Hi all. the build is in my sig. + I have 2 DVD burners and a firebox interface I've searched the forum. google etc. but didn't find too much updates information that is DAW-Oriented. So I wanted to know what PSU should I get for my system that will be reliable and silent and appropriate for a DAW. Budge: ~50$ Power Needed: less than 350W(According to this calc: link) Would I benefit from buying a 450 or 500 or more Power Supply? or the bigger, the noisier? Thanks, ZBBZ. EDIT: Also, should I get a CPU fan? is it possible to get a cenet, quiet one for ~10$ ?

Avoid the inexpensive power supplies as they tend to be overrated (watts) and have poor DC voltage regulation.

I'm using a 620 watt modular Antec "gamer" quiet power supply in my DAW system.  Size is not a factor in how quiet or noisy it is.  Better to "over power" to future proof (any future add ons) rather than just get the minimum and then have to upgrade later.  If you get a minimum power rated power supply it could be working at or near maximum and that would cause more heat and thus the fan(s) run faster and noisier.  You want a modular to eliminate all the extra/unused power leads that have to be stuffed inside a case.

I have a Corsair modular power supply in another recent build (with an i5 3550 CPU) and it too is quiet.
 

Huge capacity power supplies are built for one thing, high power draw video cards for gaming.  Your system would be fine with 500W or even less.  My DAW is running off a decent 350W supply and I have a higher power draw CPU than you do.

500W is the typical capacity these days, so that's about where your best value will be.  Go for a good reputable brand and good active PFC efficiency, like 80+ rating.  Corsair, Thermaltake, Antec, Seasonic, Enermax are decent brands, to name a few.  Supplies with a large fan on the side instead of the small one exhasting out the rear will be quieter.

For a CPU heatsink, the stock Intel's are OK, but you can get a quieter one. The tower style heat sinks with the fan that attaches to the side, pointing at the exhaust fan in the back of your case work really well.  Thermaltake makes some good ones with reasonable prices, about $30-$40.  The bigger more expensive one's are really only worthwhile if you're overclocking.

If you were to total up the power consumption for all the components in your computer, you'd probably find that it comes to well under 300W. Any old PSU would therefore seem to be adequate.

However, the problem is that the intake fan on a PSU is out of sight and if the box is sitting on a carpeted floor will quickly accumulate dust that restricts airflow. You can have a PSU that's operating at dangerously high temperatures and not know it. And once the thermal overload relay is tripped, you immediately lose whatever you were working on. This can occur with any PSU, but an oversized PSU can be abused a lot longer before it fails.

The real moral is that if you haven't had a look at the back of your computer in a while, it's probably a good idea to get in there with a vacuum cleaner.

Big box=big fan=quiet operation! After getting a new CPU cooler, my PSU is actually the loudest component in my case. Time to upgrade to one with a 135 mm fan!

Seasonic = quality It's the best!!!
 
Get the X series or Platinum
http://www.seasonicusa.com/X.htm
 
 
Trust me I have tried a bunch! Stay away from "Coolmaster". Those PSU sucks bigtime and the fans sounds like jetplan!
Other stuff Coolmaster do are really good like their fulltower chassi.

Corsair and the up commer Fractal Design seem good too.

87 Amps on the "traditional" design???

Someone isn't telling the truth.... well, actually it's more like they are lying through their teeth.

I'll wait and read the magazine reviews before I decide. ;-)

i used this:

Thermaltake TR2 RX W0134RU 550W ATX12V Ver2.2 SLI Ready Modular Passive PFC PFC Power Supply


i've been real happy with it.

Seasonic fanless, 460watt version.

Absolutely silent, just make sure the case airflow is sufficient to remove the heat (though my Seasonic actually runs pretty cool). Cases with the psu at the lower rear help with this.

mike_mccue










87 Amps on the "traditional" design???

Someone isn't telling the truth.... well, actually it's more like they are lying through their teeth.

I'll wait and read the magazine reviews before I decide. ;-)

Wait? Its has been out for over two years with fantastic reviews. Actually I use the X series myself with my DAW setup and I couldn't be happier!
No one is lying here it's called build quality!