Is my power supply sufficient?

[agw_01]

I just checked my cheapo 300w PSU that I got with my case and these are its specs...

Total Output : 300 watts max
+5v & +3.3v Combined Load : 160 watts

+3.3v : 20A
+5v : 30A
+12v : 10A
+5v Standby : 2A

-5v : 0.5A
-12v : 0.8A

These are the software statistics.



Can someone please tell me what the specs on your power supplies are. Im looking for any PSU, from a sub-standard 300w, to a 550w antec or enermax.

I was thinking of getting a cheap 550w Dual-Fan Power Supply from a supplier on eBay, but including vat/p+p, that would cost about £37 UKP. £3 cheaper than a 350w Enermax

The specs of that 550w PSU were +3.3v : 10A and +5v : 20A so im going with the enermax (soon)

Thanks.

[Dave_B]

I'm surprised your system even posts with those readouts. The ATX spec allows for 5% variance, so with the +5V rail at 4.49V you're well below the 4.75V low limit. Then there's your +12V rail at only +11.01V and the VIO at 3.1V. For your system, +5v & +3.3v Combined Load should be a minimum of 180 watts.
This is the most important spec since the capability of any PS on each rail measured independently isn't a true rating. My Antec PP412X 400W PS is rated at 245W +5v & +3.3v Combined Load and is currently running dual XP 2400+'s in a box with a RAID 0 array.

Only combined ratings matter since that's the way your system actually works. But you should go higher to allow for future upgrades. Antec's ratings are very conservative and even their cheapest 400W SL-series PS will be fine for you.

[Justintime]

Dave, you're looking at it wrong, the status on the extreme right in green is the actual readout, you're looking at the low limit.

The 5v is at 5v flat, the vio is at 3.47, +12 at 12.35V. Those are healthy readings, so yes its adequate.

[DuronClocker]

Don't try running a P4 on that power supply....10A on the 12v isn't nearly enough. However, it should suit an Athlon system just fine, as yours seems to be doing.

Don't think you need a new power supply just yet..

[Dave_B]

Originally posted by Justintime
Dave, you're looking at it wrong, the status on the extreme right in green is the actual readout, you're looking at the low limit.

You are correct sir!

[agw_01]

lol Dave. Sorry, I should have said about the readings being on the far right.

Justintime and DuronClocker, thanks.

Glad to know that im not gonna get woken up in the night by a loud BANG!!!! and find my new motherboard toasted

A friend of mine's power supply recently died so I thought I better check to see if mine was about to do the same, and with me just upgrading my graphics card and motherboard, I wasn't sure whether this would be putting a lot more load on this thing.

I might be adding another 40gb Seagate hard disk soon and set the drives as RAID0 (like you Dave), so I will have to see how things go.

Thanks again.

[flat-v8]

A loud BANG! Thats exactly what my son heard when his whole system fried because of a chepo PS w/ 160w dc output, and no fuse protection. But all was ok for a long time until he added a burner and a Zip drive, + a mild OC on a T-Bird 1200. He must have reached its limit.

[agw_01]

flat-v8, were his previous readings like mine... ok? or did they show a bit of consistency?

[flat-v8]

I have no idea what the readings were before she blew, he took off to college w/PC. But I rebuilt it for him. The PS that failed was an LGS non P-4, non 2.1 spec that came in the case, but it was a 300 watter. I guess adding more stuff to a system without first checking current readings is a gamble.

[agw_01]

Ahhhh I see. My PSU says that it is P4 compliant, but could possibly be pushing out no more than 220/250 watts

I might get an Enermax or Antec soon, as I want to get a RAID0 set up in there.

[flat-v8]

I bought a cheap but very good PS unit from Newegg for mine. Its a ENHANCE 300w P-4 2.1 spec and built like a tank! 200w DC output with all output line fuse (breaker) protected, and the auto fuse protection works! I accidently shorted 12v fan wires once, and it completely shut down, then auto resets in a minute or two. Very good unit for $28.00 Also check the ALLIED PS, its about the same.

[agw_01]

Woah. That sounds cool. There aren't many cheap-brand PSUs with all the additional shut-off devices these days.

I know I had an old Macase 250w ATX in my old K6-2, and that was quite well built. Featured the same short-cut out circuit and shutdown.

In fact, that PSU saved my old Iwill motherboard during a power surge