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Paranoid Android · 2012-06-05, 08:16

http://www.corsair.com/builder-series-cx430.html
Corsair CX430

430 Watt
+12 V Rails (1)
+3.3 V (20 Amps)
+12 V 1 (28 Amps)
80+ Efficiency

My retailer is on deal for $30.

I'm buying a custom system as a gift for an elderly couple. It's a multimedia PC that will hopefully last them forever (they use a Pentium IV

)

Supporting a
i5 2320 (95Watt) + GTX550 Ti + 7200rpm (This is a bit imbalanced)
OR
Phenom II X6 1045T (95Watt) + HD6570 + 7200rpm

No OC on anything. I want a safe PSU. not one that barely supports it and has a lifespan of 1 year. More like 10 years. (currently under $400 excluding the HDD/RAM/monitor/keyboard/mouse that I have so many spares of)

Thanks

Random32 · 2012-06-05, 16:10

The PSU you chose should be enough for the AMD system, but not for the Intel.

Good tool for estimating what PSU to buy.
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

btw, I think the builds you have are overkill for the purposes for the elderly couple. If not gaming or GPU compute, integrated graphics are enough. i5 is overkill, i3 is more than enough. As for AMD, X6 is worse than X4 unless they use highly multithreaded software, which is doubtful.

Paranoid Android · 2012-06-05, 17:01

Thanks! Yeah they are somewhat overkill but currently the i5 is on sale and is same price as the i3 lol.

As for X4 > X6, I didn't know about that so thanks for the info.

Ryuudou · 2012-06-05, 20:35

You should get around 600 watt minimum nowadays so you have extra room for more HDDS and things like that.

sa547 · 2012-06-05, 20:47

Quote:

I'm buying a custom system as a gift for an elderly couple. It's a multimedia PC that will hopefully last them forever (they use a Pentium IV )

For basic setups that doesn't have to be too much, I'd recommend the following (I have an elderly couple for a client who sometimes call me in to fix their rig, and I understand what they use):

* AMD's F1 series of APUs, which basically integrates the CPU and GPU into a single package, which is much better than using IGP (integrated graphics). There are now motherboards out there that use those processors, and at the same time allows for future upgrades.
* 2gb of memory (4gb to factor in the APU shared video memory) is just enough for everyday use -- web browsing, video playback, word processing, basic games, and bookkeeping.
* unless they love to download, I feel that 320gb of hard drive is enough; Seagate and WD drives usually last very long.
* To keep the rig stable to last longer, get a UPS, including those made by APC.

I remember that the lifetime of a PSU varies from one another depending on how it's being used, especially when factoring in the capacitors' slow deterioration. In this case, 3-5 years should be enough for the PSU if they use the PC for 6-8 hours a day, but it'll be a record if the PSU lasts for 10 years (and I have a 2000-era Compaq Deskpro that's still okay).

As far as really solid PSUs are concerned, IMHO this is the ultimate (they're still around for many years):
http://www.pcpower.com/index.html

BTW, I also used a P4 rig before it was replaced by a new custom-build based around the Athlon II X2 260.

Flower · 2012-06-05, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

...Unless they love to download, I feel that 320gb of hard drive is enough; Seagate and WD drives usually last very long.

For some reason this evoked an exaggerated and humorous series of images in my brain.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

...To keep the rig stable to last longer, get a UPS, including those made by APC.

I can definitely second this - extremely helpful.

Paranoid Android · 2012-06-06, 12:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

As far as really solid PSUs are concerned, IMHO this is the ultimate (they're still around for many years):
http://www.pcpower.com/index.html

Wow those are really good. O:

The couple wants to do a lot of things (photoshop/uploading videos/downloading videos/movies). I have no idea what they want to do exactly, and neither do they. So it's really ambiguous for me. (I forgot I used to play Starcraft on a Pentium III lol)

Dist · 2012-06-06, 17:41

If they don't game, they still need no graphic card at all. Intergrated will go long way with stuff you described. In fact, I just built a computer for my mum which was also a sort of multimedia pc .. Went with i3-2100, H61M motherboard, 8GB memory and XFX 450W PSU. 8GB because well, it's dirt cheap so .. why not?

I would suggest same if not similar setup for you. If you insist on getting i5 (which you really won't need), at least drop the graphic card out completely. With that money, get a 64GB SSD. for Windows and programs. That SSD will really go long way when you look at the overall performance even for normal usage w/ no gaming.

