and fans.

    Care to elaborate? if you're talking about hooking a bunch of PSes up in parallel for more current, then all I can say is that I've talked about it with a guy I know who's an electrical engineer... he's told me it's not a good idea...
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited July 2003
    AT and ATX in the case at the same time wired to turn on with the same switch.

    AT powers everything like fans, cold cathodes, and CD-ROMS.

    ATX powers HDDs, board, etc.
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited July 2003
    He means connecting one PSU to the mobo and the video card, while connecting the other PSU to all the drives and fans.

    What do you plan on doing with this rig anyways (BESIDES folding)?
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited July 2003
    Thrax, if the two PSes are separate except for the on/off, wouldn't it be easiest to just use 2 ATX pses (from a total power output standpoint; the on/off thing isn't that hard- all I'd need is a 5 ohm 5w+ resistor (got it) and some wire...)

    TheSMJ... this is my "toy" (well, one of them anyhow)
    Since it's got the Audigy2 Platinum (and *gasp*it works properly) it's got firewire, so I could do DV if the need popped up (it won't). It's also connected to my <a href="http://www.wacom.com/productinfo/12x12.cfm">Wacom Intuos 2 12"x12" tablet</a> which I've used something on the order of 2 times in the 2 years I've had it... that, combined with the monitor (it shares the 21" Sony CPD-G520 w/my other desktop; the monitor does 2048x1536 @ 80Hz) I could do photoshop...

    REALISTICALLY speaking, what will I use it for? Internet, print server, some office apps, games... that's about it... so no, I don't need it, but... that's not really the point either :D Ultimately, it's a toy. <strike>It's the same concept as driving a Ferrari to and from work everyday. Overkill? Possibly. Fun anyhow? Absolutely.</strike>

    //Edit: Better analogy:

    MSI K7D Master-L motherboard: $160 on ebay
    2 AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Retail Box CPUs: $180 in store
    Overclocking said CPUs to 2.25GHz: $Free
    2 Thermalright SLK-800a heatsinks: $70 online
    2GB ECC REG PC2700 DDR: $500 online
    4 160GB Maxtor HDDs: $280 in store
    HighPoint SATA RAID card with 4 adapters: $140 online
    ATi Radeon 9800 Pro 256MB: $500 online
    The look on your friend's face when they realize that your new box has more power than some small rendering farms: Priceless


    :D
  • Omega65Omega65 Philadelphia, Pa
    edited July 2003
    The 12v rating on that PSU is too low. I'm pretty sure the K7D uses the 12v line to power the CPUs. And the MP2800 use 60-70watts each.

    Grab a Powertek 600w ($50 + S/H) from Dealsonic

    Same Leadman OEM PSU as the Robanton/Powmax series
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited July 2003
    omega; yea, I'm pretty sure it does use 12v for cpu power; I just looked and the 12v aux. connector on it is labeled "cpu power" so...
  • MarkTAWMarkTAW Brooklyn, NY
    edited July 2003
    Say... I've been looking for a GOOD 400+ watt power supply that's QUIET. Does anyone have a recommendation? I think the power supply is my last enemy in my quest to make this damn computer quieter. I should never have gone generic in the first place! I also have frequent brown outs in the area, which a good PSU would probably ignore, but makes my current POS PSU shut down momentarily.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited July 2003
    yea. one word- Antec.
    Also, brownouts are not handled very well by PSUs, and afaik ,it's not good to run them during one either. Get an APC UPS. They have a 1000va model that's only $150, but it's still got the typical APC level of quality.
  • WuGgaRoOWuGgaRoO Not in the shower Icrontian
    edited July 2003
    geeky1... i salute u....
    BUT
    whoa whoa whoa...what hsf r u gonna put on it...i HOPE its not a volcano...with all that...go with a slk900 and buy a stealth fan...or anything else..do NOT trust thermaltake
  • ClutchClutch North Carolina New
    edited July 2003
    Antec TruePower baby, all the way. As far as the brownouts, Geeky is right. I never liked the whole 2 psu's deal myself though.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited July 2003
    Wugaroo- I don't think the SLK-900s will fit on the K7D-L. I bought 2 SLK-800a heatsinks for it instead. I'm going to use the Tt SmartFan2s on them tho because the SmartFan2 is actually a really good fan.
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited July 2003
    If you are still thinking of picking up a single power supply solution to your problem, look no further than the Antec TruePower 550W.

    Although the TruePower 480 will power everything in your system (including both CPU's), you will be better off with a higher wattage PSU, which will leave room for further expandability in the months to come.

    I swear by the Antec TruePower line of PSU's. Considering that you want to protect your investment, you should highly consider utilizing a PSU capable of providing your system with the power required today & the peace of mind knowing that your system is properly powered.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited July 2003
    yeah; if I have to get a higher-output psu, it'll be either an Antec or PC Power & Cooling, unless I go for one of those 660w Enermaxes...
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