I used to rely on intuition (otherwise known as stick a massive PSU in that will never ever get fully used - my last one had a 600W Enermax Noisetaker to run a 4600+, 8800GTS 640Mb, pair of HDDs and optical drives, and 2Gb RAM. I could have gotten away with far less).
These days I go the Apple route and rock out with a 1kW PSU.
Hahaha, yeah, I rocked the 1kw route, but frankly. Since my rig uses ~499watts, I honestly couldn't be bothered with the expense. ~£200 for a decent one? way OTT.
I do my first guess on intuition - But I always check before I tell anyone anything, based on the fact that some things draw ridiculous power if you ask them to do something.
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
Ah, but what I have discovered is that the 300w is just through the slots. GPUs have access to two power points on the logic board to provide the juice they need.
Needless to say, I'll be picking up a GTX 280 sometime soon.
To be honest, I only had a vague idea when I bought my PSU. I checked my usual mag's test system setup as it's running similar specs to mine, added a hundred watts and never thought about it again.
Of course, if you ever go quad SLI (Only a matter of time before Octo, maybe then we'll stand a chance against crysis) you would need stupid amounts of power, even if it's only because you need the oodles of connectors rather than the raw wattage. Tagan has a 1300W one doesn't it? Having said that, that was a few months ago, I wouldn't be surprised if they were inching up the the 1.5kW mark.
--- Prince Phillp to a Nigerian diplomat in traditional Nigerian garb: "You look as if you’re ready for bed."
There are a couple of places that have crappy free calculators, but the paid for ones are a lot more in depth, and they're a LOT more accurate.
I must confess, I did used to just buy a bigger PSU than I'd need on the premise that "You can always turn a big one down, you can't turn a little one up", but then I quickly realised that I was bleeding money that way, since I have very rarely re-used a PSU from PC to PC, because the old one simply can't handle it.
There was a 2kw PSU kicking about, I think it was ThermalTake.
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
That was the reason my geography course work was only half done when I handed it in, because I decided to see if Doom 3 would run on a couple of old tethered Voodoo graphics cards (I am so old skool), suffice to say, it fucked my PSU.
--- An indifferent member of Team Fagballs since Winter 2007.
Honestly, I've never used a wattage calculator except out of curiosity to see what it was like. I did, however, only use the shitty free ones. (I am waaaay too cheap to us a paid for calculator.) Yeah, I don't buy over the top psus, mainly because I don't have the money. I do however, guess the power requirements of some parts. Luckily, newegg often times has the power requiremnts of some parts listed, so you can be fairly accurate with how much power you need and judge headroom accordingly. I am running my computer off of a 430w psu right now, haven't had any problems with it. Then again, I also don't know how stressed it is/how many watts I am really using. Everything else about the psu is pretty nice though.
--- Theif: Your GP or your HP!
Du hast mich gefragt und ich habe nichts gesagt...
They can usually save you a boat load of cash - Which is what I like about them
Example: my PC at the moment uses 499 watts at max load. Which means, if I could get a PSU with a really good efficiency rating, I could run it on a 550. Which is an absolute boat load of cash less than what most people would assume they need for this rig.
It's nice to be able to work out what you're losing where. For me anyway :B
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
Yeah, when I get myself a job, and thus an inflow of cash, I might opt for a paid one, but until now I am happy with guesstimating wattages. Hasn't failed me yet!
--- Theif: Your GP or your HP!
Du hast mich gefragt und ich habe nichts gesagt...
The what?
(Can't be bothered to research it on Wikipedia or similar right now...)
--- "The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
They basically tell you what all the parts in your rig are going to do power consumption wise. The better ones allow you to make alterations based on overclocks, on everything :B
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
And one of my mates, ɤTKMajorLeo, has taken it one step further, he actually measured his power consumption with a device. And he was amazed at how low it was on idle: some 70W with his 2 TFTs on standby, an an AMD dual core, 4GB RAM and a NVidia 8xxx..
--- "The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
It's all about saving money. It gives you a better idea of the PSU you'd need to run the PC you're building. Considering a lot of people over-estimate, they buy a PSU that is way over the top - It burns their money, their electricity, and doesn't give them anything more than they'd have had if they'd bought something more suited to the task.
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
So now, you got one or two links to good ones on the net? ^^
--- "The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
Newegg have one, too, that is pretty behind on the VGA front, and not fantastically accurate. But it is free. http://educations.newegg.…m/tool/psucalc/index.html
It also doesn't take into account different brands of HDD (My 7200.10 Seagates eat more power than my Maxtor, for example).
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
Thanks a bunch, mate! The first one I remember seeing and trying once actually.. And the second one is really simple enough in comparison. And there are worlds between results ;]
--- "The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
The NewEgg one is very.. General about everything.
You can afford to be general with things like motherboards, the difference is so small it's not worth considering.
However, trying to calculate it based on the entire range of a proc. type is.. Very dodgy.
Not to say it wouldn't serve you well - But seeing as it's also a store, I'd say there's a certain amount of bias in there to shift you towards spending more.
--- Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
Comments
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Cei
Played Final Fantasy Games Before FF7
These days I go the Apple route and rock out with a 1kW PSU.
I'm an OS X fag at heart
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
I do my first guess on intuition - But I always check before I tell anyone anything, based on the fact that some things draw ridiculous power if you ask them to do something.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Cei
Played Final Fantasy Games Before FF7
I'm an OS X fag at heart
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Cei
Played Final Fantasy Games Before FF7
Needless to say, I'll be picking up a GTX 280 sometime soon.