Paranoid Android · 2012-06-07, 07:01

I dropped the AMD to X4 945 (4x3.0ghz) and intel to i3 2310 (2x3.4ghz)
Added a 525Mb/s Read : 500Mb/s Write 120 GB SSD Sata III ($90)

And PSU is a 500W PcPower MK III

Dist · 2012-06-07, 17:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

^
Say, use the SSD for the operating system, and the regular hard drive for documents and downloads.

Isn't that what I just said? Windows and programs.

Urzu 7 · 2012-06-11, 16:35

I used the PSU calculator to figure out what I could put on my computer. My PSU is 620 watts. I factored in a sound card, but I don't have one. Should I get a sound card? I just use sound from the motherboard. I hear that that eats up a little bit of processing power from the CPU, unless I have a sound card. Would it be worth getting?

Also, how do I factor in capacitor aging? The PSU calculator goes up to 50% capacitor aging. Now, my PSU is just a few months old. I have nothing to worry about with it for a few years or several years. I'm just curious, how long would it take for capacitor aging to reach 50% from someone who doesn't use their PC 24/7 (just pretty often) and doesn't game like 8 hours a day every day? How long do you think it would take to reach 40% or 45% capacitor aging?

Random32 · 2012-06-11, 17:52

I wouldn't bother with a sound card unless you are an audiophile. The integrated audio stuff is enough, and won't have a noticeable effect on performance.

As for capacitor aging. idk, too many factors. I would say several years.

BradleySmith · 2012-06-15, 16:52

PSU's are so cheap now days why not just get a 800W+ one? Then you can guarentee down the line if you decide to add SLI or another 2 hardrives that you're PSU can handle it.

sa547 · 2012-06-16, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by BradleySmith

PSU's are so cheap now days why not just get a 800W+ one? Then you can guarentee down the line if you decide to add SLI or another 2 hardrives that you're PSU can handle it.

Uh, he's building a rig for an elderly couple as a gift.

Dist · 2012-06-17, 12:25

And you don't need 800W for 3 hard drives lol. I have 3 and 625W ..

Dhomochevsky · 2012-06-23, 17:11

Besides the cheap PSUs, despite the high wattage they are caliming to have, often (always?) have low power on the 12V rail. Which is where it counts, because this is the main power source for CPU and GPU.

You can basicly consider the maximum load on 12V rails as the defacto power of a PSU nowadays.
The other rails will never max out before 12V does.

Alchemist007 · 2012-06-23, 20:32

If you're not doing gaming or something equally intensive, a 500w would be more than enough.

Wandering_Youth · 2012-06-24, 18:43

Well if it's for the elderly and it's for multimedia then a 500-600w would be better as it's the standard range for this day and age. I'll assume they're hardly going to do any gaming, but more on the lines of internet surfing, word process and maybe movie viewing.

Stick with the Intel CPU as those will last them a long time. I heard the I5's integrated GPU does a great job for processing and editing video.

2012-06-05, 08:16	Link #1
Paranoid Android Underweight Food Hoarder Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kitch-Water and T.O., Canada Age: 32	How much can this PSU support? http://www.corsair.com/builder-series-cx430.html Corsair CX430 430 Watt +12 V Rails (1) +3.3 V (20 Amps) +12 V 1 (28 Amps) 80+ Efficiency My retailer is on deal for $30. I'm buying a custom system as a gift for an elderly couple. It's a multimedia PC that will hopefully last them forever (they use a Pentium IV ) Supporting a i5 2320 (95Watt) + GTX550 Ti + 7200rpm (This is a bit imbalanced) OR Phenom II X6 1045T (95Watt) + HD6570 + 7200rpm No OC on anything. I want a safe PSU. not one that barely supports it and has a lifespan of 1 year. More like 10 years. (currently under $400 excluding the HDD/RAM/monitor/keyboard/mouse that I have so many spares of) Thanks

2012-06-06, 17:41	Link #8
Dist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Age: 33	If they don't game, they still need no graphic card at all. Intergrated will go long way with stuff you described. In fact, I just built a computer for my mum which was also a sort of multimedia pc .. Went with i3-2100, H61M motherboard, 8GB memory and XFX 450W PSU. 8GB because well, it's dirt cheap so .. why not? I would suggest same if not similar setup for you. If you insist on getting i5 (which you really won't need), at least drop the graphic card out completely. With that money, get a 64GB SSD. for Windows and programs. That SSD will really go long way when you look at the overall performance even for normal usage w/ no gaming. __________________

