Sufficient PSU for SFF?

[ThomasKMC]

I'm trying to build a new SFF based on an Asus P5Q-EM mobo with 8GB of RAM. I will add a 150GB hard drive as well as an ordinary DVD-ROM. I found a cheap case made by "IN WIN", the IW_BT610T.300BL, which houses a 300W PSU. My concern is adequate power. Is 300W enough to drive the mobo and a Penryn processor? My preference would be a quad-core rated at 95W; alternatively, I would go with an 65W dual-core if that would make much of a difference. What do you guys think?

Thanks for your feedback,
-tom

 

[IlllI]

what are you going to be doing with this that requires 8gb of ram?

 

[ThomasKMC]

i usually have a lot of apps open such browsers, email (outlook), photo editing software, as well as VMWare Workstation which on the current machine spins the hard drive all the time. With 8GB I hope to limit hard drive activity. I do not intend to play any high-end games with this unit.

 

[BlueAcolyte]

It will be fine... I would just worry about the quality of the PSU you chose. Although I haven't heard any horror stories about them.

 

[ThomasKMC]

What do you think about these cases then:
Antec NSK2480 w/ 380W PSU
Apevia X-Qpack2 w/ 500W PSU
Apevia X-Qboii w/ 500W PSU
Foxconn DH839-MT300K with 300W PSU?

I like to vertical design of the Apevia X-Qboii and Foxconn cases.

 

[Brainonska511]

500W would probably be overkill. A 300-400W PSU should be fine for a system like that (as long as you're using the integrated graphics on the motherboard).

If you're making a small pc, consider using lower-energy components. Not only will they take up less power, but they'll output less energy, making it easier to keep the case cool and quiet.

 

[corkyg]

All good comments. I would add too, that you need to consider how many external devices you may hang on the system. If you have a lot of USB externals, I would suggest you use a powered hub so that the external load would not come from your internal PSU.

 

[ThomasKMC]

great feedback, guys, thanks a lot. I'm going with an E8500 dual-core which only has 65W instead of the 95W quad-core. this should make it easier to keep the case cool and quit as Brainonska511 suggested. That is, unless somebody can tell me where to find a Socket P motherboard ....

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: ThomasKMC
What do you think about these cases then:
Antec NSK2480 w/ 380W PSU
Apevia X-Qpack2 w/ 500W PSU
Apevia X-Qboii w/ 500W PSU
Foxconn DH839-MT300K with 300W PSU?

I like to vertical design of the Apevia X-Qboii and Foxconn cases.

How about the Antec NSK3480? It is a tower, or "vertical design" that you like. It comes with the same (or similar) PSU as the NSK2480. The Antec PSUs are probably the best out of all the ones you've listed, and are probably the only ones that are 80+ efficient.

 

[IlllI]

i'd choose an antec over those others listed, simply b/c of the better build quality/reliability

 

[Brianoes]

I'm running a 250W Seasonic m-ATX PSU with the rig below, and it runs great! No problems, so don't be too obsessed with getting a 1kW PSU.

 

[ThomasKMC]

I ended up with the NSK1380 and am quite happy with it. It's actually not as noisy as I thought. I considered replacing the PSU fan with a quiter one but the unit is actually quite enough. Even the stock cpu cooler stayed... lol. All in all one happy customer here.

Thanks for all your feedback!