powersupply size for AMD 3500+ ?

[Rob Stow]

BTW, you consider Enermax a quality PSU? I ask because the reason I
went to a 400w Antec was because a 360w Enermax I had wasn't even good
enough to run a Geforce4.

The can both be quality units yet one will fail where
the other succeeds. Different PSUs provide different
amounts of current for the various voltages - it doesn't
necessarily mean that one is better than the others, just
that one is better suited to certain kinds of loads than
others.

 

[Bass]

What a wonderful way to introduce yourself to the regulars in the group!

This is how she/he introduced itself to me.

"I'll think it's fairly safe to say that 480W recommendation that had
been floated around since the 6800/X800 launch is coming out of the
bull's rear end."

Tit-for-tat. And I've been reading and posting here for years so take
a hike you elitist twat.

 

[The little lost angel]

I suggest you go read some other hardware groups besides this one to
get the real deal. Niether of you are taking PEAK power pulls into the

I've been doing that eversince getting interested into computers as a
result of keeping the wrong company in my high school days pPpP

equation. Fatal error there. Do either of you even run heavy duty 3D
games?

I've learnt enough from the veterans in this group to know how to be
total idiot about that when testing stuff pPpP

Naturally testing the power draw of the system requires loading up the
system doing the things like heavy duty 3d games (which still doesn't
appeal to me), running 3dmark01/03 (The nature test consistently draws
the most power and usually the first to artifact if there's any
problem with o/cing the gfx from my experience). For HT systems, it
also includes loading up two copies of Prime with CPU affinity set for
max power consumption and of course giving it a spin with Robert's
burnCPU.

Admittedly, neither me or my friend has the equipment to measure
instanteneous peaks but most good quality power supply would have at
least 10% margin built in. Furthermore, most of the peaks based on
reports from other forums and such indicates it's usually during the
system startup due to the motors. But during startup the CPU draw on
the +12V is relatively mild. So even if you would to use an exact 250W
to power a 250W ballpark system, the PSU would already have the buffer
for the peaks if any would to occur.

The issue has always been more about the quality of the PSU and not
the wattage. IMO a good 350W from brands like Antec would be good
enough for most uniproc systems (excluding those with unsual gadgets
like a peltier cooler or something) out there.

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[The little lost angel]

BTW, you consider Enermax a quality PSU? I ask because the reason I
went to a 400w Antec was because a 360w Enermax I had wasn't even good
enough to run a Geforce4.

That's really weird because Enermax's generally considered a pretty
decent PSU brand... My friend currently has 370W PSU running an
overclocked P4 system with an FX5800Ultra, that PSU has gone through 3
different CPU/motherboard combo since last year. He's just itching to
get his hands on one of the newer cards like the X800 or GT68, just a
matter of wallet not being deep enough now ;ppPpP


--
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[Robert Redelmeier]

The issue has always been more about the quality of the PSU
and not the wattage. IMO a good 350W from brands like Antec
would be good enough for most uniproc systems (excluding

Entirely true. It's isn't about the Watts, it about the
steadyness of the power rails. A few years ago, I had some
problems with a machine occasionally throwing different
md5sums on the HD partation under test. Looking closer,
I saw the 5V rail occasionally sagged as low as 4.73V.

So I replaced that 300W PSU with a better quality 250W, and
the problem was solved. Clean md5s. 20 mV under spec was
just enough to cause occasional errors. You don't see any
big caps on a HD, do you?

-- Robert

 

[chrisv]

This is how she/he introduced itself to me.

"I'll think it's fairly safe to say that 480W recommendation that had
been floated around since the 6800/X800 launch is coming out of the
bull's rear end."

Tit-for-tat.

That's hardly a personal attack.

And I've been reading and posting here for years so take
a hike you elitist twat.

So you're just a nym-shifting troll?

 

[chrisv]

You think $50 (310ATX) or $65(360ATX) is a lot for a power supply? I
paid about $90 for a PCP&C 250W (IIRC) power supply five or so years
ago when I built my K6-III system.

Also note that these are Power Factor corrected supplies.

http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com/prices/index.htm

Wow, was my info old. When last looked I, the Silencers were MUCH
more expensive then that. They were 2-3 times Antec prices.

 

[Bass]

That's really weird because Enermax's generally considered a pretty
decent PSU brand... My friend currently has 370W PSU running an
overclocked P4 system with an FX5800Ultra, that PSU has gone through 3
different CPU/motherboard combo since last year. He's just itching to
get his hands on one of the newer cards like the X800 or GT68, just a
matter of wallet not being deep enough now ;ppPpP

Maybe I just got a defective unit. Most people these days suggest
going with a 400w or more *quality* PSU though to play it safe and if
I was going to get one of Nvidia's latest offerings I might still
consider getting a beefier PSU than I already have. A weak PSU can
damage your mb and other hardware. Why take the risk over a few bucks?

 

[Bass]

So you're just a nym-shifting troll?

Correct.

 

[Tony Hill]

BTW, you consider Enermax a quality PSU? I ask because the reason I
went to a 400w Antec was because a 360w Enermax I had wasn't even good
enough to run a Geforce4.

My 350W Enermax gave out after a year with an AthlonXP 1700+ and
integrated graphics... It's still capable of running my headless
PentiumMMX 133 setup, but not much more. So I don't really have a
whole lot of faith in their supplies. I may have just got a bum unit
though.

 

[The little lost angel]

Maybe I just got a defective unit. Most people these days suggest
going with a 400w or more *quality* PSU though to play it safe and if
I was going to get one of Nvidia's latest offerings I might still
consider getting a beefier PSU than I already have. A weak PSU can
damage your mb and other hardware. Why take the risk over a few bucks?

I fully agree that a weak PSU can cause pretty bad damage. But the
difference between a quality 480W and a quality 350W, which still has
more than enough headroom for >90% of the systems out there, is not a
few bucks but something along the lines of US$30 over here. No point
spending more than necessary right? PpP

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[keith]

Correct.

With a nym like bass, whay would anyone think differently?