First build. Need powersupply help.

[rpenguin]

Hello,

I want to build a mirco-atx gaming computer, or as some people call it, a "fragbox." Below, I have listed the parts I have picked out. I needed to keep the machine, and monitor right at $1000.

I wanted to know if the included power supply will be able to handle all off the components. I was especially worried about the video card. On newegg it said. "A minimum 400W system power supply (with 12V current rating of 26A)"

Please post any suggestions/improvments to my machine, or any other helpful information, and especially, tell me if the powersupply will be able to handle it.

Thanks

 

[acegazda]

Hey, welcome to the AT forums...can you list all your components and the PSU you picked out? that link brings me to your login point.

 

[rpenguin]

Case - Aspire X-QPACK
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811144109

Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130041

CPU - AMD 64 3200+
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103535

RAM - 2 x 512
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820220037

HD - Samsung 3.0Gb/s SATA
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822152020

Monitor - Viewsonic 2ms LCD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824116375

Video Card - Geforce 7900GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150144

sorry about that

 

[acegazda]

which graphics card did you get? Seems to me like you wont need for than a 400w psu. For your purposes I would go with the Enermax liberty 400w. Its available at xpcgear for $80 shipped. link. This psu has 20amps on both of the "split" 12v rails. Split rails is essentially dual rails and the combined ampage on this psu is 30amps even though there are 20 amps on each of the 12v rails. It will be more than enough for you rsystem though. Its a good price for a good psu, even if I don't know what your graphics card is.

 

[rpenguin]

heh, i edited the above post... im out of it tonight. lol

also, if its at all possible, i dont want to buy a new powersupply, so If it wont run the 7900gt, im open to other video card suggestions.

 

[acegazda]

good find on that graphics card... $240 is great for the 7900gt...best price I've seen. You volt modding it? At any rate, that enermax liberty I linked you to should be awesome, as long as you're not volt modding the crap out of your gpu and cpu. If you are...make sure you have a really good hsf for both or invest in water cooling for MIND BOGGLING PERFORMANCE! The x1800xt is another awesome choice, available at the egg for less... $225 shipped after MIR. Better stock performacne but like I said, if you're volt modding...

 

[rpenguin]

would the stock powersupply work? and would that psu you posted fit in that case?

here is a closeup on the label of the stock psu.
http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/aspire_qpack/qpack21.jpg

I don't plan on doing any volt modding, as of now i dont see the need.

 

[Howard]

Get the Fortron FSP400-60GLN if you can fit that into your budget.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: rpenguin
would the stock powersupply work? and would that psu you posted fit in that case?

here is a closeup on the label of the stock psu.
http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/aspire_qpack/qpack21.jpg

I don't plan on doing any volt modding, as of now i dont see the need.

Yes, if it delivers as much power as it claims, it will do the job. Don't expect it to last as long as good PSUs, though.

 

[acegazda]

my experience with "included with case" psus tells me NO! and it only looks like 18 amps COMBINED on the 12v rails. It says 200w are dedicated to the 3.3v and 5v rails, then that leaves ~220 watts for the 12v rails. To determine the combined ampage, i divided 220watts by 12 (volts) and got ~18amps. In short...No.

 

[rpenguin]

Well, i just need to get the machine together and running right now on this budget. I just didnt understand the "12V current rating of 26A" in the newegg requirements. Thats why I posted the label.

 

[acegazda]

you can run the aspire psu untill it fails (i say untill b/c it probably will) and then go for a better one.

 

[rpenguin]

Ok, but besides the possible PSU failure. It will power the video card sufficiently, correct?
I have never learned about PSU rails and such.

 

[Howard]

After looking at jonny's review, it seems like a supercrapblowingfvcktastic supply.

 

[fatpat268]

Read this review...

http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/AspireXQpack/420W.html

i definitely recommend a new psu. But the thing is, if you get a new psu, you're going to need a different dvd drive that is slightly shorter. There was a listing around here somewhere that had compatible dvd drives.

 

[thescreensavers]

Originally posted by: acegazda
you can run the aspire psu untill it fails (i say untill b/c it probably will) and then go for a better one.

How woudl he go for a better one if that Aspire my explod on him and ruin all his parts

 

[acegazda]

the dimensions on the aspire power supply are 5.9" width, 4.6" depth and 3.4" height, converted from mm on the manufacturer's wesite. The dimensions for the enermax liberty are almsot the same... 5.9" width, 5.5" depth and 3.4" height. I'm pretty sure, judging from a photo of the internal structure of the apsire x qpack, that you have an extra inch or more to put a bigger power supply. And I think the chances of the included psu imploding are very slim, it is a 420w psu after all, I only siad that it is more likeley to whane over time.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: acegazda
it is a 420w psu after all

Actually, it isn't. Read jonny's review.

 

[rpenguin]

first of all, thank you all for the help.
now, ive been looking for a list of compadiable dvd drives but i cant find one.

I had originally picked out the NEC 16x DVD-r
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827152058

Can someone show me a "short dvd drive" that i would need?

 

[acegazda]

The Aspire 420W that comes with the X-Qpack is unique. It's a standard ATX power supply, but it's only 4" deep so there's plenty of room between the back of the PSU and the back of the opticals.

directly from the review. Where does it say its not a 420w psu?
Also this may be what you seek as far as a slimline dvd burner goes.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: acegazda

The Aspire 420W that comes with the X-Qpack is unique. It's a standard ATX power supply, but it's only 4" deep so there's plenty of room between the back of the PSU and the back of the opticals.

directly from the review. Where does it say its not a 420w psu?
Also this may be what you seek as far as a slimline dvd burner goes.

I should have looked at an older Aspire X-Qpack power supply's label to realize that the specs were completely bunk....

Early Aspire X-Qpack 420W
__you can see the table yourself on the page__
Max Combined Watts 420W

The internals of the power supply changed very little over a year's time yet somehow Aspire is now able to boast 6 more amps on the 3.3V, 3 more amps on the 5V, and an additional 12V rail. Right. Chalk these guys up as another plaintiff in my class action lawsuit against false power supply labeling. It couldn't do 300W, the voltages were way out of spec (the 12V dropped to 10.65V with only a 192W load on the combined 12V rail,) the efficiency stinks, there's no PFC.... How much worse can it get?

Needless to say, this power supply is a total bust. Not only does it not do 420W, it barely does half that.

 

[rpenguin]

Forgive me if im wrong, but i dont think i need a slimmer one, but one that is not as long.

 

[acegazda]

wow, then you definetly need a better power supply. don't even try to run that apsire one.