Is this PSU Strong enough?

[bimbim18]

I am now building my new computer system and I have a PSU already that I actually bought last year.

It's an Ultra Xfinity 500W PSU
http://www.ultraproducts.com/product...&productID=384

Do you think this will be powerful enough to run a new system with:

Core 2 Duo E6850
640MB 8800 GTS (GTO maybe) and possibly a 2nd one later for SLI
2 dvd drives
1 HDDs (500 GB) - adding a second one later

fans (1x 200mm & about 4x 120mm)

[richardginn]

one 8800GT instead of the 8800GTS imo.

if you go SLI 500WATTS is going to be cutting it close.

[Buckeye Kid]

Use an online wattage calculator to determine if your system will run (and how well) with that PSU.

Based off the online calculator, if your required 'load' wattage exceeds 400w, it's probably time to get a new PSU (within 20% of the max wattage).

Contrary to popular belief, 500w is usually enough to run any system.

[bimbim18]

one 8800GT instead of the 8800GTS imo.

Sorry my bad, I thought they were going to name it the GTO

[bimbim18]

I found this one here:
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

on a 80% load (although it recommends 90%) with all the fans and other doodads and SLI 8800 640mb GTXs (I aimed high to be on the safe side) it recommends 461 W

with dual 640 mb 8800GTS' at 90% load it recommends 478W

Maybe I'll see if they update it soon and see what the 8800GT requires. (I thought it was gonna be more efficient power consumption-wise but it looks to be a decent amount more powerful. Does anyone know about this? All I keep reading about is more shaders and such but havn't seen anything about power requirements.

BTW Buckeye Kid, Thanks. I didn't even know such a monster existed. It was kinda fun to see how tossing in different components would effect my power consumption.

[Buckeye Kid]

Here is a link on the power consumption for several of the 8800 cards, incl the new 8800GT.

It appears you will be fine (based on your prior estimates) if you SLi the 8800GTs with the 500w PSU you have. SLi'ed 8800GTs use up a bit less power than the 8800GTS 320mb, which I assume use up a little bit less power than the 640mb edition.

[Buckeye Kid]

A typical system will be fine with a 400w PSU. This includes a CPU, mainboard, 2 sticks of RAM, an 8 series video card (such as the 8800GTS 320mb), 1 HDD, 1 CD/DVD drive, a few system/ case fans, and the mouse and keyboard.

Many online recommendations suggest 500w PSUs or more, but the truth is 99% of people with even an average high-end computer won't need 500w. Only if you have multiple HDDs, CD/DVD drives, a high end video card (or 2) and several case fans (or a power eating CPU which is overclocked).

Don't overspend on a PSU if you don't have to. Be realistic in what you will stick in your box, now and in the future, and you can get years and years of use out of a good PSU. Buying a 1000w PSU is pointless. This is why I always recommend the Enermax Liberty 400w PSU, and before it was discontinued I recommended the equavent Antec PSU (SP500). Both have plenty of wattage and are modular!

I used the online power tool you linked and built and average gaming rig with a single 8800GTS 320mb in it and got 306w as required, just to give everyone an idea of a typical system build requirement.

[mr_oh_so_ice]

I second Buckeye Kid's recommendation. I have the 500watt variant of the Enermax Liberty and it does the job quite nicely.