jepherz

I have a 500w antec that I just switched out for a 720w enermax. I did this because I'm pretty sure I'm around borderline with my system:

4g ram
2 HDD
HD 4870
quad core q9450 (or something like that)

looking at neweggs PSU calculator, I'm supposed to be around 530w. The one on the outervision website used to say around the samething too...I just checked now and it says I need around 380w?

I started using rainmeter, and theres a small applet that tells you how much power you are using(atleast I think, not sure now...). under "PWR" it says 100, so I'm assuming that means I'm using 100% of my PSU. Now that I have my 720w installed, it's still saying 100...

I didn't need to do this did I? Now I just feel like I wasted some money =/ This costs me around 45 after rebate though, but still... I have 2 spare PSUs now just hanging around. What do you guys think?

BlueMak

You bought a 750W PSU for $45?
You really shouldn't skimp on the PSU. All the PC relies on the PSU to not only run but also survive.

I don't know how accurate those online calculators are, I guess if they have their numbers right and they have your hardware, perhaps they are ok. There are equipment that calculate your consumption, but we are talking about hardware that you plug in, not software.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

IvanV

380W seems about right as your PC's peak load. Bearing in mind that the vast majority of it is on the 12V rail and that it's probably best that the PSU is not stretched to it's limits when the computer is under load, some extra headroom is advisable, but I doubt that more than 500W you had was needed. If you want a second opinion, the ASUS PSU Calculator also produces decent ballpark figures.

Still, don't be too unhappy even if you've made an unnecessary purchase and can't return the PSU, if it's a real Enermax and a new unit, it was a bargain. You could try to sell one of the units or just keep them, a good spare PSU may come in handy.

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If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Optix

I have used the calculator below if I had doubts.

Cooler Master PSU calculator

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SeraphicSorcerer

For the record, Optix your tool worked, and I got errors trying to use ASus's. But nice finds, and the cooler master one is very nice :P

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comp_ali

There is Antec calculator.
Antec Power Supply Calculator
I agreee about PSU choosing , you may buy original 300 watts actual watts , while the traditional cheap ones say 700watts and deliver less than the 300 watts in actual .

BlueMak

They look suspiciously exactly the same.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

OldBuzzard

If this is the PSU you got at $45.00:
Newegg.com - ENERMAX INFINITI EIN720AWT 720W ATX12V/ EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
then you got one heck of a deal!

It's 'possible' that your 500W Antec would be just fine. It all depends on just WHICH one it is, and how old it is. Antec has some really good PSUs, and some that, to be charitable, "aren't so good".

If you already bought the 720W, there's not reason not to use it. Lord knows, that puppy won't be overtaxed in your current system

As for just how much PSU you need? Look at my specs on the left. The Corsair 620HX is running it with no problems at all.

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When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

IvanV

sorry about that, I just tried it myself in three different browsers and it didn't work in any of them. It worked just fine a few months ago, so I suppose that they updated it recently.

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If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Optix

Holy shnitzel! I guess they did.

Should have picked up a few and sell them for $130 on eBay assuming there was not a limit of 1 per customer.

My personal opinion is any PSU worth a thought should be $100 or over. This does not always hold true because there are some $100 stinkers out there but for the most part I have yet to have problems with any PSU over that amount although my OCZ PSU seems to be a bit jumpy lately...that is until I dropped a screw into it.

Here's hoping I win the Ultra X4.

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Chaos

you can also get a cheap tool like the P3 Kill A Watt load metre if you want to see how much power your rig is pulling from the wall socket

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