Confused about power requirements :

C

CyberDeus-RagDoll

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
1,223
Ok..

I've always believed these "power usage" calculators and such, and generally followed the recommended path of getting a little more power (watts + amps) than I might need, but, I am here to say that i think we are getting TOO much power for our systems.

I say this, because, I noticed something just recently.

My "System 3" is running a 160 WATT "maximum output" power supply

It's a brand-name computer (got it in a hotdeal a while back)

Configuration

3 GB ram (2 x 1GB, 2x512mb)
2 x 750GB S-ata2 drives + a 250GB boot drive.
2 x Dual Port Tuners, for 4 'streams' simultaneously + playback
X800GTO2 -> x850xt-pe, OVERCLOCKED card (we game a little on this machine, and the video card overclocks very safely, and i decided i'm not ever gonna sell it)
Dual Layer Lightscribe burner
+ DVD Reader
a64-X2-3800+
(and the lcd has it's own power of course)
I've got a few extra low speed fans in it (including some hdd coolers)
WinMCE2K5
It runs GREAT.

How the hell could I be running all this on a 160W "max" psu?

The 750s are raided together, and I have at least 2 program recording at all "evening" times [I don't watch daytime tv], the processor is not overclocked, but it's also in 'always on' mode, so it's never running down to 1ghz or whatever.
 
Are you sure you're not looking at where the label says "3.3V + 5V combined wattage 160W maximum?"

What does THE REST of the label say? What kind of PSU is it?

Even an eMachine with on board video comes with a 300W PSU... a 300W PSU with a combined maximum wattage capability of 180W on the 3.3V and 5V.
 
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