Which power supply should I use?

[Wolfmight]

I'm getting a "geforce 7800gt video card, GIGABYTE GA-K8NE, and AMD Sempron 64 2800+ soon and I'm wondering if I should stick with my current power supply. The wattage is 580W, but I've been hearing that wattage doesn't make the power supply "decent", but rather something else. (input/output voltage levels?)
Anyways, here's the one I'm using now and it's been working fine for nearly a year:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163018

If that's no good, then is this one worthy enough to keep things running smooth and safe?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817148008 $50 :ermm:

What about this one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931
^ it's got the dual 12V and it costs about $89 :wacko: . Is it worth it?

any help is greatly appreciated. ;)

Yea, allot of people have been talking "sh*t" about the demon ps, but I haven't seen any problems at all. I guess a lot of them were bad, but mine was ok. Maybe it's because I'm using a Power strip made by Monster. It filters the electric current sent through it so that it's clean. Cleaner power keeps the computer's parts running longer I hear.

I found this info on extremeoverclocking:

Are 2 rails better than 1? Short answer = Yes. It depends on your system as to weather or not dual rails would actually be of any benefit. If yours is a simple system, with no exotic cooling, large disk arrays or flashing lights, then you would probably not benefit from dual rails.
I don't have any exotic cooling, large disk arrays or flashing lights. ;)

Does PFC play a big role in protection? It corrects the power to run at maximum efficiecy...does this mean less hardware failure?

Here's one with PFC, Over Voltage Protection, and Overload Protection: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103924
The only thing is the rails are +12V1@18A, [email protected] it's around 480W.

[zapjb]

Pick the Antec. My .02

[Wolfmight]

+12V1@19A, +12V2@19A
^ is that why?

[Wolfmight]

Which one of these should I choose?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103924

The prices are very similare, so that's nothing to worry about.

The only thing is One has 550W with less protection, while the other has 480W with tons of protection, including PFC. What's the better buy?

Note: I'm not going to be using SLI, because I don't have the cash to buy a second $300 graphics card. :frusty: ;)

[zapjb]

Nope. Antecs are usually rated consistent. Those other 2 brands & 99% percent of all PSU brands have no consistency. In other words if you don't have Antec, Tagan or PC Power&Cooling PSU and literally just a couple others. And you have high end modern hardware & you get a good 2-3 years of trouble free computing & no weird mysterious problems. Then you got lucky.

[zapjb]

I'd get the NeoPower. But ask clocker. He just got one in his shop.

[Wolfmight]

I'd get the NeoPower. But ask clocker. He just got one in his shop.
Someone told me this about the Antec NeoPower PSU


The NEO Antec is a modular PSU and I have been told it is better to stay away from modular PSUs.

Check this baby out:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103941
3 stars, but look at those specs.

[zapjb]

Jeez that model seems to have problems with some Asus & DFI boards. But I believe that's not the original Antec you pointed to. Anyways theres plenty of other Antecs that are rated 5 stars. Pick one.

[lynx]

Given your pc spec, make sure you get one which has PCI Express power connectors, otherwise you are going to have to get adapters (unless they come with the graphics card).

Edit: unless it's an XFX, in which case ordinary molex will do apparently.

[Wolfmight]

Alright, I went with the "Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W" and I stand by it. I know it's going to be better than my Powmax Demon 580W Open Flame.

The output uses Dual 12V rails at 19A each. Good stuff.
I have a Power Strip that has an Active PFC, so this means the power going into the PSU should be clean. Why else would it not? :shifty:

[clocker]

Edit: unless it's an XFX, in which case ordinary molex will do apparently.
Indeed.
Humorously, included in the XFX bundle is the very adaptor you mention...despite the fact that the card doesn't use it.
Go figure.:dry: