Power Supply Sizing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pack Fan
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Pack Fan

I'm putting together a dual Xeon 2.66GHz 533MHz system with four 120 GB hard
drives, CDRW and DVD +/-RW and 2 GB of RAM.

How do I go about sizing the power supply? Should I just get a 500 W and
hope that's enough?

Thanks,

Dave
 
Craig said:
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

Craig
Click to expand...

Thanks Craig. Very helpful calculator.

Without being able to specify a dual processor system, I was already just
over 500 W. The extra processor would kick it up to 587 W. I'm hoping that a
500 W PS would still be adequate as the 550 W PS is significantly more
expensive ($70 vs. $110).

There is a disclaimer on the calculator page that reads, in part, "It is
important to bear in mind that this amount will never be reached under
typical operation."

So I'm probably okay at 500 W, no?

Thanks much,

Dave
 
Pack Fan said:
Without being able to specify a dual processor system, I was already just
over 500 W. The extra processor would kick it up to 587 W. I'm hoping that a
500 W PS would still be adequate as the 550 W PS is significantly more
expensive ($70 vs. $110).

There is a disclaimer on the calculator page that reads, in part, "It is
important to bear in mind that this amount will never be reached under
typical operation."

So I'm probably okay at 500 W, no?
Click to expand...

I would think so, definitely. But the other thing to keep in mind is that
no all 500w power supplies are created equal. You can't, of course, trust
the ratings on the box. There are 400w supplies that will do what you want,
and 500w supplies that probably won't. Check reviews on Tom's Hardware,
silentpcreview, etc.
 
If you want to be overly cautious you could use the Antec 550 Watt
True-Power PSU. It's a meaty beast that will drive very large loads for
prolonged periods; it's conservatively rated.
 
ric said:
Your decision. IMO, not enough $$$ is put into the equipment to power
these high end systems. A definite case of "penny wise and pound foolish."
Click to expand...

$200 for a power supply? That's ridiculous.
 
ric said:
For you? Probably. For many others? Not at all.

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/reviews/envynews/index.html
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/reviews/pcstats/index.htm
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/reviews/xt_overclocking/index.html
Click to expand...

"Many others"? Oh really? You just posted a link to the same power supply
3 times. Why I don't know, as it doesn't mention anything at all about how
many people own one. And one of those links says "Of course this
performance comes at quite a steep price, the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool
510-PFC retails for $255 CDN ($189 US) which makes it the most expensive
consumer/desktop PSU on the market."

I repeat - $200 for a power supply is ridiculous. According to the link you
posted yourself, it doesn't even exist.
 
jeffc said:
"Many others"? Oh really? You just posted a link to the same power supply
3 times.
Click to expand...

No. The links were for three different reviews of two different incarnations
of the PSU. Trouble following a link?
I repeat - $200 for a power supply is ridiculous. According to the link you
posted yourself, it doesn't even exist.
Click to expand...

It doesn't exist? What doesn't exist? You mean that *three* separate
companies reviewed a PSU that doesn't exist? The manufacturer posts
specifications for a half dozen versions of a product that doesn't
exist? They have magazine ad photos on a PSU that doesn't exist?

It doesn't exist in your system, that's for sure. But I don't think they'd
bother to create more than a half dozen versions of a product unless there
was a market for it.
 
ric said:
No. The links were for three different reviews of two different incarnations
of the PSU. Trouble following a link?
Click to expand...

"Different incarnations"? You are really stretching your point. 3
different links, all basically the same power supply. Like I said.
It doesn't exist? What doesn't exist? You mean that *three* separate
companies reviewed a PSU that doesn't exist?
Click to expand...

Read again the part that you SNIPPED. "And one of those links says "Of
course this
performance comes at quite a steep price, the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool
510-PFC retails for $255 CDN ($189 US) which makes it the most expensive
consumer/desktop PSU on the market."

Even your own link says it's $189, and says it's the most expensive PSU on
the market. So where is your $200 power supply? I repeat: a $200 power
supply for a PC is ridiculous.
But I don't think they'd bother to create more than a half dozen versions of a product unless there
was a market for it.
Click to expand...

Uh huh. You and P.T. Barnum would get along great.
 
"Many others"? Oh really? You just posted a link to the same power supply
3 times. Why I don't know, as it doesn't mention anything at all about how
many people own one. And one of those links says "Of course this
performance comes at quite a steep price, the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool
510-PFC retails for $255 CDN ($189 US) which makes it the most expensive
consumer/desktop PSU on the market."

I repeat - $200 for a power supply is ridiculous. According to the link you
posted yourself, it doesn't even exist.
Click to expand...
It's great to have something that doesn't exist! Mine happens to be as
solid as a rock. I have too many toys in my box and I have a secure
knowledge every time I look at my VOM that the voltage hardly varies
by a couple hundreds of a volt on the 12 V line. A solid PSU to me is
worth the $200 especially having the knowledge that a very large % of
problems are a result of poorly made and or poor quality components in
a PSU. Pay now or pay more later in $ and sanity. Enough flakey things
happen without voltage problems. I'm sure that some other PSUs that
are less expensive are OK. I just don't like perhaps and maybe OK.
 
