Help me pick a new PSU

Both Directron and eWiz have good prices for that Fortron, IIRC.

Directron has the best price for it here, but I would really rather not spend that much on it. Also, is it just me, or does it not say the amount of amperage on the 12V rail?
Is there a problem with the Aspire I linked to above?

Last edited by Josh on Thu Apr 06, 2006 11:47 am; edited 1 time in total

Well, I've been running my comp with my old PSU, and I haven't had many problems..... Until I looked more closely. I opened up SmartGuardian, and this is what I found.
Picture of voltages
I think it speaks for it self. So, that explains the pathetic 3DMark05 scores I was getting (2500 vs 5700 with my XP). So, I'm really looking hard for a new one. If I don't win this one I'm bidding for on ebay, I really need suggestions. As before, more then 25A on the 12V rail (at very minimum, 20) and below $50.

Last edited by KoolDrew on Thu Apr 06, 2006 12:27 pm; edited 1 time in total

Take any voltage readings from software and the BIOS with a grain of salt. They are not accurate. Get a DMM to accurately measure. If you want to buy online, here:
http://acmehardware.com/pd-5751052-GB-Elec...ter-Tester.aspx

The Walmart where I live has that same one for around the same price.

If this is for your socket 939 rig get something like a Fortron AX450-PN.

Last edited by Josh on Thu Apr 06, 2006 7:10 pm; edited 1 time in total

Well, the reading were fine with my Socket A system.
It could be that the new mobo caused this, but a few things cause me to believe that it's reading right.
Often, it will show the cpu voltage as being too low.  And my cpu has been running a good 10 degrees cooler recently.  I doubt it's coincidental.  Also, when I have more cpu intensive things running, the voltages get worse.  And I have had a couple restarts recently, indicating something wrong with the psu.
Thanks, I'll pick up a multimeter, probably cheap on ebay.  And my dad has a really nice one, so I could use that for the time being.  So, would you just stick that in the back of one of the connectors to check the voltage? (obviously while comp is on)
That PSU does look pretty good.  Would the 18A on it be enough?

The Fortron AX450-PN has 18A on both +12v rails.

As for testing the rails:
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/show...ad.php?t=137886

Nice link, thanks. I'll try that out, and see what I get.
Yeah, it's just that my video card recommends 20A on the 12V rail.

Last edited by KoolDrew on Fri Apr 07, 2006 8:19 pm; edited 1 time in total

When they make a amperage recommendation they take the other components into consideration. The video card alone would not pull more then 4A from the +12v rail. You can search google for power consumption charts, but it should be around that.

Ok, I was thinking that. But I'm sure it takes more then 4A. I was thinking like maybe 8-10?

I know the 7800GTX only draws about 4.2A. I don't know about the 7800GS, but it's not 8-10A.

Everything I find only shows total system power consumption, I can't find anything about the card power consumption.

Ok, I tried with a multimeter, and the voltages are fine. So, the mobo is reading them wrong.
I've got a question, then. Does that mean that my psu is handling the power consumption fine, then? Or might it still be too much for it?