EggXpert

Hello all.  I am building my first computer.  So far, I have purchased the following:

2.4 GHz Intel Core2 Duo, MSI P6N Platinum motherboard, 2 GB RAM, 254MB EVGA video card.

I am also in the process of purchasing a hard drive, dvd/cd burner.  Need some suggestions on a power supply.  I imagine that a 500W power supply will be plenty for my purposes (I don't do much extreme gaming).  From reading the forums, it seems that Thermaltake is a great brand.  Anyone have any thoughts on the best brand for a 500W PSU?  I am looking to spend under $100 if possible, perhaps closer to $60 would be nice.  Thanks for your help.

Hi,

What EVGA 256MB graphics card did you purchase?

The reason I ask is different video cards draw different wattage / amperage. and alot of the times its one of the most power hungry piece of hardware in the computer. Telling us the exact card will be able to let us give you the right choice.

Wasper

Hi,

These would be the cheapest 500w power supplies I would recommend.

XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W ATX 500W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, CUL, TUV, CB, VDE, FIMKO, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO - Retail

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-PN, ATX12V, V2.2, 12cm Fan, 2SATA, PCI-Express, 500W Power Supply 110-120/ 220-240V UL, CSA, VDE, NEMKO, TUV, CE, CB, FCC - Retail

The Xclio GoodPower is a nice unit, especially for the price. The FSP is more exspensive, but it has more amperage across the +12v rails then the Xclio.I f it was me buying it, I would go for the FSP.

Wasper

The Thermaltake PurePower line is a quality line.

What model of Graphics card are you using (i.e. a 7600GS?  7600GT?  7950GTX?), as this will make the most difference (i.e. a 7950 can use more than twice the power of a 7600GS).

I am currently running a 430W ThermalTake PurePower with no problems whatsoever.  My setup is as follows:

AMD 64 X2 4200+ (65W like your Core2).
4GIG Corsair DDR2.
7600GTS (Overclocked 7600GS) w/ 256
4x200Gig Maxtor SATA in a Raid5
1xDVD ROM
1xDVD RAM/RW
1xCDRW
TV Tuner
Sound Card
Additional NIC (Network)
5 Case Fans + GPU + Northbridge all running off my PSU.

I would recommend this PS if you don't intend on upgrading much further (i.e. if you go to SLI it will definately not be enough).  If you want a little more, you could go with the 500W PurePower for only 15-20 bucks more.

Wasper-  I bought an EVGA e-GeForce 7600 GS (DDR2, 256 MB, PCI-E).  Not top of the line by today's standards, but should get the job done.  Thanks.

Hellpimp-  Thanks for the suggestions.  Currently, I do not plan on upgrading my system for awhile.  However, you never know what bug might bite me in the future.  The motherboard I bought left me the possibility to upgrade to a quad core.  If a 430W unit will take care of my needs though, it would be nice to save on electricity.  I guess stepping up to 500W for only $15 won't break the bank though.  Thanks.

ctfils:

If a 430W unit will take care of my needs though, it would be nice to save on electricity.  I guess stepping up to 500W for only $15 won't break the bank though.  Thanks.

A big misconception is that a higher wattage psu will consume more electricity from the wall. If your pc pulls 210W from your current 400W psu, you could have an 800W psu and it still only sees a 210W load. However efficiency does play a role in how much energy is wasted as heat. If you want to save electricity buy an 80%+ efficient psu.

210W @ 80% eff pulls 262W from the wall
210W @ 70% eff pulls 300W from the wall

48W / 1000 (kWhr) * 24 (hrs) * .15 (cents per kWhr - you may pay more or less) * 30 (days) = $5.18 savings per month

EliteKiller- Thanks for the information.  I had no idea.

These two are 80% psus and would be good choices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104034

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189014

This is 85% http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189012

That's true, efficiency is a problem, and you usually need active power-factor-correction (PFC) to get good efficiency.  But again, you get what you pay for.

But you also have to read the fine print, many PSUs rate their efficiency at maximum draw, and are usually less efficient at lower power draws.  Its all semantics, but a 800W PSU at 85% may not be as efficient if you are only pulling 400W from it (though all the 500W PSUs above are closer to what you need).  I would have to break out my old Analog Components book from college to get into more detail.

Thermaltake makes an active-PFC version of the 430W PSU, part number W0069..., but I don't think NewEgg sells it.  

I'd definitely go with the XClio StablePower or the modular (a GreatPower...for a great price :p) 500w.

I might be biased, but for a good reason :)
 

Thanks for the help everyone.  At first, I didn't think buying a PSU would be so difficult.  I went with the XCLIO Goodpower 500W.  The customer reviews on it were excellent.  I am a big fan of the customer ratings and advice of others since I am a lowly embryo.  Thanks again.