I'm an OS X fag at heart
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Yeah, okay, that IS mad.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Cei
Played Final Fantasy Games Before FF7
I'm an OS X fag at heart
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ʊchalkley3
I go where I please, and I please where I go
To be honest, I only had a vague idea when I bought my PSU. I checked my usual mag's test system setup as it's running similar specs to mine, added a hundred watts and never thought about it again.
Of course, if you ever go quad SLI (Only a matter of time before Octo, maybe then we'll stand a chance against crysis) you would need stupid amounts of power, even if it's only because you need the oodles of connectors rather than the raw wattage. Tagan has a 1300W one doesn't it? Having said that, that was a few months ago, I wouldn't be surprised if they were inching up the the 1.5kW mark.
Prince Phillp to a Nigerian diplomat in traditional Nigerian garb: "You look as if you’re ready for bed."
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
I must confess, I did used to just buy a bigger PSU than I'd need on the premise that "You can always turn a big one down, you can't turn a little one up", but then I quickly realised that I was bleeding money that way, since I have very rarely re-used a PSU from PC to PC, because the old one simply can't handle it.
There was a 2kw PSU kicking about, I think it was ThermalTake.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Davidus
I ATED TEH ROFLECOPTER. NOM NOM.
An indifferent member of Team Fagballs since Winter 2007.
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Why does this not surprise me?
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Davidus
I ATED TEH ROFLECOPTER. NOM NOM.
An indifferent member of Team Fagballs since Winter 2007.
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
That said, my body being on fire thanks to gym, makes me pretty newbious too..
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
¤Davidus
I ATED TEH ROFLECOPTER. NOM NOM.
An indifferent member of Team Fagballs since Winter 2007.
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ɤWeapongod
Owned A Dreamcast
Theif: Your GP or your HP!
Du hast mich gefragt und ich habe nichts gesagt...
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Example: my PC at the moment uses 499 watts at max load. Which means, if I could get a PSU with a really good efficiency rating, I could run it on a 550. Which is an absolute boat load of cash less than what most people would assume they need for this rig.
It's nice to be able to work out what you're losing where. For me anyway :B
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ɤWeapongod
Owned A Dreamcast
Theif: Your GP or your HP!
Du hast mich gefragt und ich habe nichts gesagt...
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
No doubt that guestimating works, I'm just a bit obsesive/compuslive when it comes to making sure that PC parts work :B
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ɤWeapongod
Owned A Dreamcast
Theif: Your GP or your HP!
Du hast mich gefragt und ich habe nichts gesagt...
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Not like I have some pretty obvious hobbies at all, huh.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ӝrotane
Modder
(Can't be bothered to research it on Wikipedia or similar right now...)
"The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ӝrotane
Modder
So now I'd have to alter my vote on Yes.
And one of my mates, ɤTKMajorLeo, has taken it one step further, he actually measured his power consumption with a device. And he was amazed at how low it was on idle: some 70W with his 2 TFTs on standby, an an AMD dual core, 4GB RAM and a NVidia 8xxx..
"The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ѻmick-mick
All Your Base Are Belong To Me
"I am a Geek"
"Eye"
"Yam"
"Sofa"
"King"
"Stew"
"Pitt"
Umm.. yah.. I got nothing.
I'm a gamer, He's a gamer, She's a gamer, We some gamers,
Wouldn't you like to be a gamer too?
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
No argument there!
I make some geeks look normal >.>
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ѻchillinvillain
Is In Your Base, Killing Your Pokemans
"We aren't allowed to say brainstorm where I work because it's apparently offensive to people with cerebal palsy (bullshit)." --Chalkley3
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Can't go wrong with PC building!
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ѻchillinvillain
Is In Your Base, Killing Your Pokemans
"We aren't allowed to say brainstorm where I work because it's apparently offensive to people with cerebal palsy (bullshit)." --Chalkley3
ӝspot
Chief Instigator
I, Gamer!
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ѻFuzzyLovePanda
Tried A Real Guitar After Guitar Hero
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
Most of the free ones don't let you account for Crossfire/SLI, but the better ones DO recommend a PSU when you've calculated it.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ѻFuzzyLovePanda
Tried A Real Guitar After Guitar Hero
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
It's all about saving money. It gives you a better idea of the PSU you'd need to run the PC you're building. Considering a lot of people over-estimate, they buy a PSU that is way over the top - It burns their money, their electricity, and doesn't give them anything more than they'd have had if they'd bought something more suited to the task.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ӝrotane
Modder
"The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
http://www.extreme.outerv…ion.com/psucalculator.jsp I use the Pro version of that beasty. The free one is nice - But multiple card setups get back into guesstimation time
Newegg have one, too, that is pretty behind on the VGA front, and not fantastically accurate. But it is free. http://educations.newegg.…m/tool/psucalc/index.html
It also doesn't take into account different brands of HDD (My 7200.10 Seagates eat more power than my Maxtor, for example).
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.
ӝrotane
Modder
"The heat of the decomposition from an explosion of rotane is quite substantial (3426±87 kJ/mol ?)... So yeah, i think i can be suspicious of you" ɤswordhorder >:]
ӝNirach
A malibu and coke for you, a G&T for me
You can afford to be general with things like motherboards, the difference is so small it's not worth considering.
However, trying to calculate it based on the entire range of a proc. type is.. Very dodgy.
Not to say it wouldn't serve you well - But seeing as it's also a store, I'd say there's a certain amount of bias in there to shift you towards spending more.
Keep your eyes peeled for the average gamers.
Nothing's broken, it's just functioning differently.