Another I'm building a computer topic
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Another I'm building a computer topic
The PSU provides the power and reference voltages for every single component in the entire system. This is hardly a "minor detail", and the design of a stable switching supply with 500 watts output rating, five outputs, and unknown load that retails for less than $30 is nothing short of miraculous. AFAICT, the transformer and rectifier alone for this kind of supply would cost at least $15, to say nothing of the regulators, protection components, fan, case, assembly, and testing.
It is considerably more likely that someone is practicing fuzzy math (wattage rating for a multi-output supply is not exactly an intuitive process), and these "$30 500W" supplies are really more in the neighborhood of 300W.
The PSU provides the power and reference voltages for every single component in the entire system. This is hardly a "minor detail", and the design of a stable switching supply with 500 watts output rating, five outputs, and unknown load that retails for less than $30 is nothing short of miraculous. AFAICT, the transformer and rectifier alone for this kind of supply would cost at least $15, to say nothing of the regulators, protection components, fan, case, assembly, and testing.
It is considerably more likely that someone is practicing fuzzy math (wattage rating for a multi-output supply is not exactly an intuitive process), and these "$30 500W" supplies are really more in the neighborhood of 300W.
Another I'm building a computer topic
No, never with more tham one case fan.
Even if there is one 4pin leftover you can't connect the back/side fans with the top or front fans. So I still have to have three molexes just for fans...I think :huh I don't know, that's where lack of experience comes in. I found the splitters at newegg, you have to search '4 pin splitter'.
No, never with more tham one case fan.
Even if there is one 4pin leftover you can't connect the back/side fans with the top or front fans. So I still have to have three molexes just for fans...I think :huh I don't know, that's where lack of experience comes in. I found the splitters at newegg, you have to search '4 pin splitter'.
Another I'm building a computer topic
I think you're confusing a recommended power supply rating with a consumption rating. I'm running a Radeon 8500 on a 300W power supply, and reports I've heard are that the original GeForceFX, notorious for its absurd power dissipation, is "only" burning 100 watts or so.
I think you're confusing a recommended power supply rating with a consumption rating. I'm running a Radeon 8500 on a 300W power supply, and reports I've heard are that the original GeForceFX, notorious for its absurd power dissipation, is "only" burning 100 watts or so.
Another I'm building a computer topic
Everything has been revised alot so here is the current list of stuff. I'll probably get this stuff this week, yeah my bank account will only have 10 dollars left in it, but oh well.
AMD Athlon XP Baton 2600+ 333Mhz FSB
Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard
Aspire Turbo Alluminum Server-size Case w/420w PSU
Mushkin 512MB PC3200 DDR-RAM
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
Samsung 52x24x52 CD-RW/ 12x DVD
Samsung 1.44 Floppy
Samsung 160GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Harddrive
Samsung Syncmaster 17" CRT Monitor
Logitech Internet Keyboard + Corded Optical Mouse
Rounded IDE Cables and Molex Splitters
Plantronics .Audio 90 Stereo Headset
Grand Total: $1007.33 after $54 shipping is applied
Everything has been revised alot so here is the current list of stuff. I'll probably get this stuff this week, yeah my bank account will only have 10 dollars left in it, but oh well.
AMD Athlon XP Baton 2600+ 333Mhz FSB
Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard
Aspire Turbo Alluminum Server-size Case w/420w PSU
Mushkin 512MB PC3200 DDR-RAM
ATI Radeon 9600 Pro
Samsung 52x24x52 CD-RW/ 12x DVD
Samsung 1.44 Floppy
Samsung 160GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer Harddrive
Samsung Syncmaster 17" CRT Monitor
Logitech Internet Keyboard + Corded Optical Mouse
Rounded IDE Cables and Molex Splitters
Plantronics .Audio 90 Stereo Headset
Grand Total: $1007.33 after $54 shipping is applied
Another I'm building a computer topic
Looks good to me. I wouldn't spend that much, but I'm a cheap bastard. But that'd give you a good solid rig, with all the stuff you want (like j00 fancy wireless KB+mouse). Check out the reviews newegg lists for the Alien case, I think the first one. It shows lots of cool pics. The HDD bay is awesome, leaves you with plenty of space to confortably seat up to 5 HDDs. I think I'm a bit jealous... but don't forget, one of these days you'll have to pick up another 512MB stick of memory (preferably the same model, if not then comparable one with same exact ratings) sp you can enable dual-channel. But that can wait.