2012-06-11, 16:35	Link #11
Urzu 7 Juanita/Kiteless Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New England Age: 40	I used the PSU calculator to figure out what I could put on my computer. My PSU is 620 watts. I factored in a sound card, but I don't have one. Should I get a sound card? I just use sound from the motherboard. I hear that that eats up a little bit of processing power from the CPU, unless I have a sound card. Would it be worth getting? Also, how do I factor in capacitor aging? The PSU calculator goes up to 50% capacitor aging. Now, my PSU is just a few months old. I have nothing to worry about with it for a few years or several years. I'm just curious, how long would it take for capacitor aging to reach 50% from someone who doesn't use their PC 24/7 (just pretty often) and doesn't game like 8 hours a day every day? How long do you think it would take to reach 40% or 45% capacitor aging? __________________

2012-06-17, 12:25	Link #15
Dist Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Age: 33	And you don't need 800W for 3 hard drives lol. I have 3 and 625W .. __________________

2012-06-23, 20:32	Link #17
Alchemist007 Senior Member Author Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: USA	If you're not doing gaming or something equally intensive, a 500w would be more than enough. __________________ Fanfics Art MyAnimeList

2012-06-05, 16:10	Link #2
Random32 Also a Lolicon Join Date: Apr 2010	The PSU you chose should be enough for the AMD system, but not for the Intel. Good tool for estimating what PSU to buy. http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp btw, I think the builds you have are overkill for the purposes for the elderly couple. If not gaming or GPU compute, integrated graphics are enough. i5 is overkill, i3 is more than enough. As for AMD, X6 is worse than X4 unless they use highly multithreaded software, which is doubtful.

2012-06-05, 17:01	Link #3
Paranoid Android Underweight Food Hoarder Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kitch-Water and T.O., Canada Age: 32	Thanks! Yeah they are somewhat overkill but currently the i5 is on sale and is same price as the i3 lol. As for X4 > X6, I didn't know about that so thanks for the info.

2012-06-05, 20:35	Link #4
Ryuudou Member Join Date: Nov 2010	You should get around 600 watt minimum nowadays so you have extra room for more HDDS and things like that.

2012-06-07, 07:01	Link #9
Paranoid Android Underweight Food Hoarder Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Kitch-Water and T.O., Canada Age: 32	I dropped the AMD to X4 945 (4x3.0ghz) and intel to i3 2310 (2x3.4ghz) Added a 525Mb/s Read : 500Mb/s Write 120 GB SSD Sata III ($90) And PSU is a 500W PcPower MK III

2012-06-11, 17:52	Link #12
Random32 Also a Lolicon Join Date: Apr 2010	I wouldn't bother with a sound card unless you are an audiophile. The integrated audio stuff is enough, and won't have a noticeable effect on performance. As for capacitor aging. idk, too many factors. I would say several years.

2012-06-15, 16:52	Link #13
BradleySmith Senior Member IT Support Join Date: May 2012 Location: United Kingdom,Essex Age: 31	PSU's are so cheap now days why not just get a 800W+ one? Then you can guarentee down the line if you decide to add SLI or another 2 hardrives that you're PSU can handle it.

2012-06-23, 17:11	Link #16
Dhomochevsky temporary safeguard Join Date: May 2004 Location: Germany	Besides the cheap PSUs, despite the high wattage they are caliming to have, often (always?) have low power on the 12V rail. Which is where it counts, because this is the main power source for CPU and GPU. You can basicly consider the maximum load on 12V rails as the defacto power of a PSU nowadays. The other rails will never max out before 12V does.

2012-06-24, 18:43	Link #18
Wandering_Youth lost in wonder forever... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: edge of my dream in the land of twilight...ZzzZzZ	Well if it's for the elderly and it's for multimedia then a 500-600w would be better as it's the standard range for this day and age. I'll assume they're hardly going to do any gaming, but more on the lines of internet surfing, word process and maybe movie viewing. Stick with the Intel CPU as those will last them a long time. I heard the I5's integrated GPU does a great job for processing and editing video. __________________ Last edited by Wandering_Youth; 2012-06-25 at 18:00.