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Thread ID: 85879 2007-12-25 20:13:00 How much wattage do I need? pcuser42 (130) Press F1
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624507 2007-12-25 20:13:00 I'm building a new PC so I can use my Christmas present ;), so I've worked out what hardware I'm going to get.

Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.2GHz
2GB RAM (1 stick)
NVIDIA GeForce 8400GS
1 SATA HDD
1 optical drive (DVD-RAM)
7 USB devices

At 90% system load, I calculated 202 watts, but another wattage calculator said 530! Would a 430 watt PSU be enough to run this system?

(Before you ask, yes I'm replacing my Dell. :D I'm also on a tight budget.)
pcuser42 (130)
624508 2007-12-25 20:35:00 I'm building a new PC so I can use my Christmas present ;)Would a 430 watt PSU be enough to run this system?

Definitly yes. But no harm in getting a more powerful unit for future-proofing.
Greg (193)
624509 2007-12-25 23:11:00 www.extreme.outervision.com

What Xmas present? An 8400GS is a little on the light side for gaming...........
pctek (84)
624510 2007-12-26 00:12:00 ^That's the wattage calculator I used.

This Xmas present. (pressf1.pcworld.co.nz)
pcuser42 (130)
624511 2007-12-26 07:01:00 Go upper 7 series, no dx10, but the hardwares better. or midrange 8 series. 8600 GTS looks like a good card. Saving money right now might cost you a fair bit in the future if you have to buy a new PSU for any upgrades. Also a good idea to think about mobo's this way I think. I'd get one SLi capable if it was me. Even if you don't end up using it it's nice to know it's there. Is it going to be for gaming? Or just studies? I should have asked that first I guess. Thebananamonkey (7741)
624512 2007-12-26 19:23:00 It'll be used to run Vista, and one game (SimCity 4), as well as web browsing. I'm on a VERY tight budget, but might ask for a new graphics card for my birthday :D pcuser42 (130)
624513 2007-12-26 22:14:00 Ok, but I really would recommend getting a bigger PSU for future proofing. Getting a top model 7 series should cost about the same as a bottom model 8 series. Not that SC4 will need it. At all. Upgrading PSU and MoBo at this stage is relatively cheap, and will save you grief later on. I'd save on other things now so you can upgrade when you have the funds if I were you. But really, it's your call. You're not exactly going to be in SLI country with SC4 so you'll be sweet with what you've got. Just if you change your mind in future Crysis (or any other new gen games) isn't going to run cheap. Thebananamonkey (7741)
624514 2007-12-26 22:38:00 Playtech are selling the SilverStone ST50EF-Plus for $100 for the next few days.

Don't think you would find anything better :D
trinsic (6945)
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