Support NeoGAF

[xsarien]

If I really wanted to, I could post yet another screed about how UPS is forcing me to upgrade my computer about 9 months before I intended to do so, but I'm so completely drained from the issue that I'll spare the lot of you. After all, this isn't my blog.

Anyway, I have all of the guts picked out, but now it's just a matter of whether or not I need a new power supply. I don't do much outside of my graphic design and web surfing on my PC these days (Maybe the odd game or two). I don't overclock, ergo I don't need about twenty fans, a water tower, and a grey market canister of freon to keep my computer humming along.

Here's the new rig's config, I'm probably going to order it at some point tomorrow. (Or next week.) My question:
I basically need to know if a 300W PSU is kosher

Motherboard:
ABit AN8/nForce4

CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (Venice core)

Memory:
Corsair 512MB x 4 (2GB total)

Video:
ATi All in Wonder x600 Pro

Sound:
Sound Blaster Live xxx (Salvaged from old computer.)

HDD:
Western Digital SATA 150/80GB
Western Digital PATA 133/80GB*

Optical Drive:
DVD-ROM
Plextor CD-RW*


(*Salvaged from old computer, may be damaged)

 

[element]

go with 420 or higher

also spend the extra $40 to get an X700 Pro.

I wouldn't even put the SB Live card in the machine. You will get pretty much the same quality of sound from the on-board audio.

 

[xsarien]

go with 420 or higher

also spend the extra $40 to get an X700 Pro.

Why? The most advanced game I plan on playing this year on my computer is (freakin') Psychonauts. Hell, I think the x600 is overkill.

 

[element]

Why? The most advanced game I plan on playing this year on my computer is (freakin') Psychonauts. Hell, I think the x600 is overkill.

basic chipset difference. When 'future game' comes out needing 'x pixel shader', it probably won't be on the X600. Where it will be on the X700.

Well worth the $40.

 

[xsarien]

basic chipset difference. When 'future game' comes out needing 'x pixel shader', it probably won't be on the X600. Where it will be on the X700.

Well worth the $40.

That's fair, although I should point out that there are so few PC games out that interest me that by the time the next one comes out that I genuinely want, it'll be time to upgrade the entire system again.

Shooters ain't my thing, nor strategy games. And with that, I just eliminated about 90% of PC gaming. I'm pretty much all console/portable these days, as long as you don't count my (very) long term project of moving my 486's guts to something more lightweight. I need my old-school Sierra.

 

[element]

oh wait, you wanted an AIW. Go with the X600 then.

 

[xsarien]

oh wait, you wanted an AIW. Go with the X600 then.

Yeah, it's definitely powerful enough for the likes of Syberia, Longest Journey, and Psychonauts. And I figure I'm more likely to use a video capture function than whatever latest and greatest feature some game I'm not going to play is going to need.

 

[teh_pwn]

Why 2GB of RAM with what you're doing?

 

[Shogmaster]

Why 2GB of RAM with what you're doing?

He said graphic design yo. Read son!

 

[element]

what is the difference between the Venice core and Winchester?

shogo should know.

 

[Shogmaster]

It's got fab process advances to eek out more clockspeeds. Still 90nm. Added SSE3 also.

 

[teh_pwn]

He said graphic design yo. Read son!

nevAr.

And look into an overclocked 56k modem. Yep, definitely an OCed 56k modem.

 

[Diablos]

Venice Core? WTF is that?

 

[NohWun]

I basically need to know if a 300W PSU is kosher

If it's a quality 300W PSU, it should be fine. If it's an el-cheapo that came with the case, I'd consider upgrading. If you upgrade, get one with a 24-pin plug.

Yes, a 20-pin plug should fit and work fine in a 24-pin connector, at least for now, but for future motherboards that may no longer be the case.

 

[ChrisReid]

I basically need to know if a 300W PSU is kosher

Yeah, looks like 300 is fine.. but power supplies are pretty cheap.. A crappy brand 500 watt unit is $15 http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163025 You can get fancy brand 430s for around $30. I'd just find something in the 350-430 range for $20something and call it good.

 

[element]

get this PSU
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159031

great amount of power and dead silent.

 

[BTMash]

With an Athlon64, X600, 2 possible hard drives, and 2 possible optical drives, I'd really suggest atleast 350W. With the exception of the X600 (mine was an AIW 9700 pro), I essentially have the same configuration. But I had a 300W power supply. It was barely enough and really strained the psu. In the end, I have 1 dead hard drive, 1 hard drive that is well on its way to join the dead one, and a dead AIW 9700.

So based off my experience, I'd really suggest getting (at minimum) a quality 350W PSU.

 

[xsarien]

Why 2GB of RAM with what you're doing?

Because to say that Adobe Creative Suite likes to fill up as much memory as possible is like saying Shogmaster kinda doesn't like Apple.

If it's a quality 300W PSU, it should be fine. If it's an el-cheapo that came with the case, I'd consider upgrading. If you upgrade, get one with a 24-pin plug.

It's an Antec, it came with a case I bought three years ago, but have since transplanted. The thing's a tank, to be blunt about it, so I'd rather not get rid of it unless it can't possibly power the new system. 350-400 seems like a reasonable step up, though.

I'm actually pushing the order off until next week. I want to take my time in doing my post-mortem on my computer, which involves running Norton Disk Doctor/chkdsk about five more times until my inherent distrust of technology is satisfied that my data drive is still good.