Cheapest PSU I can get away with with HD 7850 and i5 3450

[winterwind_23]

I got advice that I shouldn't skip on the power supply, but what is the cheapest PSU I can get away with running and a Radeon HD 7850 and core i5-3450? I won't be over-clocking the system, but I obviously want the system to run reliably?

I was thinking of getting this 500 watt cooler master: http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-eXtreme-ATX12V-RS500-PCARD3-US/dp/B001G0WPLK/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1338518434&sr=1-1

Will this be reliable given my components? Should I spend almost twice as much and get something more reliable?

Thanks!

 

[DJDeCiBeL]

You NEVER want to cheap out on the PSU. A bad one can take the whole system with it if it dies, and that Cooler Master unit is pretty bad.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151094 A good bit more (nearly twice as much), but absolutely worth it for the quality.

 

[rolli59]

Corsair CX430 is the absolutely cheapest I will buy at the moment http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026
It will handle your system fine.

 

[iraserei]

As the first poster said, you NEVER want to cheap out and get a cheap unreliable PSU that was on sale. I'd go with major brands like SeaSonic,Corsair,XFX,etc. Keep in mind majority of PSU's are manufactured by SeaSonic and rebranded. SeaSonic makes Corsair and XFX's PSU's. I'd suggest a 500-600w PSU, should be more than enough with extra room to spare for upgrades.

 

[lilotimz]

CX430V2 and the Antec EA380/430D is the absolutely lowest power supply i'd ever recommend for a mid range graphics card. They're usually around $45 (cheaper if on sale) and is reliable enough to power most mid range cards.

Never cheap out on a psu unless you want a dead PC with everything destroyed.

 

[winterwind_23]

CX430V2 and the Antec EA380/430D is the absolutely lowest power supply i'd ever recommend for a mid range graphics card. They're usually around $45 (cheaper if on sale) and is reliable enough to power most mid range cards.

Never cheap out on a psu unless you want a dead PC with everything destroyed.

Between the Corsaire and the Antec, do you have a preference for either one? The above poster also mentioned the CX430V2. Do you have a recommendation for a higher wattage one that is under $60 that will work better than those two 430 watt ones you lsited?

Will a 430 watt be more efficient than a 500 watt (i.e. it will use less energy, utility bill will be lower)? Or does it just mean it will just be able to supply more energy in case the computer needs it?

 

[lilotimz]

I do not have a preference between the two. Both are about the same in reliability and quality that it doesn't matter.

There's plenty higher voltage ones under $60 that i can recommend. I'll link a few...

A 430watt may or may not be more efficient based on design and quality.

A seasonic X400 gold is definitely more efficient and higher quality than a CX430v2 but you pay a price premium of $100 for it compared to $45 for a CX430V2. Quality and efficiency go hand in hand 99% of the time.

Antec Neo Eco 520
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&Tpk=antec%20520

Corsair CX 500 V2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027&Tpk=corsair%20cx%20500

Some others that you may look for is these but they're more expensive
Antec HCG520
Seasonic S12II 520
Antec EA500D
XFX550

 

[winterwind_23]

I do not have a preference between the two. Both are about the same in reliability and quality that it doesn't matter.

There's plenty higher voltage ones under $60 that i can recommend. I'll link a few...

A 430watt may or may not be more efficient based on design and quality.

A seasonic X400 gold is definitely more efficient and higher quality than a CX430v2 but you pay a price premium of $100 for it compared to $45 for a CX430V2. Quality and efficiency go hand in hand 99% of the time.

Antec Neo Eco 520
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&Tpk=antec%20520

Corsair CX 500 V2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027&Tpk=corsair%20cx%20500

Some others that you may look for is these but they're more expensive
Antec HCG520
Seasonic S12II 520
Antec EA500D
XFX550

Those two that you linked look good. Will I notice any difference if I get the 430 watt versus the 500 watt? Will there be a performance increase? Or is it just so that in case I want to upgrade in the future this will allow me to?

 

[amuffin]

Either grab a cheaper card and a better power supply, or risk your high end card.

At least a 500W here, the HCG520 and the S12II 520 are the ones you should choose from.

 

[lilotimz]

The difference is that you may put more amps in the 12v rails. The 12v rails is where most modern computers take most of their power from. The GPU usually takes the most then the CPU.

A modern ~500w unit that is of quality build and good efficiency usually outputs around 430-460w on the 12v rail at 80+ efficiency.

If you find a PSU then post it here and let us see. We usually can just tell which psu's are good and bad just by brand and usually model.

CM Psu's are mostly junk except a few ok ones while Corsair, Seasonic, Xfx, and Antec are usually solid across the board.

My recommendations still stand. My friend is running an Antec EA430D and a GTX 460 768 with a Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 on it just fine. It'll work no problem with a I5-3470 and a 7850 as they both use less power than the build stated above.


*My backup PSU's are a Delta 500w and a CX400*

 

[FinneousPJ]

Those two that you linked look good. Will I notice any difference if I get the 430 watt versus the 500 watt? Will there be a performance increase? Or is it just so that in case I want to upgrade in the future this will allow me to?

No, there will no difference. Your system's unlikely to exceed 300W.