I've gone off my idea of a Radeon X800 Pro ViVo and now I am looking at a Leadtek 6800 GT, as I have heard nothing but good things about them! I am a bit concerned my PSU might not be upto the task though. It's a Chieftec 360W (made by Sirtec, just has Chieftec slapped on it) that came with my BX series case. Is there any way to tell how much power I am using?

I have a 2600+ mobile which will probably be running at around 2.6GHz (hopefully) probably around 1.9v I expect, 80gb Maxtor IDE hard disk, CDRW, DVD-ROM uhh.. I'm using the onboard sound of my NF7-S, I have two case fans a unknown LED 80mm@0.25A and a 92mm Ultra Silent?! fan at 0.07A (both at 7v) it says on it (may stick another 80mm in the spare slot), I also have 2x120mm fans (one is a panaflo rated at 7.2W, other is unknown) which are also at 7v and then to top that off I have another panaflo 92mm at 7v! Oh, I also have some cold cathodes.. uh.. 2 inverters by sunbeam with 2 cathodes on each. The 6800 would have to be connected on a connector which has the 2x120mm and 92mm fan on (I think that's all that's on that wire).

Is my PSU just going to give up and die? Right now I think it's doing pretty good, the rails are all just above the rated value, 5v is at like 5.09v according to MBM for example, while folding. I guess I should check with a multimeter? Is there an easy way to tell how much power I have left out of this thing?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: I should probably post the amp values on the little sticker

+5v = 35A
+3.3v = 26A
+12v = 17A
-5v = 0.5A
-12v = 0.8A
+5VSB = 2A

With all of that stuff in your rig it is really pushing the limits of your cheiftec PSU. First I would definately check your voltages with a digital multimeter as it is much more accurate than any software/BIOS based readings. If your rails are not within spec, then I would decide on a new PSU. If you do need to buy a new PSU, what is the max that you would like to spend on one?

I figured I might, I was hoping to be able to just scape it obviously I keep meaning to try and find our multimeter, we have one somewhere! Just check the 12, 5 and 3.3 at the motherboard ATX connector, right?

If I need a new one.. I dunno! I know Antec, Enermax and Fortron are supposed to be the better ones, so I guess I would just have to fork out and get one of those. Expensive game is this computer thing!

sure is. i have learnt the hard way, not to buy generic or cheap or underpowered psus (mine fits all three) and therefore i need a new mobo...

It is preferable to check the voltages at the ATX connector, but the molex connectors are ok as well(molex connectors only have the 12v ad 5v lines). Remember that black is ground, yellow is 12v, red is 5v, and orange is 3.3v

As for a new PSU, you really dont want to buy a generic PSU but rather spend a decent amount of money on a new PSU. The PSU powers everything insdide the PC, it only makes sense to buy something that will give you reliable power and voltages.

Yeah, I know cheapo PSU's are bad Although in my older PCs I have had no problems with no name ones, but that's older PCs for you I guess.

All I know is that Sirtec are quite respectable.. I think! They do the PSU's for ThermalTake (there's a ThermalTake 360W which is exactly the same as my PSU!), Aopen (I heard they were good?!) and some over well known ones apparently.

I was just looking at a Fortron 400W and it's got 16A on the +12V rail?!? and no 4-pin 12v connector.. for what it's worth? What's up with that? Are they doing something special with their 12v line? The NF7-S gets it's CPU power from the 12v line right, so does the 6800GT? So I should get a PSU with as many amps on that as possible? Providing my 360W can't handle it...


EDIT: it does have the dual 12v 4pin thing, but it's still 16A? That isn't enough is it?

Should be ok if uou don t overclock if you do consider 400+ on your computer. Get a good ps like antec of thermaltake cheap ones die and then you got spend more money on ps!!

As in overclock the GT to Ultra speeds? I probably won't be needing to do that for a while, although I would like to

How about this one? It has dual 12v rails, so it should be able to cope, right?
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.a...=6711&GroupID=0

Relatively cheap at £56 too, compared to the other's I have been looking at!