is 300W enough?

[stefan238391]

So... I'm going to buy a new computer. I've narrowed it down to two models: a Dell Dimension 9150 and an Acer Veriton 7800.

The thing is that I'd rather have the Acer, but I don't know if it's going to have enough power for what I want to do with it. The Dell has a 375W power source, a better case desing, but I don't like the overall configuration (Pentium D930, and not the faster D945; Win XP MCE and not PRO; 2x 256MB RAM and not 1x 512MB RAM; by far more expensive, because they decided to include 2! 250GB HDDs which I do not need, as I already have my own collection of HDDs).

The Acer has a 300W power source. I used the PSU calculator in the sticky and, with the default configuration, I got a 228W result. I used the Pentium D950, because there was no D945. I thing the D950 is more power hungry than the D945.

Now, selecting the additional hardware which I would like to install (1x DDR2, 2nd HDD, 2 USB devices, and a GF7600GT), I got a 287W. The PS is 300W. Is that enough? Will it burn?

I think i could buy a better PSU but it could void my warranty. And I don't know if it will fit in the ACER case.

 

[mkaibear]

MCE is better than Pro, you know - unless you want to join a domain.

Why are you buying a new computer rather than building one?

 

[Dahak]

First of all I never buy prebuilt machines.But to answer your question,buy the acer and install a bigger psu.And for your info,win mce is win xp pro with mce slipstreamed into it.Anyhow,goodluck whatever choice you make.

Dahak

EVGA VF4 SLI MB
X2 4400+@2.4
2 7800GT'S IN SLI MODE
2X1GIG DDR400 MEMORY IN DC MODE
WD300GIG HD
520WATT PSU
EXTREME 19IN.MONITOR
3DMARK05:11,582

 

[mkaibear]

>win mce is win xp pro with mce slipstreamed into it

Not quite.

MCE lacks the ability to join a domain (on the fly, it can be configured to use one), plus I believe there's some other security stuff designed for work use which is missing. It does include most of the features of XP Pro, just not all.

 

[The_Gremlin]

...buy the acer and install a bigger psu ...

Just a warning ... as I've read on other threads (too lazy to search for them and link ) some PC vendors don't use standard ATX/ATX12V PSUs.

Have you tried to contact Acer to see if you can get a more powerful PSU??

If Acer won't accomodate you, you could follow Dahak's advice, but do a little research before hand and make sure the Acer unit has a standard ATX/ATX12V PSU before making the purchase.

 

[phreejak]

If you install ANYTHING yourself into a manufacturers PC you will void your warranty anyway. Worrying about how your warranty is going to be affected after that is pretty much pointless.