Antec 350W & PCI-E

[Carskick]

So will the Smart Power Antec 350 watt I bought for my future computer work with, say a PCI-e 6600GT?

Edit: topic split by Scuzzy

[query]

Check to see what connectors it has - Antec has a new line of power supplies with universal ATX/BTX/EPS12/etc. connectors but I don't think any of them run as low as 350W.

You may also want to have a look at the OCZ power supplies, which have been very well received.

And yes, the newer PSes run $100+.

[Carskick]

Arg, but I already made the purchase. Aren't PCIe motherboards still standard ATX?

Edit: I found a review on newegg where somebody with my case is using the stock PSU to run a P4 3.4Ggz PCIe system. It should work then. Antec Case

[query]

Many of the PCI-Ex boards now use a 24-pin power connector - the old 20-pin integrated with the 4-pin CPU power introduced by Intel with the P4.

[Carskick]

I pulled the case out of the box to take a look, and it has a 20 pin connector, and a 4 pin the manual says is for the motherboard as well. I'm guessing this can be used to complete the 24 pin hook up for a PCIe motherboard. If so, then I'm all good. 350 watts should be plenty for an A643000+, 2 HDDs, a 6600GT, 1GB RAM, and 2 optical. Heck, HP can do it with a generic 250watt, so I should have no trouble. Well, they don't use a 6600GT. I was also considering overclocking the 3000+ 90nm if it runs cool, which it should. I'd probably just do a small overclock to 2.2Ghz or something. The RAM I was looking at is PC3200, but people claim it is stable up to 230Mhz. I'll mess with it when I get the money to buy the rest of it. For now, I'll just hang on to the case and my 70C HP.

[slaxorz]

no you need a powersupply that uses the atx 2.0 spec the powersupply you have is for atxversion 1.3 or earlier.  Although a atx 2.0 is compatible with atx1.3 mobos it doesnt work the other way around. Plus for pcie as well as the sata you will need special splitters/adapters for the new equipment. They keep releasing these smaller footprint new technologies and not making things clear for people.  As for the video card do not skimp and get a vanilla 6600 make sure its the gt because for one the clock differance and although i havent seen you make any mention of it there is a future of upgradability if you want sli with the gt version.  With the vanilla there is no sli connector so sol on that front. I like Vanilla ice cream though.......... ;D

[Carskick]

It has SATA connectors. Are you sure it cannot be used with it? I have found some info saying they can with some motherboards, and that extra 4 pin connector may fill the 24pin.

And yes, I am planning on the 6600GT, as it is a much better performer than the 6600.

[Carskick]

I did more research, and the 4 pin I was looking at is for the CPU, not to fill the other 4 pins. Furthermore, it is possible on most motherboards just to plug in the 20 pin connector and leave the other 4 pins open, provided your PSU can provide enough juice on a single 12V+ rail. I belive mine provides 16A. Is that enough to power a 6600GT and an Athlon64 3000+?

Edit: Also, If I can do this by getting an AGP mobo and similar graphics and CPU, why would the power requirements be different?


Another edit: I think I'll just stick with AGP. I know it will work, and 6600GTs are massley available in AGP now. I looked it up, and they actually use less power than a 9800XT, and not much more than a 9600XT. The Winchester A64 also uses less power than the other A64s, so my PSU should be very happy.