PSU wattage check!

[bencho]

Back to basics... Haven't put a pc together in quite a while...

Will an Antec Earthwatts 430 suffice this build? I go the PSU free from cousin who got it free with his build and not sure if this will suffice. I won't be clocking the 8400 much. I might try my luck and bump it to 3.5

e8400
gigabyte mATX
2x1GB Gskill DDR2 800
Sony Burner
XFX 7600GT
Audigy 2
Wireless N card
Two HDD, 500gb + another 500gb or 750gb

Thank you

 

[ordovician]

Yes, it will handle it fine. If you had a big powerful video card like a 5800-series, I might second guess it a bit, but for that config it's plenty.

 

[PC_User]

It is enough for that system.

 

[bencho]

Cool Thanks,

If I do up the gfx card later on... what's the most it would handle?

 

[TehQuick]

That's prolly that's the most it can handle. It's an old PSU, isn't it? If so, its wattage capability might be lower than rated.

 

[ordovician]

It could handle a 4670, 4770, 5670, or 5750/5770. Your system right now draws about 260 watts from the PSU with 25% capacitor aging. With one of the cards I listed, it will draw closer to 300 watts at 25% capacitor aging. However, it's good to have a PSU that's about 30%+ higher capacity than what your system actually uses, just for safety's sake. It's also nice to have the spare power available in case you want to do a major upgrade. Simply config your system on the PSU calculator with your new graphics card, and multiply by 1.3 (to account for the fact that you want a PSU with 30% higher capacity).

1.3 (300 watts) = 400 watts so you're probably good with one of the cards I listed.

Use this calculator: http://www.antec.outervision.com/PSUEngine