Power supply calculators

Even though I'm not really 'in the market' for a new PSU, I was curious to see what I might need if/when I add a 2nd GTX260 video card to my rig for SLI. I did a Google search for 'power supply calculator' and tried just about all of the links provided on the first 2 pages of results (many of the results linked back to the same calculators). Here's the crazy part: most of the calculators said I'd be OK with a PSU between 477w and 638w!!!! :eek WHHHAAAA!!??!!!?!??!?!?!!!? That seems awfully low. I'm running a 650w now with my current rig (3 x SATA HD; Phenom2 X4 CPU; GTX260 Video; 2 x DVDRW) and I feel that it's close to maxed out, but I've had ZERO issues with stability (it's a quality Antec unit). Out of all the calculators I tried, only TWO seemed to be accurate with results over 900w: one said 925w, and the other was 'sponsored' by Corsair and recommended two specific models, one at 950w and the other at 1000w. These results seem a bit more realistic. So, I guess I'm wondering just how accurate these PSU calculators really are. I even added extra devices in many of them just to get a bit of 'headroom'.... for example: I said I had 5 case fans when I really have 3, and I said I had 4 DDR2 2gb memory sticks when I really have 2 sticks at 2gb each....
:confused

 

Hmm, Antec's calculator seems to be accurate. By their nunbers, I'm pulling 505W running a stock Q6600, 4GB RAM, 2X OC'd 9800GTs and 3HDDs. I've been running now for over a year and 24/7 with an Antec Eartwatts 500W with both GPU's and all 4 cores of the CPU pinned folding. Corsair recommended a min. of 550W. I know, I know the writing's on the wall if I don't get a 650W and soon but this just goes to show one the importance of a quality PSU.

Strange thing is when I checked for a pair of GTX260-216 in the same rig Antec gave me 612W and Corsair 950W. I will be getting another GPU and just hope my Corsair TX750W can take it or just bite the financial bullet and grab a 950W. It's too bad these calculators don't agree.

 

Yup.... my point exactly....