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My current specs are:

  • Thermal Take TR2-470NP 470W
  • Asus M2N-X
  • AMD Athlon64x2 4200+ (Windsor)
  • 2x1GB 667 DDR2
  • A bunch of HDDs (1 IDE, 3 SATA)
  • 7600GT

If I am calculating it right, my current power consumption must be around:

35W + 90W + 15W + 4 * 15W + 60W = 260W

I am willing to upgrade my VC to HD5770 and from what I've read, it uses 18-108W, i.e. I'll need to add just another 50W, making it to 310W.

What do you think? Will the PSU be powerful enough? At the moment, it's giving me 12.74V on the 12V rail (or whatever it's called). Not that I'm sure it's saying anything as I rather think one should be probing the amperes).

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That power supply unit is a VERY bad unit. Not only is it unable to produce its maximum rated wattage (shuts off/and or explodes around 400W), it is horribly inefficient and doesn't even have active power factor correction! It also provides shaky power to your components which makes them more prone to failure and less overclocking headroom.

Voltage is not a good indicator of PSU health, especially when you are measuring it through software.

I would replace that power supply ASAP; a new and more efficient unit will easily pay for itself in reduced electricity bills.

Good units are (they could all power the rig):

  • Corsair CX430 - amazing for the price
  • Antec EA380/430
  • Antec NeoEco 400W
  • Seasonic 350/400W bronze

My vote goes to the CX430 for its really low price.

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    +1. I would just point out that going to 500 or ever 600W may be worth it; power supplies tend to run quieter, cooler, and last a lot longer when they're under their rated load.
    – Shinrai
    Commented May 10, 2011 at 20:56
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    You sound as though you had first hand experience with my PSU? Is it the case?
    – Albus Dumbledore
    Commented May 10, 2011 at 20:57
  • This is a myth. While powersupplies are more efficient at 50% load than at 100%, because bigger power supplies use more power at idle (which is what your computer does most of the time) it actually costs you more.
    – charliehorse55
    Commented May 10, 2011 at 20:57
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    Basically, if you get a PSU that has too many watts, it actually uses more electricity than if you got a smaller one. More info here: overclock.net/power-supplies/872013-50-load-myth.html
    – charliehorse55
    Commented May 10, 2011 at 21:00
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    PSU rails have nothing to do with it's performance. They are a safety feature. The internals are most likely very similar inside. A rail is just a current monitor - if the current goes over that amount it shuts off the unit.
    – charliehorse55
    Commented May 10, 2011 at 22:15

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