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| Thread ID: 137248 | 2014-06-11 09:11:00 | Advice on new computer purchase & power supply | bruno_liddle (17258) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 1376932 | 2014-06-11 09:11:00 | Hi all, I'm looking to replace my 5-year old home workhorse with a new machine, and after an informal Q&A of my friends was recommended PB Tech as a great place to source a new PC from. I've been looking at this model (WKSPB2307) (www.pbtech.co.nz) to which I would want to add a second internal HDD (750GB) and soundcard (Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS - recycled from current machine) and was wondering if the power supply (at 600watt) would be powerful enough? PC is used as a "maid of all word" (ie everything from games (although not bleeding edge) and light graphic editing to usual office tasks, assignments and browsing. I don't need anything too cutting edge BUT history tells me I'll still be using this in 5 years time so always best to get something decent now :) |
bruno_liddle (17258) | ||
| 1376933 | 2014-06-11 09:36:00 | Is the 600W from your current machine too? If this is the card (www.geforce.com) in the link you posted, it says 500W minimum rec Also I would check and see if the PSU that you're going to use has 2 6 pin connectors. Looks like the link I gave (if thats the card) has these connections |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 1376934 | 2014-06-11 09:52:00 | Thanks Speedy. The PSU will be new (comes with the machine) with the specs (www.pbtech.co.nz) | bruno_liddle (17258) | ||
| 1376935 | 2014-06-11 20:37:00 | 600W is plenty, the only time you'd really need to check is if upgrading the graphics card in future but 600W will run most single graphics card configurations. If you google "PSU calculator" you will find several sites that offer a free tool to check the rquirements of your hardware and reccomend a PSU - I'd guess if you input the specs from that rig and added your extras it would be in the 400-500W range. Recommended minimums are wildly exaggerated to account for el-cheapo PSU's and to leave headroom for extra hardware and a wide safety margin. My media PC has an i5, 3 Hdd's, a GX 760, and a 300W PSU - works fine although I do worry that it's right on the limit if everything is pushed at the same time. I intend to get a 450W PSU at some point (limited choices as it's a SFF PSU). |
dugimodo (138) | ||
| 1376936 | 2014-06-11 21:34:00 | Personally I would dump the Audigy and just use the onboard sound. For starters, that ancient soundcard is PCI, so you'd have to specifically find a (now fairly rare) board with PCI slots. Unless you're an audiophile, imo there's no reason to not use integrated audio, and if you ARE and audiophile, the Audigy 2 is an old beast far past it's glory days, so step up to something like the X-Fi Titanium HD, or Asus' Xonar range. Also, I would totally add an SSD as the boot drive. If that pushes the budget, drop the i7 to an i5 to accommodate. |
inphinity (7274) | ||
| 1376937 | 2014-06-11 21:43:00 | Hi all, I'm looking to replace my 5-year old home workhorse with a new machine, and after an informal Q&A of my friends was recommended PB Tech as a great place to source a new PC from. Obviously they haven't had a lot to do with them then: www.gpforums.co.nz Check the ratings. I have had a bit to do with them, myself years ago, and numerous clients/friends etc since. They don't seem to change. The buy can be an issue, but mostly it's the appalling after sales service. Stick to the reputable shops. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 1376938 | 2014-06-12 07:11:00 | Thanks for the feedback Dugimodo - good to know about the power ratings - I'll try Googling that tonight and see how it comes out Inphinity - yes the Audigy is an old card now - hadn't throught about the lack of PCI till now. Mostly was thinking of keeping it as I find the 'What U Hear' recording option useful. X-Fi Titanium HD looks to have this as well so all good there. SSD would be amazing but haven't purchased one before - any brand you would recommend? Pctek - thanks for the heads up - I'll check out that link when I get home (work uses IE8 and that site won't even let IE8 attempt to view the page - rude ;-) ) |
bruno_liddle (17258) | ||
| 1376939 | 2014-06-12 08:10:00 | FWIW I have dealt with PB Tech for the last 6 years and am happy with them. The only problem I had was with UPS software which would not install, they went out of their way to replace it and keep me happy. | CliveM (6007) | ||
| 1376940 | 2014-06-12 08:30:00 | Some sites say the Samsung Evo is a pretty fast SSD. It's what I may get, when I put my system together soon. You just have to decide on the size, and how much you want to spend. In some shops here these are around $129. Altho, other shops (or overseas) maybe cheaper And from what I've read the lower ssd's (like the 128 /120 GB hdd's) may or will probably have a slow writing speed |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 1376941 | 2014-06-12 08:40:00 | For an SSD, I would go Samsung or Intel. | inphinity (7274) | ||
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