need help on what power supply to buy??

While I think the best power supplies are from http://www.pcpowerandcooling.com , I just fit a 450 Watt PSU from compgeeks.com and don't bother with trying to figure out if a smaller supply will do.

If you want to research power in depth, read these two.

http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20040122/
http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/

Bob

The p/s unit is the most underrated device in your system and while it may appear "non-glamourous" it does whatever it takes to get things done. You can find many a brand out there for under $60, but I suggest you look at Enermax and Antex(sp) units for a truly stable output and they may cost more but not that much when you consider how it supports the overall demands of the system. I further suggest you get a 2-fan p/s unit for better cooling. Google for the price range, etc. but get at least a 350W or better, 400W being preferred.

good luck ------Willy

are you sure this isn't a temperature problem causing the shutdown? oh well -- if your PS isn't big enough, may as well replace it. I have an enermax that has served me well - reasonably quiet. --fj

It may not be the power supply at all. If it is not, then replacing it probably won?t help. I would say to look at your power options in control panel first to be sure it is not set to power off after a certain time. You should also check the power settings in the BIOS. If you do get a new supply, don't bother with anything lower than a 400 watt.

i have check the power monitor on my bios. it seem that my voltage is varying form this values:

vcore voltage 1.52v-1.55v
+3.3v voltage 3.04v-3.05v
+5v voltage 4.97v-4.99v
+12v voltage 12.09-12.16v

and by the way the power supply i'm using is just 300w. here's my problem sometime when i turn on my pc it won't turn on i should slam it first before i can turn on.hehehe and sometimes pc turn on and i'm using it properly then it suddenly shutoff by itself, or sometimes i turn on then it is starting looping on and off. this causes my harddrive to have an bad sectors....

Using a too small power supply causes the motherboard capacitors to work overtime. It also can contribute to BLUE SCREAMS OF DEATH (BSOD) with a variety of errors and as the power dips, you get hard drives marking bad sectors.

With proper size supplies being cheap, I always wonder why people fit such small units.

Bob

PS. Yes, it's Blue Screen Of Death...

BOB,

It seems most ppl opt for the smaller to save price.

I would go with what everyone else has recommended so far. Enermax or Antec being good ones. Go for around the 400w minimum.

AJ

are you sure you arnt overheating those voltages you show are fine there all within the proper limit.

these are mine

vcore = 1.76
+3.30v = 3.28
+5.00v = 4.75
+12.00 = 12.22

on a second look may i just ask what proccessor you have the vcore looks a bit low.

alright w/o you telling me I know you have an AMD Athlon or Duron CPU...Pentium 4 NW's run in the 1.5v range.

I will have to suggest the Forton Source 530W unit, another thing to look at...do you have your computer on a power strip? Try plugging direct into an outlet that has nothing else plugged into it (I know it causes surge issues, you also DO STILL NEED a higher wattage unit...I had a 450W with acceptable rails give me some trouble with that issue, I ordered up a Forton and now I just run direct to wall...I wonder if I needed the Forton)
but anyways I would try plugging into an un-occupied outlet and get a 400W+ unit, I would reccomend 530W unit from FSP...but then again I just love the power (but not the weight) of the FSP unit.