Budget Computer Build Refining?

• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-11 01:48
  If you want a PSU that'll literally blow up, then go ahead. xD
  Stick with the reputable brands. Don't cheap out on the PSU, yo.
• Andy-Buddy wrote on 2011-08-13 08:37

  Quote from Yoorah;547482:

  If you want a PSU that'll literally blow up, then go ahead. xD
  Stick with the reputable brands. Don't cheap out on the PSU, yo.

  
  
  I mostly chose that one because of it's numerous perfect reviews, but I'll look into some other ones. Single rail is better than 2 rail, right?
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-13 08:48
  There's ongoing debate between the two, but for the purposes of a low budget build, I don't think it's something you should care about.
  And just so you know, I actually looked up that Apex PSU brand and they did have a model that actually blew up during a reviewer's testing. I didn't even make it up. xD
• Shirayuki wrote on 2011-08-13 08:49

  Quote from Yoorah;550539:

  There's ongoing debate between the two, but for the purposes of a low budget build, I don't think it's something you should care about.
  And just so you know, I actually looked up that Apex PSU brand and they did have a model that actually blew up during a reviewer's testing. I didn't even make it up. xD

  
  
  Aw hell, I use an Apex PSU @.@
  
  People said it worked fine for years so I bought it :(
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-08-13 08:51

  Quote from Shirayuki;550540:

  Aw hell, I use an Apex PSU @.@
  
  People said it worked fine for years so I bought it :(

  
  
  80+ certified badge should help that
• Shirayuki wrote on 2011-08-13 08:56

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;550542:

  80+ certified badge should help that

  
  
  Apparently Apex fries half your computer, so I guess I'm replacing this asap.
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-13 08:58

  Quote from Shirayuki;550540:

  Aw hell, I use an Apex PSU @.@
  
  People said it worked fine for years so I bought it :(

  
  
  D8
  
  Different unit (AL-D500EXP 500W), but still hilarious:
  

  Summary
  
  Ok, I have to admit to being somewhat surprised by this unit, in a good way. Ripple was in hand, the output section was built with excess capacity (not used to seeing that from Deer), and the input filter was well done. Unfortunately, not enough changed. It blew up. Literally. It couldn't do better than a good 350W, and the OCP didn't stop it from dying. I mean, the main switching transistors died to protect the $.01 FUSE! How messed up is that?
  
  At any rate, nothing dies like a running Deer.
  
  The Good:
  
  nice input filter
  enough secondary side capacity to get the job done
  kept ripple under control
  
  The Bad
  
  voltage regulation sucked
  no PFC
  not very purty
  what efficiency?
  
  The Mediocre
  
  tried to recreate Chernobyl in miniature during the COLD tests
  

  
  :XD:
• Andy-Buddy wrote on 2011-08-13 09:12

  Quote from Yoorah;550547:

  D8
  
  Different unit (AL-D500EXP 500W), but still hilarious:
  
  :XD:

  
  
  I nearly choked while reading this, huehuehue.
  
  I'll go look for something better, this is sort of a side project while I actually look for a job :c. (Looking into computer parts and stuff and keeping this updated so I can get to know computer parts better.
• Ark wrote on 2011-08-15 04:09
  First thing i wanna mention, your going to need a higher cpu for that gfx, 500 or 650 watts would be ideal. And you may want to get a better cooler for your cpu. As stock coolers do tend to suck. I decided to look up one for ya and this seems good for its money. XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W
  
  And as for a cooler: Hyper 212 Plus
• Mystickskye wrote on 2011-08-15 15:46
  500w is far more than enough for the 6850. 650W would be going way overboard. The max TDP of the 6850 is only 127w, even a system with OCed i7 and having the 6850 at full load only pulled 287w (they deduce that the card was pulling 121w). Anandtech reports 274w at full load with their setup though they don't describe their test system. Tomshardware reports a slightly higher 139W for the 6850 but their wattage figures seem higher across the board in that particular review. Regardless, the 6850 uses very little power compared to many other cards and even a 350w PSU would be plentiful (provided it can provide that many watts on the 12v rail, some unscrupulous sellers advertise "total 500w" but the 12V rating is over a 100w less!). There's not that much price difference between the greenpower and the one the cat recommended (you could also opt for the 400W gamer PSU for $5 less than that one if you can live without modular cables). Mind that the greenpower comes without an actual power cable though.
  
  The 955BE can be clock lightly by changing the multiplier from 16 to 18 without much in the way of side effects (no need for additional cooling) but for pure gaming I think the i3-2100 is still better. As far as cheap and good goes though, the 955BE should be a pretty solid choice. If you ever do stuff that benefits from an extra two cores then bonus.
  http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=289
  You can see for yourself the kind of difference the cores make. Newegg has the 955BE for $120 and the i3-2100 for $125 so there's not much difference in price there.
  
  Other than that, yoorah pretty much has you covered. The only thing I'll say is, what's your definition of maxing out? With games it'll depend on resolution and such as well as your hardware. If you're talking about running in full 1920x1080 then you'll be able to run at max settings in Vindictus but probably not at the 60fps cap.
• Andy-Buddy wrote on 2011-08-17 05:08
  I've been comparing this computer to my brother's, which he built about a year ago, every step of the way. His manages to keep Vindi at 60fps at 1080p at all moments except for the most physics-intensive.
  
  I plan on getting the Antec EarthWatts 500W, the upgrade of the one I listed in the OP. Also has Bronze 80+ Certification.
  
  Other than that, I think I'll be able to keep up to play most games. I really should read into it more, but I'm too lazy. I know it'll do what I want, for sure.
  
  Thanks Guys!
• Yoorah wrote on 2011-08-17 06:04
  That motherboard doesn't appear to support DDR3 RAM. :0
• Mystickskye wrote on 2011-08-17 09:46

  Quote from Andy-Buddy;555145:

  I've been comparing this computer to my brother's, which he built about a year ago, every step of the way. His manages to keep Vindi at 60fps at 1080p at all moments except for the most physics-intensive.
  
  I plan on getting the Antec EarthWatts 500W, the upgrade of the one I listed in the OP. Also has Bronze 80+ Certification.
  
  Other than that, I think I'll be able to keep up to play most games. I really should read into it more, but I'm too lazy. I know it'll do what I want, for sure.
  
  Thanks Guys!

  Why the 500w? Not that there's anything wrong with it but given that you said you were trying to save money I'm puzzled why you didn't pick even the 430w version. It's not much money saved but you won't ever be using that extra wattage.
  
  That and Yoorah picked up a good point. You'll want to grab another mobo. If you go with yoorah's original suggestion of a uATX board then you can get one for $50 that should work for you.
• Andy-Buddy wrote on 2011-08-17 09:55

  Quote from Mystickskye;555483:

  Why the 500w? Not that there's anything wrong with it but given that you said you were trying to save money I'm puzzled why you didn't pick even the 430w version. It's not much money saved but you won't ever be using that extra wattage.
  
  That and Yoorah picked up a good point. You'll want to grab another mobo. If you go with yoorah's original suggestion of a uATX board then you can get one for $50 that should work for you.

  
  
  I didn't know there was a 430W version, and I'll look at some of the uATX boards in the morning.
  
  Thanks for all the help, again. That would have hurt if it didn't work right. :D