underpowerd system

[pHatmHat]

hi,

i have recently bought a new graphics card (radeon 9800 pro) and the coolmaster aero 7 + cpu fan.

i am worried that i may not have a good enough PSU from what i have been reading around the forum. this is my current system:
MSI MS-6712
amd athlon 1800 XP
coolmaster Aero 7+
768 DDR Ram
Radeon 9800 pro
7200 hard drive
dvd drive
cdrw drive
Network Card
2 X 120mm Case fans

i currently have a SCL (think it is generic but thats the logo on the side of it) 300W PSU

the problem is i dont have enough money to buy a new PSU for a while.

My system seems to be running fine, but i want to know if i am causing any of my components any damage and if so how they are being damaged. as i do not want to damage my shiny new 9800 pro.

thanks,

matt sreeves

 

[kinetic_tw]

I wouldnt worry about it unless you're having problems with your computer acting strangely. You're probably pushing the limits of your current PSU, but I wouldnt be concerned unless you run into trouble.

You can look in to upgrading to a Fortron 350 or 400 watter, as those are probably the best value PSU out there currently.

 

[pHatmHat]

thanks for that info,

here are a couple more questions:

1)if do start to notice my system acting stangely though what kind of damage could i be doing to my pc? as i have had about 3 random restarts in about 4-5 days should i be worried by this? as apart from that my system has been stable.

2)do you have any links to any uk sites that sell fortron 350W or 400W?

3)does anybody know of any decent quiet power supplies? as my current one is the loudest component of my pc.

thanks,

matt

 

[upec]

I would not consider a computer that random restarts 3 time in about 4-5 days as running fine.

 

[upec]

I would recommend Enermax PSU. I have good experience with their PSU. April issue of Computer Power User magazine's cover story is the review of three $5,000+ PC from Falcon Northwest, Maingear and Voodoo PC and all 3 manufacturers use Enermax PSU for their show-horses. It is a better indicator for the quality of PSU then hardware review site. I read a article from a magazine a while ago compare products purchse on the market and products send to them by manufacturer for review and they find out that some product on the market perform a lot worst than the product send to them by the manufacturer.
The PC Manufacturer have more resource to test the quality of PSU and the PSU manufacturers cannot just delivery a high quality PSU for review since they will have to supply the PSUs for production unit too.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by upec on 04/11/04 08:12 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[pHatmHat]

hi,

thanks for that i think i will get a new enermax psu then as they have adjustable fan speed control!!. do you know if either of these are good models and are the prices ive stated good?
Enermax EG465AX-VE(G)(FMA) 460W ATX Power Supply (CA-004-EN) - £66.86
Enermax EG365AX-VE(G)(FMA) 350W ATX Power Supply (CA-003-EN) - £45.24

my only problem is that i do not have much money at the moment so i might not be able to buy one until the end of the month. will i be damaging my components by running them on my current power supply? if so could you tell me how they would be damaged eg by heat.

thanks,

matt

 

[tombance]

Matt you can get a 400 watt Fortron <A HREF="http://www.microdirect.co.uk/productlister.aspx?GroupID=505" target="_new">Here</A> for £40, and if you trust crashman that would probably be about as good as the enermax 465 watt.

Btw im having a lan party this tuesday, can you come? I'll phone you somewhen anyway.

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7454540" target="_new">Yay, I Finally broke the 12k barrier!!</A>

 

[pHatmHat]

hi,

yeh i can come on tuesday night. what times is it? i might not be able to get round until 4pm -6pmish.

Do you know what damage i am doing my computer by using my current PSU?

thanks for the link btw alot cheaper than the enermax one off oc'ers

thanks

matt

 

[tombance]

Koopa said he would try to get here at 2pm, and im not sure about Andy B, and I havent phoned the Tidy's or Newton's yet.

I doubt you'll be doing any damage at all. Is it crashing at all? And if you put your hand round by the PSU fan is the air REALLY hot? If not I think you'll be alright. Anyway I'll phone you tomorrow (probably).

See you later

Tom

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7454540" target="_new">Yay, I Finally broke the 12k barrier!!</A>

 

[tombance]

O yeah did you fit the Aero 7+ yourself? If so well done on not breaking your processor!

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=7454540" target="_new">Yay, I Finally broke the 12k barrier!!</A>

 

[pHatmHat]

hi,

yeah i [-peep-] up the heatsink paste tho i put on like 2-3mm think splodge coz i didnt know what i was doing lol. but then i read on the internet and i cleaned it all up and redid it. i might need you to check it but im getting about 55degrees which is pretty good considering the case temp is 33.

hear from you tomorow

matt