[mythtv-users] Help on playing a CD without a screen, several satellite dishes and PSU's

[Brian Wood]

On Tuesday 08 July 2008 17:26:15 plainfaceboy wrote:

> 3.     A lot of systems/cases I've seen specc'ed have power supplies rated
> about <400W. Last time I built a PC I used a 650W PSU to ensure I had
> enough power for several drives/cards etc. 300-400W seems to be OK now -
> has hardware become less power hungry in the last few years!?
>
> If anyone can help with these, it would help me get a much clearer idea of
> what I need to get. Thanks.

Certainly the core 2 duos do draw less power than CPUs of a few years ago.

Having put my Kill-a-Watt on several systems I have been amazed at how little 
power most of them draw. Unless you're using a pair of major video cards 400 
or 500 watts should be sufficient for most systems today.

That is, if it is a "real" 400 watts. The specs on cheap power supplies are 
questionable at best, voltages often being measured individually, and since 
very few PC users use only the 5 volt, or only the 12 volt rail, the 
advertised spec is pretty meaningless.

As with most things in life, stick with known manufacturers and be wiling to 
pay for quality.

Best advice on PSUs I've run into is "pick it up, if it weighs next to nothing 
put it back". :-)

beww