Is 300w enough for this sys?

**ArcticFox** · December 15th, 2003, 12:56 AM

I currently use a basic, Enermax 300w for my:

AthlonXP 2500+ OC'd to 3200+ (1.83Ghz to 2.2Ghz, stock voltage, 400Mhz FSB)

Asus A7N8X Deluxe
2x 256mb DDR400
Ti 4200 @ 300/500
Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm
LiteOn 40x12x48
SB Audigy

I'm planning on adding an ATI 9800np sometime, but need to know if I should get that Antec True480 I've been eyeing first. Anyone got a similar config/advice/anything??

Thanks!

**Omardeth** · December 15th, 2003, 01:00 AM

i wouldn't think so but it also depends on the rails . try it before you buy a new power supply . it might werk out .

**ArcticFox** · December 15th, 2003, 01:02 AM

Well the rails are all within tolerable, but not spot-on as this is just a basic, no-frills PS.

**fourthbean** · December 15th, 2003, 01:18 AM

I have the same basic setup with the 2500+ oced and a 9800np and it is running just fine with my 300watt sparkle.

**ArcticFox** · December 15th, 2003, 01:23 AM

If your running the same as I will be with a Sparkle of all things, I feel much relieved about things.

I do plan on upgrading to a True480 anyways, it's just that I scored some extra cash and want to get a 9800 first rather than second.

**Shawn711** · December 15th, 2003, 01:40 AM

I have the A7N8X Deluxe with a Soundblaster live platinum soundcard, Radeon 9600 np video card, WD 100 Gig hd, Sony 52x cd burner, and generic 10x DVD drive and had a Powmax 400 watt power supply which ran great for about 6 mos. but ended up having to replace it when I started getting errors, random reboots etc. That was the second "cheap" 400 watt power supply that I've had in this system since I put it together and learned that skimping on the power supply is really not the way to go on any board, but especially with the A7N8X.......I have a A7V that has been running with a "cheap" 400 watter for about 3 yrs. with no problem, but it seems that this board demands a better power source.........I went with an Antec True 430 and it resolved all my problems and even increased my processor speed slightly..... with the generics it my XP 2200+ was running about 1.797 Ghz and now with the Antec, it is running about 1.804 Ghz stock.........I believe it is actually running cooler as well, because of the more stable and steady power source and probably running much more efficiently.......I personally would recommend buying the better power supply first since they are not as likely to drop in price with newer models, but video cards seem to drop quite frequently with newer technologies .......plus, your power supply could start acting as mine did without any warning.......even more likely with the smaller power supply and overclocking........hope that helps

Shawn

**ArcticFox** · December 15th, 2003, 01:44 AM

Thanks for the info Shawn. The reason is that I may be able to get a 9800 this Christmas if I can eek out another $100 or so from my rich grandparents.

What I may end up doing is getting the card, trying it for a bit to make sure it works, and put it off until I get a bigger power supply.

**RamonGTP** · December 15th, 2003, 05:53 AM

I've got a pretty similar config with one difference... I'm running an Enermax 350 watt psu. The system looks something like this

EPoX 8RDA+
2x512 PC2700 Corsair XMS @ 2.77 volts
Barton 2500+@3200+ @ 1.7 vcore
BBA 9800 Pro
DVDRW
DVD-ROM
7200RPM 8MB Cache Western Digital HDD
6 Case fans (2 lighted)
2 Cold Cathode tubes
Audigy 2 Platinum
Dazzle Video capture card
TV Tuner card
SCSI card (for an old scanner)
Modem

Thats about everything and I don't have a problem with it, but you're also running 50 watts less so basically I agree with what was said earlier... Try it and see.

**ArcticFox** · December 15th, 2003, 11:08 AM

That's a tonne of stuff.....I feel even better now.

**thegladiatorgy** · December 16th, 2003, 02:27 PM

That PSU probably be adequate. I have a 400W Allied with 5 HDs, 3 CD drives plus the usual specs.

**ArcticFox** · December 16th, 2003, 03:44 PM

What's the worst thing that could happen if my PS won't handle the extra stuff, along with the GB of RAM I plan on adding?

**RamonGTP** · December 16th, 2003, 05:56 PM

Generally what will happen is you'd see system instability. If the PSU is overloaded TOO much one of two things could happen. A good quality PSU will just turn itself off, a cheaply manufactured one could fry itself, and possibly anything thats hooked up to it... That being said, Enermax makes good PSU's.

**dafanman** · December 16th, 2003, 06:26 PM

ArcticFox,
Wow, you folks sure like living dangerously

Here's to hoping that you dont have problems, and just to give you something else to consider, scroll down to where they are discussing power supply issues for nforce 2 boards.
Choosing the right power supply

Scroll down on this one 2nd or 3rd paragraph

**brandon184** · December 16th, 2003, 06:49 PM

It'll work just fine.

**RamonGTP** · December 16th, 2003, 11:50 PM

Originally posted by dafanman
ArcticFox,
Wow, you folks sure like living dangerously
Here's to hoping that you dont have problems, and just to give you something else to consider, scroll down to where they are discussing power supply issues for nforce 2 boards.
Choosing the right power supply

Scroll down on this one 2nd or 3rd paragraph

I don't agree with what that guy is saying in the second link you posted... He's reccomending a 480 or better for a modern PC... You really don't need that much unless you're running a raid array of 15k rpm SCSI drives, dual processors and 4GB of RAM. My system which is fairly power hungry (specs listed above in previous post) runs perfectly stable on a 350 watt enermax.

**ArcticFox** · December 17th, 2003, 12:02 PM

Yeah I won't be running anything really intensive, just one drive, a vid card/sound card and the usual stuff. I do overclock, and I haven't been able to get my 2500+ to more than a 3200+, even with a small voltage increase. My PS may have something to do with that, but I don't have a better one laying around to test it!

**RamonGTP** · December 17th, 2003, 02:53 PM

Its quite common not to be able to go past 3200+, some can do it, but a lot can't... Which is why I always say, there is probably a good reason why 3200+ is the fastest Barton you can buy

**KarenMarie** · December 17th, 2003, 07:21 PM

this is what I just got delivered yesterday. I cannot wait to install it.

I have:
Gigabyte GA-7NNXP
Athlon 3200+ Barton and cooling
3x 512mb DDR 3200
FX5600 256mb Graphics Card
2x 120GB 72,000rpm HDDs
Lite-on DVD -R/w +R/W
Lite on CD +R/W -R/W
Augidy Platinum EX
KDS 17in LCD
Altec Lansing #251 5.1 gamers speakers

**RamonGTP** · December 17th, 2003, 08:51 PM

That should be a good system. Can't say I would have done the same though with that Barton 3200+... The fact that its more expensive than a P4 3.0C and performs under a P4 2.8C turns me off to it... Those 72,000 rpm hard drives should scream though!

**KarenMarie** · December 17th, 2003, 08:57 PM

I have a P4 in my laptop and my daughter has one in the desktop she bought. I am not a big fan. I build approx. 5 systems a year.. i am such a tech pig.

so this system doesnt seem overly fast unless I use someone else's system. Then I cannot wait to get home to mine!

But i dont wanna hijack the thread. I am very excited to get the new PSU in this system. IT arrived yesterday, and with what i have read about it, I would recommend it to anyone.