Originally Posted by mevan_snp

one last cable/case issue to consider

some large cases have the power supply located in a different area of the case that is extended from the normal peripheral connections. Therefore, one must consider the length of cables coming from the power supply that must be hooked up from those peripherals to the power supply to keep from using extenders that do not normally come with a new power supply.

Analysis, special considerations, and application of psu data

the pleasures and perils of high end video cards

recent high end video cards that have been developed like the nvidia 9800gtx, gtx260, gtx280, ati 4850, and ati 4870 present a unique challenge for end users. The need to provide a power supply that can meet the demands of these powerful cards can be a real challenge for even the most powerful line of psu units. Anyone who is under the illusion that a 650 watt power supply will pull these babies without difficulty might want to reconsider before it hits them in the pocketbook from having to replace damaged computer components.

These video cards are a pure pleasure to own and use. The graphics are awesome with uber high definition, fantastic frame rates, and clarity that has been unheard of in recent times. However, with our inclusion of our uber ultimate professional gaming class computer, these have become popular quickly as individuals try to stay on top of the heap with the newest and best video card. .

The recent development of the dual engine ati 4870 x2 card brings us to the brink of power demands in power supplies as we know them. In addition, even the tri and quad configurations of video cards mentioned above require a very powerful psu to ensure optimal operation of the computer. The power supply team would like to relay to members who are opting for the 4870 x2 or some of the tri, quad confurations that one would not be wise to even think about running these setups with less than a 1000 watt high-quality power supply. Our research has indicated that an outstanding 750 watt corsair will not hold up with the ati 4870 x2 over the long haul.

When a buyer chooses to enjoy the visual pleasure of these graphics cards, they must think of a 1000+ psu if you want that “king of the hill” card(s) to work correctly and keep your new rig safe from damage.

Identifying your power supply

members of the forum need to know more about the power supply in their present computer. This can be determined by identifying the brand name on the side or back of the psu. In addition, one should look on the back or side of the power supply where amps for each rail are listed. This information when provided to somone assisting you will help a qualified tech to understand how the power supply can be expected to perform under normal circumstances. Therefore, problematic areas may be identified more efficiently.

Determining wattage and amperage requirements for my selected machine

 standard computer class would be used for internet surfing, general office work, and light gaming, with limited hardware upgrades on the computer. The standard desktop machine can perform flawlessly with a quality 380 to 550 watt psu.

We recommend a 380-450 watt psu for an integrated (onboard/shared) video card and a 500-550 watt psu for a dedicated video card.

These machines would include those with older intel processors up to and including a pentium 4 3.0 ghz cpu that has a fsb of less than 800 mhz. For amd enthusiasts, the range would be from the older machines up to and including the newer amd 3800 x2 and 4000+ single core cpu. Processors.

 the power desktop computer class is similar to the standard desktop plus more demanding gaming usage, plus one can explore the option of overclocking with this unit. The computer would include numerous hardware upgrades with multiple drives and a more powerful cpu paired with a fuller featured motherboard. The power desktop computer class is best suited with a 600-750 watt psu of high quality construction.

Those who choose this class computer should have a dual core cpu with one dedicated video card up to and including any single engine video card an the market demanding up to 125 watts. This would include the nvidia 8800 gts or the ati 4850 video card. The power desktop computer class will run some medium power dual video cards, but are not intended to run dual 8800 gtx or dual ati 4850 video cards.

 the high-end power gaming class computer will have the capabilitiy for higher-end video cards, video editing, expected overclocking, and likely useage for sli or crossfire configuration.

The optimum cpu for this class would be any dual or quad core cpu that is powered by a high quality 750 to 850 watt power supply. The high-end power gaming class computer will easily power tandem video cards in sli mode like the nvidia 8800gts or nvidia 9800gtx+. If you select the crossfire configuration, these psu's will also power dual cards like the ati 3850 or ati 4850 video cards.

 uber ultimate professional gaming class is for demanding professionals who desire units that will perform to the maximum level of technological advances while remaining stable at all times. These units are an overclocker's and/or gamer's dream machine.

We would expect those who venture in this area to use quad core cpu's and two or more of the lastest and greatest video cards. The sky is the limit with these machines and the power needs will demand a bare minimum of 1000 watts from a power source in order to achieve the optimum performance that is expected by these elite computer enthusiasts. A 900 to 1200 watt power supply would be the most appropriate for those who want to have the ultimate machine and professional gaming experience.

These powerful machines and the psu are for those who want to use the very latest video cards in sli or crossfire configuration. These units will easily power the newest ati 4870x2 or multiple crossfire ati 4870 video cards. Those who favor the sli configuration will find these units will easily power multiple nvidia 280 gtx video cards.

Recommended power supply calculator

the power supply calculator at the bottom of this narrative is an important tool to assist you in determining the watts needed by a power supply to power a desktop computer. A calculator should not be totally relied upon in the selection process; other things also need to be considered before purchasing.

The total watts is important but the total amperage available on the +12v rail(s) is the most important, followed by the +5v amperage and then the +3.3v amperage. Because of the increased power consumption of the new high-power video cards the recommended minimum for +12v is 26a, for sli 35a.

We highly recommended that you add 30% to the total watts the calculator determines to cover things such as peak efficiency and future upgrades. Please post any questions or concerns about your power needs on the forum so one of our hardware techs may offer a personal evaluation on any power supply selections or answer questions that are appropriate to your needs.

Extreme power supply calculator

summary and reasoning for our tsf power supply recommendations

while there are many other excellent power supply choices out there, we have compiled what we feel is the best power supplies which are the most cost effective in each category as listed below. Should you choose another brand name that is fine with us, but all of the psu brand names and models listed below are excellent quality psu’s for the category, which is represented as approriate and cost efficient.

You will find that no other pc component than the psu has the ability to impact your system in such a critical manner and enhance the margin of quality and performance of your computer. If you make a poor quality choice or try to save a few dollars on your power supply, the chances of failure of not only the initital build but also the components over a long period of time are very real.

A recent fact reported by anandtech in their review research is that the majority of damaged ram returned to memory manufacturers is destroyed or damaged by fluctuations in voltage from the psu unit.

We suggest when purchasing a power supply that you buy the best and forget the rest. Brand names are a very important indicator of quality in this realm.

Please note that all psu’s listed and recommended here are in random order with the order of their listing not determining the quality of the supply for that specific area.

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