PSU suggestions for first build

[t3hdarkpanda]

Hello, all! I've borrowed some from July 2010 $550 System Build Marathon, but I'm unsure of the power requirements for this build, and for future upgrades. I don't want to do any OCing, and I want to keep it to a single, discrete card (hence the mATX case/mobo). Also the SSD will be used as a boot drive and storage of iTunes library. I have an older WD 250GB 7200rpm I want to use as storage for games etc. Looking forward to your suggestions:

AMD Athlon II X3 435 2.9GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Processor
BIOSTAR A785G3 AM3 AMD 785G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard
CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16
OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
COOLER MASTER Elite 341 RC-341C-KKN1-GP Black Steel MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case (4x120mm fans)

The System Build Marathon suggested a:

Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3 500W

I'm hesitant on going with this PSU for two reasons.

1.) Never had a Cooler Master PSU before, and the reviews via newegg are only about 75% good
2.) Will 500W be enough to support a X3 proc, (possibly unlocked to an X4) mid-range PC? And be "future proofed" against a beefier card, an additional SSD, and two larger sticks of RAM?

I've always been partial to Corsair. Have had nothing but success from their RAM and PSUs, but they are pricier. I had my eye on:

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2

It's $40 more, but then I'd feel safer buying it. Again, though, would a 550W be sufficient for the aforementioned upgrades?

 

[Alvin Smith]

first ... a little update ... you may wish to consider a 440 CPU ...

500 Watts is good, even if you add a HDD .. 600 would almost be overkill.

Corsair, if you can afford it.

 

[Alvin Smith]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

 

[t3hdarkpanda]

I've scoped that 550W Corsair, and I'm thinking it would be sufficient even if I, eventually, got something like the 5970 in there. Why would you suggest the 440 over the 435 other than the .1Ghz increase?

 

[Alvin Smith]

If you are going to OC (or buy an after-market cooler), the 435 (OEM) comes without a stock cooler for $67 ...

ATM ... The 435 RETAIL is not available at eggtown.usa (out of stock) but it is priced at one dollar higher than the 440 RETAIL, anyway ...

It might also be (not sure) if the multiplier allows for better OC ovrhead, but you don't care, anyway.

Bottom line ? ... if you are going to buy a better cooler than the RETAIL stock cooler, then you can save ~$8 towards the price of that cooler, by ordering the $67 OEM version of the 435 (which does not come with the needed cooler) ... and the only reason you might do that (since you are not going to OC) is if you need the rig to be especially quiet (HTPC/DAW) ...

... Otherwise, the 440 is a lil'-bit faster and a buck cheaper and also happens to be in stock and also comes with the required cooler.

All of this is strictly within the context of newegg.com (USA).


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&N=100007671&IsNodeId=1&PropertyCodeValue=507%3A50076&bop=And&Order=PRICE&PageSize=100


= Al =

 

[t3hdarkpanda]

I had forgotten to mention that I had planned on getting an additional cooler, but further reading on these forums show that even with unlocking the fourth core the stock cooler is sufficient to keep it sub 58*C under heavy stress. Thanks - saved me $22!

 

[t3hdarkpanda]

Best answer selected by t3hdarkpanda.

 

[4745454b]

I would think that even the Corsair 400W would be fine. The 5770 is a really power efficient chip. We're talking 8800GT power use here. Total system needs around 22A. Anything higher then the 400W is just gravy. The 450W or better would be fine as well.

 

[Alvin Smith]

he sure ain't gonna SLI, w/uATX an' I dint see a HDD, either. .... gonna need a fan or two, tho.


... only runnin' 2GB DDR, too ... ATM