ExCyber: Yes, a cheap xxx watt PSU is often not capable of performing at the same level as a more expensive one. But that doesn't mean its necessarily bad. Sometimes they rate based on near-top output and not constant. The mid-grade tends to rate more or less accurately, and the highend often (varies by manufacturer) rates their PSU rather conservatively. However, that being said, a cheaper 400 watt PSU could for instance perform on par with a more expensive 300 watt PSU. I think he'll be fine with the one in there. My friend is running much more stuff perfectly off a 330 watt Antec, and granted Antec is great, but I would say the 420 watt is still at least on par as far as constant and max output go.
Gallstaff: There's no chance a consumer graphics card consumes 300 watts on its own. Yet, haha, geez I hope that doesn't happen anytime soon. As Ex said, that's just the minimum recommended PSU they want you to have to run this card. Its to prevent people from installing it on their HP/Compaq/Gateway machines that have a PSU that is *just* enough to power the factory original components and maybe an extra drive or two. I've seen bad things happen when people overtax a weak PSU - depending on the PSU, it could just power off/reset a lot, do other weird things. Could burn out the PSU, maybe worse. Whoops, bit of a rant there...
Looks good to me. I wouldn't spend that much, but I'm a cheap bastard. But that'd give you a good solid rig, with all the stuff you want (like j00 fancy wireless KB+mouse). Check out the reviews newegg lists for the Alien case, I think the first one. It shows lots of cool pics. The HDD bay is awesome, leaves you with plenty of space to confortably seat up to 5 HDDs. I think I'm a bit jealous... but don't forget, one of these days you'll have to pick up another 512MB stick of memory (preferably the same model, if not then comparable one with same exact ratings) sp you can enable dual-channel. But that can wait.
ExCyber: Yes, a cheap xxx watt PSU is often not capable of performing at the same level as a more expensive one. But that doesn't mean its necessarily bad. Sometimes they rate based on near-top output and not constant. The mid-grade tends to rate more or less accurately, and the highend often (varies by manufacturer) rates their PSU rather conservatively. However, that being said, a cheaper 400 watt PSU could for instance perform on par with a more expensive 300 watt PSU. I think he'll be fine with the one in there. My friend is running much more stuff perfectly off a 330 watt Antec, and granted Antec is great, but I would say the 420 watt is still at least on par as far as constant and max output go.
Gallstaff: There's no chance a consumer graphics card consumes 300 watts on its own. Yet, haha, geez I hope that doesn't happen anytime soon. As Ex said, that's just the minimum recommended PSU they want you to have to run this card. Its to prevent people from installing it on their HP/Compaq/Gateway machines that have a PSU that is *just* enough to power the factory original components and maybe an extra drive or two. I've seen bad things happen when people overtax a weak PSU - depending on the PSU, it could just power off/reset a lot, do other weird things. Could burn out the PSU, maybe worse. Whoops, bit of a rant there...
Another I'm building a computer topic
Excellent. I can be pretty cheap myself, I'm buying the cheapest keyboard and mouse, no speakers. I actually wasn't even going to buy a floppy drive, but then I saw that they were only 7.50.
What exactly is this dual channel thing I hear so much about? Does it give a significant speed boost?
Excellent. I can be pretty cheap myself, I'm buying the cheapest keyboard and mouse, no speakers. I actually wasn't even going to buy a floppy drive, but then I saw that they were only 7.50.
What exactly is this dual channel thing I hear so much about? Does it give a significant speed boost?
Another I'm building a computer topic
Yes... but not as big a boost as a better CPU or GPU. Also, since you have to use 2 identical sticks, I am loath to recommend getting two 256MB sticks. That'd make upgrading memory harder if you wanted to keep dual channel. So just stick with the current rig, and if you get some extra money at a later date you could have yourself a nice 1GB of memory and dual-channel.
Yes... but not as big a boost as a better CPU or GPU. Also, since you have to use 2 identical sticks, I am loath to recommend getting two 256MB sticks. That'd make upgrading memory harder if you wanted to keep dual channel. So just stick with the current rig, and if you get some extra money at a later date you could have yourself a nice 1GB of memory and dual-channel.
Another I'm building a computer topic
BTW, don't worry too much about whether or not you'll use the extra RAM - the OS will generally soak up the
extra as tasty performance-enhancing file cache. This can lead to a serious boost in app loading speed if you're the type who leaves the computer on for long stretches.
That's what I was saying.
BTW, don't worry too much about whether or not you'll use the extra RAM - the OS will generally soak up the
extra as tasty performance-enhancing file cache. This can lead to a serious boost in app loading speed if you're the type who leaves the computer on for long stretches.
That's what I was saying.
