Watts consumed by digital multimeter = less than 1 watt

I take it you mean use the digital multimeter to check PC wattage use. Yes, its possible, set to AC current measurement, then measure the current taken by the PSU and multiply it by 230 (or if you want to be so damn accurate, measure the voltage and use that instead). Perfect accuracy can be achieved if you're using a active PFC psu and a sine wave digital multimeter, but the accuracy of a normal digital multimeter is still pretty ok with an active PFC psu. With non active PFC psu, readings might not be accurate because you have to account for the phase shift in the current, which is pretty hard to measure using easily available equipment.

PS : to measure current you'll have to cut one of the AC power wires and put the multimeter in connected to both cut ends of the cable. DO NOT ever connect the multimeter directly to Live and Neutral on AC while in Ampere (current) measurement mode, if you're lucky you'll just blow the multimeter's fuse, if not you'll see smoke coming from the multimeter.

funny guy u are...

sorry for the misleading sentences. i mean calculate pc wattage use using digital multimeter.

that's sound hard. anyway, thanks for sharing the info. btw, how much the special watt meter like mr sniper's?

spam?

This post has been edited by mfa333: Jun 12 2007, 09:38 PM

has anyone tried the gigabyte new modular psu??? it's very nice priced n packed...

Should be less than RM100 for cheapo ones, better ones should cost RM100-200. You can get a decent digital multimeter for that money already.

Actually its not that hard, I'll put a photo to show how it can be one without any cable cutting (I'm borrowing a digicam next week to record a modding worklog). Only need an extension cord or a PSU cable which uses a 3 pin plug that can be opened.


Gigaabyte also want to main with PSU..haiz..wonder whose circuit design they will use..

But frankly, manufacturing PSUs isn't hard if you're ordering the components in bulk (otherwise its damn expensive), and you don't need anything other than a soldering iron and some crimping tools to put one together. No wonder all the companies want to produce PSUs, very good profit margin.

This post has been edited by lohwenli: Jun 16 2007, 07:44 PM

Thinking of going quad-core once Intel drops the CPU prices on July 22nd.

I'm using enermax liberty 500watts.

Do you think it would be adequate to run a q6600 + single 8800 GTX?

If so, would I have enough wattage to OC the rig?

This post has been edited by kmarc: Jun 17 2007, 09:45 PM

gigabyte PSUs r made by channel well in china... will be trying both pro n gt series of 550w psu... the package n design r very very attractive indeed... let see if the 800w will really perform well like those fsp epsilon 700w blue colour psu...

My Thermaltake toughpower 700W burnt alrdy... sending to RMA soon.
Hope my mobo and proc is still okay

This post has been edited by InF.anime: Jun 18 2007, 09:26 PM

How come? Toughpower 700W is supposed to be pretty reliable. If capacitor leak/letup, got strong smell wan, anything else nothing much-just won't turn on.

haiz.. i also dunno, the fan was dead for few days. But no time to RMA yet. Now PSU burnt alrdy.. sob sob

Fan dead?!! Any PSU will die from overheating eventually, even a ultra-expensive PC Power and Cooling. The Toughpower 700W does have some degree of overheating protection, but it reacts too slow if the fan is already dead.

One thing I can't understand about PSU makers, can't they just implement proper overheating protection and jammed fan protection? PSU capacitors are even more vulnerable to overheating than any other component in a PC, with overworked power MOSFETs being second. Capacitors can blow at as low a temperature as 80C, and typical operating temperature in most PSUs is already 50-60C even with the fan running at moderate to full speed. With the fan dead, temperatures will easily get high enough to make popcorn out of the capacitors

doubt it, id go for 600ish min. a little extra wattage wouldnt hurt either cuz you dont consume say 1000 watts if you have a 1000 watts psu, you only use what ur PC needs.

if ur psu is constantly on full load (eg: a 500w psu and ur using some 49x watts all the time) you risk overloading ur psu should there be sudden increment of power usage, or worse damaging ur parts.

of course, at the same time, buying a higher wattage psu also cost more, so you'll have to balance it out.

lohwenli: fan dead still want to use, cant blame him, or the product, for that matter

Ok. Thx for the advice!

looking for Thermaltake ToughPower 2000W rite now.. but cant find in local retails yet. I believe ToughPower is still a nice PSU line.

This post has been edited by InF.anime: Jun 19 2007, 12:27 PM

Why do you need such a monster when you can't even fully utilize it? Just wondering.

Wahliao! Why a 2k watt PSU?

One thing I've learned about PSU is that it is better to get a slightly higher wattage than your requirement. If you need a higher wattage PSU next time, just sell the current one and buy a new and better featured one!!!

Thats overkill..like using an atomic bomb to kill a ant.. I'll say 600W-650W would be the sweet spot if you intend to overclock that system. If not, then you can get away with 450-500W.

Non-overclocked
Processor -130W
Motherboard, RAM & drives -70W
Graphic card -150W

Total -350W (As it is, its actually a pretty generous allowance, considering that it the C2Q is actually rated only 105W, and the 8800 takes only 110-130w)

my psu died and am looking to replace it.
silverstone tech's strider ST56F caught my eye. This psu is compatible with my current rig right? (Am using barton, NF2 mobo)

I'm going to upgrade to C2D soon, so might as well buy a good one and use now.

EDIT: or wat other similar PSU do u guys suggest? (that i can use now, and also later when upgrade to C2D)

This post has been edited by slash: Jun 21 2007, 10:13 PM

The ST56F will be enough for your future C2D set. It is a little excessive for your current barton and NF2 though..

is Power Logic 500t that good? 450wts onli