PSU Power Calculator

[hoofhearted4]

so im specing out my build and whatnot. if i were to get two 580s, with all the other listings, the newegg PSU calc, puts me at 950W. would it be fine having a 1000W PSU or should i get the 1200W PSU.....i ask cause i know you need to include fans and whatnot. id really like to stick with the 1000W PSU if possible. its $145 (-$20 rebate. not that that matters since im not building this for another couple of months as im sure many of you know) as opposed to $200, and 80 Plus Gold as opposed to Bronze respectively. but i fear a 50W clearance, on an estimate calc wouldnt leave me much room. when i finally end up building my build, id only be getting one 580. i might never go SLI, but i just wanna make sure that i have the supply to do so if i wanna go that route in the future.

 

im assuming most of you will say just get the 1200W PSU, but i figured id ask anyways.

 

 

 

 

on another note, ive also been considering just getting the 1000W PSU, and just getting a 570. SLI 570s (with everything else) only amounts to around 850W, so 1000W in that case would be plenty of clearance. opinions?

Edited December 22, 2011 by hoofhearted4

[Butler27]

Cooler Master makes decent power supplies, but I'd recommend either Corsair or Seasonic PSUs. What types of graphics card(s) are you using? I would definitely get a power supply with more than 526W, or whatever their calculator is recommending. There's no harm in having "too much" power, as the watt rating is only an indication of what the power supply CAN deliver if needed, rather than a measure of constant power use.

 

Efficiency relates to how much of the PSU's power is lost to heat as opposed to being used to power your computer. You'll want an "80 Plus"-rated power supply. There are four different levels of 80 Plus ratings: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and just "rated," with Gold being the most efficient.

 

My personal recommendation is to get one of the Corsair TX V2 series power supplies (also called their Enthusiast Series), either the 750W or 850W unit depending on your configuration. Their AX (or Professional Series) units are even better, though they're pricier.

[dazzerfong]

@ Hoofhearted:

 

I'll advise that you purchase the 1200W, because if you're going for the 1000W, you'll have problems with extra apparatus such as USB's and harddisks, etc. Better safe than sorry, though, 1200W, wow........and 2 580's..........some people really are loaded............

 

Oh, I forgot the recommendation. Antec's pretty good for me so far, no problems whatsoever, very reliable (5 years and counting for my old computer, and I use it every day). Though, the sticker was worn out, so I forgot which series it was in.

Edited December 22, 2011 by dazzerfong

[hoofhearted4]

Cooler Master makes decent power supplies, but I'd recommend either Corsair or Seasonic PSUs. What types of graphics card(s) are you using? I would definitely get a power supply with more than 526W, or whatever their calculator is recommending. There's no harm in having "too much" power, as the watt rating is only an indication of what the power supply CAN deliver if needed, rather than a measure of constant power use.

 

Efficiency relates to how much of the PSU's power is lost to heat as opposed to being used to power your computer. You'll want an "80 Plus"-rated power supply. There are four different levels of 80 Plus ratings: Gold, Silver, Bronze, and just "rated," with Gold being the most efficient.

 

My personal recommendation is to get one of the Corsair TX V2 series power supplies (also called their Enthusiast Series), either the 750W or 850W unit depending on your configuration. Their AX (or Professional Series) units are even better, though they're pricier.

 

 

i appreciate your response, but im assuming you didnt read my post. i wasnt asking for a recommendation on specific power supplies or brands, nor about what 80 plus is. im well aware of all that (btw you missed Platinum. and yes there is a Platinum level) i had asked if i would be safe with a 1000W PSU, knowing the calculator gives a rating of 950W (580s in SLI). or if i would need to get the 1200W PSU.

 

before you post, please read the OP next time....that said, you do bring up a good point in the PSU is capable of getting to 1000W (such as in boot up when the PC surges momentarily) vs being at 1000W continuously.

 

 

@ Hoofhearted:

 

I'll advise that you purchase the 1200W, because if you're going for the 1000W, you'll have problems with extra apparatus such as USB's and harddisks, etc. Better safe than sorry, though, 1200W, wow........and 2 580's..........some people really are loaded............

 

Oh, I forgot the recommendation. Antec's pretty good for me so far, no problems whatsoever, very reliable (5 years and counting for my old computer, and I use it every day). Though, the sticker was worn out, so I forgot which series it was in.

 

editing in your reply cause i didnt see it at first and dont wanna double post.

 

yea, thats what i figured. after you include fans, keyboard, anything in the PCI slot (which i would have a wireless adapter) and whatever else, it would be pushing, if not over 1000W.

