Budget Gaming Build with Cheap PSU....

[Furiion52]

Hey everyone!
After lots of recommendations and advice from people I've put together what I hope to build. Here are the specs;
$193
i5 3470
$99
ASRock Z77 Pro3
$259
Sapphire HD 7870 XT 2GB
$75
Corsair Vengeance 2x4GB DDR3 1600mHz
$69
WD Blue 1TB
$55
Silverstone RL01 with Window
$19
TP-Link 150mbps WiFi PCIe Adapter

If you notice the prices are more expensive it's because it's in AUD. I live in Australia and they tend to rip us off 🙁 The site I use is:
http://www.pccasegear.com/
(I know the 7870 card is not budget but its pretty damn good
Now I was given a Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 600W PSU by a friend. I've read a couple of reviews and it doesn't seem to be very good, almost bad even. He hasn't had any problems with it but I thought I'd ask all of you for your thoughts. Would it run those specs ^^ no problem for a short while? I intend to buy the $59 Silverstone Strider 500W but if I can use the CM PSU for a short time it would save me a bit of cash...
Thanks everyone and feel free to give me our advice on different parts other than those, just check out the site above 😉

 

[Jack Revenant]

If there is a single element in a PC you can least afford to be cheap on, it is the PSU. This is because it is the single element in the entire case capable of destroying all the other elements if it goes catastrophically wrong. As a result, you should always get a reliable PSU from one of a fairly short list of trusted brands. For me, that list is Antec, Corsair, and, at the very top, SeaSonic. The lowest priced PSU that I would recommend from the store you linked you be this one: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_354&products_id=22421

 

[JJ1217]

Should be fine for awhile. I'd say it'd be fine for a little while, just be aware its been noted that this PSU only gives something like 450W off its 12V rail, effectively making it a 450 W PSU;.. I'd be careful, no overclocking until you get a decent PSU. I would also recommend getting something with a bit more juice, even though a 500W silverstone is enough. you may hear the PSU fan as it theoretically could use up to 90% of it, which wouldn't be good for PSU life, especially if you overclock your system.

I live in australia too, and to be honest, most computer stores don't have a choice. We don't have an as huge computer market as america, and consequently, the computer stores have to buy less bulk and thus get less discounts. So the costs eventually get passed to us. Just be aware of that. :/ 7870 XT is a great card giving near 7950 performance for 7870 price. AMD cards are really the only cards in australia appropriately priced.

 

[ryukentsu]

I'd invest in a better motherboard like
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131826

 

[Furiion52]

Should be fine for awhile. I'd say it'd be fine for a little while, just be aware its been noted that this PSU only gives something like 450W off its 12V rail, effectively making it a 450 W PSU;.. I'd be careful, no overclocking until you get a decent PSU. I would also recommend getting something with a bit more juice, even though a 500W silverstone is enough. you may hear the PSU fan as it theoretically could use up to 90% of it, which wouldn't be good for PSU life, especially if you overclock your system.

I live in australia too, and to be honest, most computer stores don't have a choice. We don't have an as huge computer market as america, and consequently, the computer stores have to buy less bulk and thus get less discounts. So the costs eventually get passed to us. Just be aware of that. :/ 7870 XT is a great card giving near 7950 performance for 7870 price. AMD cards are really the only cards in australia appropriately priced.

Yeah it's sad but true. And I don't plan to overclock at all, I mean the i5 3470 can't overclock 😛 Not a lot anyway... Thanks for the tips

 

[Furiion52]

If there is a single element in a PC you can least afford to be cheap on, it is the PSU. This is because it is the single element in the entire case capable of destroying all the other elements if it goes catastrophically wrong. As a result, you should always get a reliable PSU from one of a fairly short list of trusted brands. For me, that list is Antec, Corsair, and, at the very top, SeaSonic. The lowest priced PSU that I would recommend from the store you linked you be this one: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=15_354&products_id=22421

Hey thanks for the advice! The thing is I'd gladly go off and buy a better PSU, but I'm barely scraping enough money for this build as it is. One of the main reasons for the 7870 XT is that its futureproof. I just can't afford to spend nearly $100 on a PSU unfortunately. But if I end up using the CM PSU and I get some money later I'll definitely look into the Corsair PSU. For now I'll wait to see what others think 😉 Thanks a lot

 

[JJ1217]

I meant OCing the 7870 XT. Also that motherboard that ryu suggested isn't at all better than the z77 pro 3, so don't listen to him.

There are also much better PSU brands than from Antec, corsair and seasonic, who are basically all the same (Most of Antec and Corsair's GOOD psu's are made by seasonic), and in Australia, Seasonic are a joke as they charge more for crappier cables and a crappier warranty.

There are more brands than outside that box that are regarded as trust worthy.

Enermax, Silverstone, the NZXT Hale, and a few others. Also don't go for that CX500, the CX series low end are Pieces of Shi...

 

[Furiion52]

I meant OCing the 7870 XT. Also that motherboard that ryu suggested isn't at all better than the z77 pro 3, so don't listen to him.

There are also much better PSU brands than from Antec, corsair and seasonic, who are basically all the same (Most of Antec and Corsair's GOOD psu's are made by seasonic), and in Australia, Seasonic are a joke as they charge more for crappier cables and a crappier warranty.

There are more brands than outside that box that are regarded as trust worthy.

Enermax, Silverstone, the NZXT Hale, and a few others. Also don't go for that CX500, the CX series low end are Pieces of Shi...

Hahaha feels good to talk to an Aussie 😉 Alright mate I'll stick with the Z77 Pro3, I've done some hard-core review reading and it seems to be a pretty decent board. And I must agree that Seasonic charge a sh** load for Australia, but I've been recommended the Silverstone Strider 500W by a few people and its also recommend by a magazine I'm subscribed to. Any advice you have is appreciated thanks

 

[Rohitashwa Sengupta]

well, its a little late to post here, still, thought if it could help u anyway. your PSU can handle that rig just perfect (though its true that PSU is not of the best class). a little math here to back up my words:

1. Easy one 1st: power calculators (not totally accurate though) state that ur rig needs near about 300W on load time (note that full load is not normal condition, rather its the worst condition u can have). ur PSU is so much badly reviewed as it doesnt give 80+ efficiency like some other 80+ certified companies. well, still, on 60% load it gives 82% and on 80% load it will give 75% more or less. Assuming that lowest output to be the throughout one, u r getting minimum 432W available. well, thats not everything though, the main thing is the supply that ur card and system needs. so now,

2. The technical math: your GPU needs 500W, AMD states 450W though, and actually with it ur whole system need 24A over 12v rail on load time (nVidia and AMD state over watt PSU's on their sites as everyone who will be using their cards wont get a certified PSU at all, and most people dont even understand what that is, they just check if their PSU states 450W or not and then just plug in their GPU.) that means 24x12=288W on load time. this is +-20W correct as nVidia and AMD doesnt really know ur rig, they just assume. now, ur PSU can really deliver 600W but on efficiency loss, its actually 432W as i said before. it has dual 12V output, 18A on each, one goes for CPU and anoother for PCI-E and all. now, ur GPU needs 450W on 12V rail, which means almost 12A on 12V rail, where theoritically 18A is available. but in practice, 432W over 12V rail is 36A in dual, which is also 18A. if i assume that its a little less then also it easily satisfies your 12A on 12V req.