What psu wattage for amd 64

[Nubee]

Would like to try my luck again with amd64 system. Will use DFI NF4 without the SLI capability. I read somewhere that I will need at least a 480 watt psu to use one of the pci-e video cards, is this a fact or I can get by with my Vantec Stealth 470 watter ( has 24 pin & pci-e connector )? Rest of system is as follows;

4 x 512 ram sticks ( don't know if I can use all 4 as NF3 chipset allows only 2 )
2 x 120 gig hard drives
1 x dvd writer
1 x dvd-rom
3 x 120 mm fans
1 x 90 mm fan
audigy 2 zs
1 matrix orbital lcd

If I need a more powerful one, which one would you recommend? I'll appreciate the input of those who own the psu they're recommending as they have first hand experience with their system from day to day as opposed to the reviews who only test them for maybe a few minutes?

Thanks

[dvdvideo]

I'm no expert, but I think what you have is fine, as long as your power supply us truely 470 watts stable.

Here's what I run off my 380 watt truepower...
AMD64 3000+
Zoltek K8AN2E
160 gb maxtor 7200 hard drive (8 meg cache)
80 gig Maxtor 7200 (2 meg cache)
Audigy 2 ZS
Revolution 7.1
Mystique Gold 7.1
PNY 6800GT AGP 256 meg
1 gig 400mhz ddr ram
benq dvd burner
liteon dvd drive
floppy drive

Never had a problem.

[mlc2000]

Here's a little guide on power consumption at Toms Hardware (http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/powersupplies-02.html)

[Nubee]

Here's a little guide on power consumption at Toms Hardware (http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/powersupplies-02.html)

Thanks for the interesting article there. All I have to find out now is how much power the pci-e, a64 cpu and the mobo requires.

[Carnage]

I'd say you have more then enough power in a 470 watt.

People really tend to over estimate how much wattage they need in a PSU.