Power supply calculator

LunarMist

I can't believe I'm a Fixture
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USA
Every time I tried one of those, the numbers were far too high compared to actual power consumption. Does that one offer real-world relevance?
 

BingBangBop

Storage is cool
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Nov 15, 2009
Messages
667
I wouldn't have posted it, if I didn't think it was worthwhile. It's not as if I have posted a ton of fluff here.

My suggestion would be to attach a kill-a-watt to a known system, plug in the data, and compare its recommendation to real life. I'll let you be the judge. If it fails then have a moderator remove the thread as spam. I'm not married to it.
 

sdbardwick

Storage is cool
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Mar 12, 2004
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North San Diego County
As PSU estimators go, it is not too bad; Antec uses it as their calculator.
FYI, the Kill-A-Watt does not play nice with some PSUs, especially ones with APFC. Sometimes it reports values that indicate over 100% efficiency.
 
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Mercutio

Fatwah on Western Digital
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Jan 17, 2002
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I am omnipresent
It made a very sensible recommendation of 400W for the configuration of one of my game machines, within about 10W of what I thought I needed.
 

Tannin

Storage? I am Storage!
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Jan 15, 2002
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Huon Valley, Tasmania
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The Protein Computer PSU Calculator.

Start with a bog-standard cheapish but at least half-decent PSU. If you are not sure what that is, pick it up. If it has no particular weight in your hand, it's decent. If it seems a bit light, it's half-decent. If it seems really light, it's carp - throw it away. Good ones cost real money and are always heavy. There are only four sorts of power supply:
  1. Carp
  2. Half-decent
  3. Decent
  4. Good

Now, ask yourself ....

1: Does the system have:
  • Multiple drives (more than three - HDD or DVD, both count)
  • Large graphics card (needs large heat sink and/or cost over $200 when new)
  • Large graphics card (as above)
  • Very power-hungry CPU
  • Higher than typical reliability requirement
  • Weird add-on stuff that chews juice

If you answered YES once, you can get away with a CARP PSU but you should have a HALF-DECENT unit.

If you answered YES twice, you can get away with a HALF-DECENT PSU but you should have a DECENT unit.

If you answered YES three times, you can get away with a DECENT PSU but you should certainly consider a GOOD unit.

If you answered YES more than three times, you won't get away with a DECENT PSU, you absolutely must have a GOOD unit.

Note: yes, you ask the graphics card question twice and count the answer twice.


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There you go: one reliable, accurate Power Supply Calculator, free to any good home, guaranteed 100% Javascript-free, runs just fine on any brain-equipped human.
 

Tea

Storage? I am Storage!
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www.redhill.net.au
Four letters.

Starts with a "C"

Ends in a "P"

Second letter is "R"

Third letter is "A"

You can figure it out from there.

(But for a family-friendly environment like this one, we usually fuddle the letters around a little.)
 

LunarMist

I can't believe I'm a Fixture
Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
16,625
Location
USA
Four letters.

Starts with a "C"

Ends in a "P"

Second letter is "R"

Third letter is "A"

You can figure it out from there.

(But for a family-friendly environment like this one, we usually fuddle the letters around a little.)

:oops: However this place is not family orientated. ;)
 

sdbardwick

Storage is cool
Joined
Mar 12, 2004
Messages
598
Location
North San Diego County
For a while, my off-the-cuff PSU recommendation (for people seeking free advice) goes like this:
Number of physical CPUs+GPUs x 200 = wattage (W)
If W>1200 or using TEC then "That is a specialized application. Do your own research or hire a consultant."
If W <=1000 and buyer has compatible Antec case: Antec CP series PSU
If W >=1000 then Antec TPQ1200 (What, it might be too loud? Do your own research.)
If W<= 1000 then "Pick whichever Corsair PSU you like best rated at W or above."

If "Corsair = $$$" then "You get what you pay for."
 
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