PSU, and etc. Questions

[Kkody2]

I recently got a 21.5" 1080p monitor and i decided i would use my old 19" Tv and this monitor as a duel monitor setup. I already have the cords ordered for what I need to do so. My question is, will my computer be able to run (safely) because I have this Kentek 750w power supply that I know isn't good quality, but has worked flawlessly for about 6 months now. I have read how this PSU can only provide about 500w of power and i have done some PSU calculators with my rig and they all fluctuate from around like 200-300-400w needed.

My Rig
AMD FX-6300
XFX AMD Radeon R7 250x
1x8GB DDR3 Ram
Gigabyte AM3+ 78LMT USB3.0 Board
1x7200rpm WD 320GB 3.5" HDD
"750w" Kentek PSU
No Disk Drives of any type.

I plan to use my 1080p monitor for everything but then my 720p TV for my games like CSGO, Minecraft, and eventually I want to get high end games like GTAV (720p doesnt bother me so i figured it would be easier to run games on that then)
I also Plan On buying another 1TB 3.5" 7200rpm HDD soon.
I've been looking into getting a better quality 550-600w PSU but I do not want to spend $50+ right now.

So here are my Questions now that you know all my info

1. Do you think I should upgrade my PSU or should my cheap one be fine for my rig, I do not want to lose any other components if it fries.

2.Will my PC Be able to Handle my duel monitor setup situation without issues ?

3. Once I do decide to buy my second HDD how will that work, do i just plug it in via SATA cable and boot up PC and there it is?

4. If my Computer/HDD with OS were to "crash" and not boot up again and i would need to buy new components, would i have to buy a new OS? Because I do not want to spend 100$ on Windows 10 if it were to happen. (And how could i prevent this from happening, OS only on 320GB Drive?)

Again, I do not want to buy a new PSU unless I have to, i know i will if i upgrade my GPU for sure but I just want to feel "safe". I spent a lot of money on this and i do not want to lose it.

Any further questions, Please Ask! Thanks

 

[Sinistercr0c]

Answers to each Q below:

1. I would upgrade....never heard of Kentek so suspect its not the greatest quality PSU out there.

2. Yes as long as you have the correct cables for your monitor and TV. By definition a single (modern GPU) can output to multiple screens, and via the driver suite you can either extend or clone your desktop. Your GPU has HDMI, DVI and Displayport connections so can support up to four displays.

3. In simple terms yes. Then you have to go into disk management in Windows and format for NTFS using the default block size etc.

4. you can link your OS with Microsoft via a Microsoft email account so when/if you have to re-install windows 10 it will automatically register as a kosher copy. Remember to download the correct version of your OS as an ISO file from the MS site and store safely for future reference.

Hope this helps.

 

[Kkody2]

Answers to each Q below:

1. I would upgrade....never heard of Kentek so suspect its not the greatest quality PSU out there.

2. Yes as long as you have the correct cables for your monitor and TV. By definition a single (modern GPU) can output to multiple screens, and via the driver suite you can either extend or clone your desktop. Your GPU has HDMI, DVI and Displayport connections so can support up to four displays.

3. In simple terms yes. Then you have to go into disk management in Windows and format for NTFS using the default block size etc.

4. you can link your OS with Microsoft via a Microsoft email account so when/if you have to re-install windows 10 it will automatically register as a kosher copy. Remember to download the correct version of your OS as an ISO file from the MS site and store safely for future reference.

Hope this helps.

Responses to Answers
1. Yes, I agree i should upgrade, but this PSU has worked fine for 6 months so far and I don't want to upgrade if I don't really have to. Believe me I want to upgrade to feel safe, but I don't have just $50 lying around to spend. Will there be any warning signs before a powers supply gives out, or will it just poof, dead, along with possibly other components? I already unplug my computer if there is a storm of any sort in case of surges.

2. I feel confident my pc can handle this just fine, It will probably just take me a bit to situate the screens to my liking

3. I have no idea what this means, I probably should but I do not XD. Im assuming its something in the BIOS though.

4. How can I link my MS account with my OS? I log on and use skype and my xbox account and everything with my MS account so is it already linked? And how would it work if It had no OS on it to install it again? A more in Depth process would be nice "just in case" something like this would happen (hopefully not lol) Its windows 10 btw

 

[Sinistercr0c]

OK:
1. No it will usually just go pop when you turn on your PSU....depending on the quality of the protection circuit(s) in your PSU you will either just have a dead PSU or in a worst case, you motherboard and connected devices will fry....

2. Happy days

3. Look in the start menu in Windows...disc management is an administrative tool you can use to manage attached discs...very easy (google is your friend here)

4. http://www.windowscentral.com/how-link-your-windows-10-product-key-microsoft-account

Hope this helps.

 

[Kkody2]

OK:
1. No it will usually just go pop when you turn on your PSU....depending on the quality of the protection circuit(s) in your PSU you will either just have a dead PSU or in a worst case, you motherboard and connected devices will fry....

2. Happy days

3. Look in the start menu in Windows...disc management is an administrative tool you can use to manage attached discs...very easy (google is your friend here)

4. http://www.windowscentral.com/how-link-your-windows-10-product-key-microsoft-account

Hope this helps.

