New System PSU Reconmendation (To Future proof, or not to future proof)

[amcphee]

I'm in the process of buying parts for a new system, and would welcome all of your opinions.

The System is planned to be as followed, (i've only listed what I feel are the power hungry components correct me if I'm wrong)

E6420 (To be overclocked fairly heavily)
8800 GTX (Or possibly HD2900 series)
2* 500 GB SATA II Hard Drives.

Basically I've read around as much as possible as I know the PSU is vitally important, I seem to change my mind every day based on a new review.

For my last PC, i tried to get a PSU with more than I needed for future proofing, but when it actually came to the upgrade it couldnt handle it. So I now am unsure whether to get exactly what I need and upgrade my PSU when/if I want to upgrade the system.

Modular PSU would be prefered, as would a quiet PSU. I also live in the UK so the PSU needs to be available here, or at least in the EU.

I also have no idea what PSU's can actually handle, some things I read say that 700W PSU's could handle 8800GTX Sli fine, and then i read another saying that you need to have a 1000W PSU to be safe.

Examples of PSU's that have been on the shortlist so far are; (I feel like I'm going to get told I'm getting too much power, my worry is that 700W is more than I need but less than I'll need in the future, and i could get away with for examble HX-520)

Enermax Infinity 720W
Corsair HX 620W
Seasonic M12-700W
Hiper Type-R 730W (although think ive reconsidered due to connector placing)

More Power:
Enermax Galaxy 850W
Ttake Toughpower 850W

Zeus seemed to get a great review here but not elsewhere.

[UncleJT]

Jonny will correct me if I am wrong but I don't think you'll ever need more than 700W unless you start looking at Quad SLI configurations and then you'll need to start looking at 1000W and greater.

I don't see any reason why the Corsair HX620W wouldn't work for a serious enthusiast for the next several years. This is even if you decide to go with dual 8800GTX's.

I could be wrong though. I'm sure Jonny will reply soon.

- JT

[jonnyGURU]

I wouldn't say an HX620W would work "long term" for someone with 8800GTX SLI. It might long enough for a couple days at CeBit, but I wouldn't want to do it myself.

Look at what's in your budget and look at what's most efficient that has the features you want. Often times people recommend a "400W power supply" because it's "all you need" but that overkill 1000W might be more efficient at most loads and you can't expect to push a power supply 75 to 100% of it's capability for an extended period of time and expect it to be happy about it.

For YOUR build, something around the neighborhood of 500 to 700W is fine. Just remember that if you go with the ATI card you'll need a PSU with an 8-pin connector.

[UncleJT]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

I wouldn't say an HX620W would work "long term" for someone with 8800GTX SLI. It might long enough for a couple days at CeBit, but I wouldn't want to do it myself.

That's why you're the boss!

- JT

[mcbalaban]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

Just remember that if you go with the ATI card you'll need a PSU with an 8-pin connector.

Actually the guys over at Fudzilla reported that the R600 overclocks normally even if you plug in two 6-pin connectors instead of one 6-pin and one 8-pin...

[jonnyGURU]

Originally Posted by mcbalaban

Actually the guys over at Fudzilla reported that the R600 overclocks normally even if you plug in two 6-pin connectors instead of one 6-pin and one 8-pin...

That's interesting because it makes me wonder why they would even bother with the extra 2-pins.

I'll try it myself when I get back home and have some time to install my R600 and run some tests. My machine is in pieces right now.

[mcbalaban]

Maybe I should explain what I meant by "normally"....
With the 8-pin in, CCC detects the correct plug and enables Overdrive. This does not happen when you use a second 6-pin instead, but the card can be oveclocked nevertheless with the R600 overclocking tool (non CCC dependant) that AMD has provided. (I downloaded it from Fudzilla, but I don't know if it is still there...)

[burebista]

Originally Posted by jonnyGURU

Often times people recommend a "400W power supply" because it's "all you need"...

I hear you...
amcphee futureproof it's hard to choose. Maybe with one >1KW you'll be covered for a long time, but for your setup I'll go for Enermax Infiniti 650 or Corsair HX620.

[Spectre]

It's Fuad...nough said.

[mushroom3]

Isn't an hx520 enough for his set-up though?