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PSU based on watt draw

A

awdark

[H]ard|Gawd
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Mar 22, 2003
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Hi I don't know if this is answered anywhere but lets say I measured the wattage my computer draws based on a Kill-A-Watt meter.

Would that be a good benchmark on the wattage I will need?

I have a FSP350 watt psu, it's running a i3 setup just fine. Right now I'm tempted to buy a video card rather than use the intel video and I don't know how much headroom I have.
 
Would that be a good benchmark on the wattage I will need?
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Make sure you add at least 35% extra over the full load bandwidth. 25% to keep the supply under 75% load and 10% for inaccuracy of the meter. Do something that excersizes all cores/threads of your CPU 100% and at the same time exorcizes your CPU. I would expect Intel Burn Test in combination with a GPU benchmark program would be pretty good.
 
drescherjm said:
Make sure you add at least 35% extra over the full load bandwidth. 25% to keep the supply under 75% load and 10% for inaccuracy of the meter. Do something that excersizes all cores/threads of your CPU 100% and at the same time exorcizes your CPU. I would expect Intel Burn Test in combination with a GPU benchmark program would be pretty good.
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What....?

OCCT PSU test (runs simultaneous LinX and Furmark) would be a good program to run.

If anything, you subtract 20% from the Kill-a-watt reading due to power supply inefficiency to get actual computer load. Since I think that is an older power supply, the number might be closer to 25%.

The PSU you need highly depends on the graphics card you plan to upgrade to. For something on the GTS450/HD6850 level or lower, you don't need to upgrade. With a GTX 560 or 6950 or lower, I would say a CX430 would be fine. With a 580, I would recommend at least a 500 watt power supply.
 
I was more concerned to not load the power supply more than 75% under a full load condition. In this case (keeping the supply at 75% load or lower) the OP can use the power supply inefficiency as a ballpark 25% so he would not need to add or subtract anything and get a reasonable number.
 
You mght br able to get an Antec EA650 Grreen from MWAVE for $50. or just wait for a newegg rebate sale or low price..
Or buy a video card and upgrade if needed.
What monitor and resolution is involved? This should define need/wants.
 
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drescherjm said:
I was more concerned to not load the power supply more than 75% under a full load condition. In this case (keeping the supply at 75% load or lower) the OP can use the power supply inefficiency as a ballpark 25% so he would not need to add or subtract anything and get a reasonable number.
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Not loading a power supply to more than 75% is just mythical BS spread by internet rumors. A good quality power supply can handle 100% load for extended periods of time without any damage or decrease in quality. Besides, who runs their computer at 100% load full time unless they are folding? General desktop usage runs about 20% load or less, and gaming rarely exceeds 70-80% total load, if a power supply is matched to the maximum theoretical power usage of the computer.
 
Yeah it's a older psu, I bought it when 24 pin ATX power connectors were non-standard and I had to get an adapter to make it fit on my 20pin mobo haha.

I would be running on a 19" LCD so its just 1280x1024 I have a 7600gt oc and a x800 both don't need extra power but they are rather ancient. But I have yet to try either cards.
I'll go measure it under load when I get home and I think I will have a better feel of the needs in my setup. Thank you for all your input. :)
 
awdark said:
Yeah it's a older psu, I bought it when 24 pin ATX power connectors were non-standard and I had to get an adapter to make it fit on my 20pin mobo haha.

I would be running on a 19" LCD so its just 1280x1024 I have a 7600gt oc and a x800 both don't need extra power but they are rather ancient. But I have yet to try either cards.
I'll go measure it under load when I get home and I think I will have a better feel of the needs in my setup. Thank you for all your input. :)
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Which i3 do you have, the sandy bridge one or the first gen? If it's the sandy bridge, then chances are the i3's integrated graphics is more powerful than both your cards. Not sure where the first gen i3 stacks, probably roughly equal.
 
It's a first gen i3 540, I got it at a very reasonable price and its replacing my 939 setup. =] Ill see what I can find.
 
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