I really do appreciate your help, One last question though, How likely is a "poor quality" PSU to take other components with it. Also idk if this even affects anything but I do hear a little Coil Whining, its doesn't ever bother me though because I always wear a headset.

 

[Sinistercr0c]

The best way to minimise any risk is not to power off the PSU unless you really have to....most PSU's have their own on/off switch and it is normally what is known as the 'inrush current' (for which a good PSU has a protection circuit in the event of a large inrush current spike) when a PSU is powered up via the on/off switch that can kill a PSU.

If the inrush protection circuit is poor quality, the spike will blow the PSU and possibly anything connected to it...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2062319/psu-inrush-current.html

 

[Kkody2]

The best way to minimise any risk is not to power off the PSU unless you really have to....most PSU's have their own on/off switch and it is normally what is known as the 'inrush current' (for which a good PSU has a protection circuit in the event of a large inrush current spike) when a PSU is powered up via the on/off switch that can kill a PSU.

If the inrush protection circuit is poor quality, the spike will blow the PSU and possibly anything connected to it...

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2062319/psu-inrush-current.html

Every Night when i turn off my PC, I turn off that switch so my mouse doesnt light up anymore. Are you saying I shouldnt do that anymore unless there is a thunder storm of any sort where power outages/surges could happen?
How could i check if this Kentek has a good protection circuit.
https://www.amazon.com/KENTEK-120mm-Supply-EPS12V-PCI-Express/dp/B0058WZ1RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482791746&sr=8-1&keywords=750w+kentek
Here is a link to the exact psu I have if you want to do research on it.

I can say I know quite a bit about computers but when it comes to things like Power and Hard Drive stuff, that stuff confuses me.

 

[Sinistercr0c]

Have you read the amazon reviews of that PSU by people who've actually bought it....I'd seriously recommend looking for a sale special on something like a corsair CX600 or EVGA gold rated PSU....there is no easy way to check the quality of the protection circuit unless your a qualified electronics person who knows their way around power circuitry...and I can't find any info on Kentek as a product as no review site has ever done one...which says a lot!

The more often you power up the PSU to more often you risk it going bang....Russian roulette springs to mind.

Save some money, scrounge or borrow from your parents....buy a new good quality PSU and you will have much more peace of mind....it is the one thing people on this forum recommend beyond anything else.

 

[Kkody2]

Have you read the amazon reviews of that PSU by people who've actually bought it....I'd seriously recommend looking for a sale special on something like a corsair CX600 or EVGA gold rated PSU....there is no easy way to check the quality of the protection circuit unless your a qualified electronics person who knows their way around power circuitry...and I can't find any info on Kentek as a product as no review site has ever done one...which says a lot!

The more often you power up the PSU to more often you risk it going bang....Russian roulette springs to mind.

Save some money, scrounge or borrow from your parents....buy a new good quality PSU and you will have much more peace of mind....it is the one thing people on this forum recommend beyond anything else.

I have been worrying about this for some time so i might just have to order one i guess. I don't want to spend more than 50$
What Power Supply would you recommend
500w 550w 600w corsair evga cooler master
You should link me what you think based upon my specs, If i upgrade now i also want room to upgrade my GPU in the future (If that affects much) Amazon is preferred because I have a free trial of Amazon Prime right now lol

 

[Sinistercr0c]

A good quality 5 - 600w gold rated (or even bronze) Corsair CX or EVGA PSU should do the job. The two big hitters power draw wise are your GPU which can pull an additional 90w from its 6 pin connector in addition to the 75w from the PCI-E slot and your CPU is rated for 95w so round it up and add some for headroom....say 300w total, then all your other components (though hard drives, fans, DVD writer etc. will not draw much). 600w should be more than adequate....even 500w. Current generation GPU's draw far less power than previous their older versions so 600w would be reasonably future proof.

Have a look on newegg or pcpartpicker for deals. I'll stop short of recommending a particular PSU as I've been shot down before.

 

[Kkody2]

A good quality 5 - 600w gold rated (or even bronze) Corsair CX or EVGA PSU should do the job. The two big hitters power draw wise are your GPU which can pull an additional 90w from its 6 pin connector in addition to the 75w from the PCI-E slot and your CPU is rated for 95w so round it up and add some for headroom....say 300w total, then all your other components (though hard drives, fans, DVD writer etc. will not draw much). 600w should be more than adequate....even 500w. Current generation GPU's draw far less power than previous their older versions so 600w would be reasonably future proof.

Have a look on newegg or pcpartpicker for deals. I'll stop short of recommending a particular PSU as I've been shot down before.

I'm thinking about spending 60 for the CX600 just to be future proofed and one of the best brands out there. I guess I will just have to wait for the Hard Drive for the future.
Thanks for your help tonight !
Update - I just ordered the Corsair CX600 and is expected to get here on Thursday along with my cords for my duel monitor setup, now lets hope and pray my Kentek PSU doesn't blow. With my luck i could see that happening. Any other ideas to treat this like a baby for 3 days until then?