VIC said:
It's great to have something that doesn't exist!
Click to expand...

You didn't get the point. The link said at $189, it was the most expensive
power supply on the market. 189 not = 200.
Mine happens to be as
solid as a rock. I have too many toys in my box and I have a secure
knowledge every time I look at my VOM that the voltage hardly varies
by a couple hundreds of a volt on the 12 V line. A solid PSU to me is
worth the $200 especially having the knowledge that a very large % of
problems are a result of poorly made and or poor quality components in
a PSU. Pay now or pay more later in $ and sanity. Enough flakey things
happen without voltage problems. I'm sure that some other PSUs that
are less expensive are OK. I just don't like perhaps and maybe OK.
Click to expand...

Sure, you can spend that much if you want, but you're not getting the most
expensive one. I have one that I'm selling for $500. You can not buy it if
you want, if you want to be cheap. The point is, I'm sure your power supply
is fine. I'm also sure you paid twice as much as you needed to. $100 for a
power supply is beyond the "perhaps" and "maybe OK" range. I repeat: paying
$200 for a power supply for a home PC is silly. But that's marketing for
you. No matter how much you set your price at, SOMEONE will buy it.
 
jeffc said:
"Different incarnations"? You are really stretching your point. 3
different links, all basically the same power supply. Like I said.
Click to expand...

Three different *reviews* numb nutz, *REVIEWS*.
Read again the part that you SNIPPED. "And one of those links says "Of
course this
performance comes at quite a steep price, the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool
510-PFC retails for $255 CDN ($189 US) which makes it the most expensive
consumer/desktop PSU on the market."
Click to expand...

And where does it say that this product "doesn't exist", as you maintain?
 
..
Sure, you can spend that much if you want, but you're not getting the most
expensive one. I have one that I'm selling for $500. You can not buy it if
you want, if you want to be cheap. The point is, I'm sure your power supply
is fine. I'm also sure you paid twice as much as you needed to. $100 for a
power supply is beyond the "perhaps" and "maybe OK" range. I repeat: paying
$200 for a power supply for a home PC is silly. But that's marketing for
you. No matter how much you set your price at, SOMEONE will buy it.
Click to expand...

That is marketing for you.. When I saw a 6 foot long piece of "special
wire" to go from a sound system to the wall socket selling for slightly over
$ 100 I knew anyting could be sold for any price. What good would 6 feet of
"special wire" do when about 50 feet of regular wire goes to the fuse box.
It is about as good as the 50 watt or more computer speakers that are
powered by a wall cube.
 
Sure, you can spend that much if you want,
Click to expand...

I did and am comfortable with it for this box AND future boxes.


but you're not getting the most
expensive one. I have one that I'm selling for $500.
Click to expand...

And it may be only worth $10

You can not buy it if
you want, if you want to be cheap. The point is, I'm sure your power supply
is fine. I'm also sure you paid twice as much as you needed to. $100 for a
power supply is beyond the "perhaps" and "maybe OK" range. I repeat: paying
$200 for a power supply for a home PC is silly. But that's marketing for
you. No matter how much you set your price at, SOMEONE will buy it.
Click to expand...
Who are you to judge, being ignorant of the situation, what's silly?
The trouble with info coming from these net sourceses is what is
correst. For all I know your a teeney bopper, I know there are some
very good ones, just mirroring what they heard 6th hand somewhere. How
about overlooking the $200 and look at what it buys compared to a $ 40
600 watt " Last FOR Ever Warrenty" CPU. For instance what happens in a
older house and or wiring when the electric heat and freezer kick on
at the same time, add to that the electric hot water heater and
perhaps Suzys hair drier on the same line. Then the oven etc. etc.

I'm cheap but I'll pay extra for peace of mind when my DVOM hardly
budges all day.
 
Pack Fan said:
I'm putting together a dual Xeon 2.66GHz 533MHz system with
four 120 GB hard drives, CDRW and DVD +/-RW and 2 GB of RAM.

How do I go about sizing the power supply? Should I just get a
500 W and hope that's enough?
Click to expand...

www.takaman.jp has a power supply calculator that goes into great
detail and gives not only an estimate of the total power but also the
the amp ratings for each voltage rail. Unfortunately it doesn't allow
choosing more than two HDs or two CDs/DVDs and doesn't support dual
CPUs, but you can try adding and deleting a CPU or drive to see how
much power and current it draws.

www.newegg.com and www.directron.com sell the very good
Fortron/Sparkle PSUs for very good prices, and it seems if you need
something bigger than 350W then there's not much cost difference
between 500W and smaller PSUs.
 
[ article at www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1399&page=3 ]
And one of those links says "Of course this performance comes at
quite a steep price, the PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 510-PFC
retails for $255 CDN ($189 US) which makes it the most expensive
consumer/desktop PSU on the market."

I repeat - $200 for a power supply is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Especially when it doesn't have protection against overheating, and
PCP&C said that none of their PSUs has thermal shutdown, not even as
an extra-cost option.
 
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