 

and im not loaded. ive been planning this build for months (will have been almost a year by the time im able to build it) and will be right around $2000 thats including monitor and keyboard and everything, since this is my first build, depending on prices at the time, and whatever final options i do. i could easily get this down $500+ if i feel money is too tight. (that price is assuming only one 580, not two) a second 580 would come months later if i decided on it...after an SSD :P

 

also, im not sure where i asked for recommendations, but im all set on those lol. id be getting a Raidmax PSU. not only are the the cheapest out of all the similar wattage PSUs, but also have higher 80 Plus ratings then similar PSUs as well as having good reviews. :D

 

 

im debating if i should just get the 1000W PSU knowing all too well there is a 9 in 10 chance i wont go SLI (no need with a 580) or if i should just get a 570 (with the 1000W PSU) which would then allow me more then 100W of space even if i want to go SLI....which brings up the issue if the 580 is even worth the extra $120..... :/

Edited December 22, 2011 by hoofhearted4

[dazzerfong]

In addition to the 80 Plus rating (which, to be honest, is just another marketing scheme), you have to consider the reliablity of your power supply: in other words, how much your power supply fluctuates. Getting the cheapest one is therefore not recommended (I've seen Chinese PSU's that are $30 and output 1000 W), as they are either extremely unreliable or have big fluctuations. But, in the end, you read the reviews, you did the homework, I trust that your judgement is good.

 

$2000 is loaded in my world: the most I've ever spent on a computer is $800 US, that was 2.5 years ago. Still runs like a beauty, and is good enough for sculpting work (though I would like a Tesla....).

 

I edited the post in that I forgot to add in the suggestion part.

[hoofhearted4]

In addition to the 80 Plus rating (which, to be honest, is just another marketing scheme), you have to consider the reliablity of your power supply: in other words, how much your power supply fluctuates. Getting the cheapest one is therefore not recommended (I've seen Chinese PSU's that are $30 and output 1000 W), as they are either extremely unreliable or have big fluctuations. But, in the end, you read the reviews, you did the homework, I trust that your judgement is good.

 

$2000 is loaded in my world: the most I've ever spent on a computer is $800 US, that was 2.5 years ago. Still runs like a beauty, and is good enough for sculpting work (though I would like a Tesla....).

 

I edited the post in that I forgot to add in the suggestion part.

 

i dont believe the 80 plus is just a scheme. there are plenty of tests out there that prove they do what they say. plus im not sure if they could market something like that, with it not doing what it says...false advertisement and all....Raidmax is a pretty reliable PSU manufacturer from what ive researched. its not just some random Chinese company (though it could be Chinese, lol idrk)...and its not cheap per say, just cheaper then the others. the reviews are 4 and 5 eggs, so i trust it.

 

and i can spend that kind of money cause i dont have many expenses. im 21 right now. i still live with my parents while i go to college. i go to a community college so its relatively cheap (in fact this coming semester is $1600) i split it with my parents (s i only pay ~$800)...i have car insurance (>$150 a month) and i chip in $40 a month for the phone bill (its a family plan, but thats the cost of the internet for my phone) but thats it. i paid out right for my car (~$2500) so no bills there. dont have to pay for food or a spouse/kids or anything. so most of what i make gets saved. i do know my priorities.

 

i would have been able to build my PC back in like June (though a drastically different build, due to less research) but i got into a car accident. so the money i saved for my PC (which would have been $1400) got put into the car i mentioned. unfortunately im back to job hunting as my job was only a summer job. im living off money i had from the summer, which is getting soaked up mighty fast. so at the moment, this build is arguably a pipe dream :P

 

 

this is my current plans for my build:

http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?/topic/491372-post-your-rig/page__view__findpost__p__4015140

 

ive been updating it whenever i have a different plan or something, mostly for my reference to look back on whenever i need.

Edited December 22, 2011 by hoofhearted4

[dazzerfong]

Well, it's just that I'm stingy: I'm earning $60 an hour teaching piano, but I refuse to spend a cent on it except on Haagen-Daaz ice creams overseas. I like to know that I have some bit of money in my bank............

 

What I mean about the 'scheme' is that it's another one of those tactics companies use to attract viewers, kind of like the obsession with VRAM on advertised video cards.

[hoofhearted4]

its not a scheme though, because its physical hardware. i mean the amount of VRAM specified is there and stuff.

 

schemes are more like when you buy some RAM DIMMs and it advertised "Made for the Intel Chipset" when in reality it will probably work just fine on an AMD board. or if you were to buy a GPU and it advertised that it would make your computer last longer just by having that GPU, that would be a scheme. but something like advertising the VRAM on a GPU or 80 Plus, isnt a scheme cause its something physical. its real. you know what i mean?