Amazing...

[[AK]The Beast]

...how cheap power supplies have gotten. I just snagged a 550 watt model for $19 ($16 base plus $3 to add a second fan). My old 300W power supply just doesn't cut the mustard any more...I'm reduced to one hard drive because the second one just can't get enough juice (it stops and starts in a way that's very bad for it when it's plugged in) and when I go to start my computer, I usually have to do it several times because I get the "You have not plugged the power cable into your Radeon" message while the computer beeps like a maniac at me. Something crashed that caused it to restart somewhere around 5 this morning, and the beeping woke me up (the computer's right across the hall from my bedroom). I'll be glad when this bugger gets here.

[[AK]Hylander]

Many people skimp on the PS when rebuilding a PC and it's a huge mistake. That being said, I'd be a little skeptical of any claim of a 550W PS for $19.00. You may be getting one that comes with feeding instructions for the hamster and/or gerbil.

I personally do not use anything but Antec, but PC Power & Cooling are great as well.

[[AK]Bribo]

Antec rocks. Enermax are good as well.

[[AK]The Beast]

The one I got is an XCase PowerMagic 550--supposedly it's an "AMD Athlon XP Recommended" power supply. The price is low because I bought it off some Pricewatch fly-by-night--probably fell off the back of a truck or something. In any case, I put it on my credit card for an added layer of protection--it's my SOP for anything computer-related.

[[AK]The Beast]

Ahhh...a happy PC makes a happy Beast. I put the new power supply in this evening--I can now run both my hard drives, all my fans, and the vid card no longer beeps at me with the "You have not connected the power cable to your Radeon" message every time I try to turn it on. Oh, and no hamsters, gerbils, mice or other rodents.