http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html

So I just found this. I guess it's old news but my pc has a stock ( i gotsa HP ) 400~sumthin watt and according to the calculator, I need a 617watt with my choices at: intel core duo, reg mobo, 8800gtx, DDR 2GBx2, DVD-RWx2, 7500RPM hdd x3.

This could easily explain the issues I have been having with my third hdd (this one is a 750GB and the other two are 250GB each) "disappearing" and freezing my machine when I transfer more than a gig to and from it.

I think I will get this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

HOWEVER I really want to get a new mobo and a second vid card, and if I do, I will have to then upgrade my power supply again to a 1000W.
Those are a bit more pricey (3x).

Except for the cheapest model, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159067 which is only 180 versus the 350 average. But the new mobo and vid card would be around 6 months from now if I don't go to PAX this year.


Anyway...
Is your power supply up to date with your PC?

Honestly, I think that no real computer used for home NEEDS a 1000watt power supply. Seriously.

Unless maybe if you are running one of those new quad-core's that intel is putting out. Uses a new socket too... they've finally dropped the socket 775 which they've been using forever. The new standard is 1366... and you can find some really sick looking heat sinks for them.

Anyway, I have a 650... and Honestly, I think it's kind of overkill. I have a single video card with dual output and two hard drives. I don't do much PC gaming, else I'd have two video cards to slap into SLI mode.

I do think 400 is a little low for today standards... but I think 1000 is overkill.

ive got a dual core and a big ass power supply to run it all. its odd since my machine doesnt feel like its running any faster then my older one. perhaps i need to reconfigure something to push the system harder. i also think a 1k power supply is outrageous, yet you have to look to the future. right now you need the next the 600 plus as your system is using inferior power, but you can probably wait a while for the 1k power supply's to drop and purchase one of them closer to your intended switch over.

i think i need more then 2gigs of ram though.

Yup, 1k is odd. 1.1k is what a microwave uses, generally. Doesn't take much more than that to require a dedicated line for your tower. Seems like a pretty big limit to who will bother to run the hardware.