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5870 on a 480w psu?

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OpenToSuggestions

Soldato
Joined
5 Aug 2006
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Derbyshire
As title, I am after a 5870 from MM. Just before I buy, I would like to know if a tagan 480w psu is enough for this card.

I know power requirements are massively overestimated (sometimes by 100's of watts). The psu in question is a tagan bought from ocuk 18-24months ago and was amungst the expensive brands like corsair in in terms of pricing. The PSU has two 6pin pci-e power adaptors on it (enough for the 5870).

The pc in question has an i5 750 which will be clocked, a few case fans, a dvd-rw and one mechanical hard drive.

I have checked reviews and the total system power consumption under load is below 400w. Just wanted to check with you lot before I buy.

Thanks!
 
If your planning on overclocking I wouldnt risk it. I would personally buy a new 600-700W PSU.
 
Here is another review showing total power consumption of 362 watts under load. I'm with you mate psu requirements are overstated and your psu should be fine.:)

Not much more than your 4890 at 335 watts.
 
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I am running a GTX 275 on a Corsair VX 450w with a Q9550 @ 4.0GHz a few HDDs, couple of TV cards etc with no problems...
 
jbloggs said:
I am running a GTX 275 on a Corsair VX 450w with a Q9550 @ 4.0GHz a few HDDs, couple of TV cards etc...
Click to expand...

I replaced my psu with a 750w corsair (as was on TWO and same price as the 650w) as i thought my 450w was causing bsod's on me. It turned out that I was just being a n00b at overclocking.

Since then my pc has turned into the one in my sig, with 3 mechanical hard drives and 1 ssd. So I would be on the limit of the 450w and need a new one anyway.

Thanks guys:)
 
Sorry, one last last question!

The min spec for the 12v line is 40 amps (although 40A*12V is 480w. A card drawing 200w would need 20 amps - All other 12v devices ignore of course).

The psu we have is 28Amps on the 12v line. Again, 40amps seems enormously OTT?

Do manufacturer's spec this 40A due to fluctuations in the current on cheaper psu's?

I do realise that there are many crap and many average quality psu's around, but the one in question is a decent one.
 
Should be alright with that PSU as long as you don't add more devices to the system before a potential PSU upgrade.

Ive got an i7 860 at stock, 5870, 6gb ram, 1 hdd 1 dvd rw and 2 case fans on a corsair 520W psu. Works flawlessly
 
James J said:
Should be alright with that PSU as long as you don't add more devices to the system before a potential PSU upgrade.

Ive got an i7 860 at stock, 5870, 6gb ram, 1 hdd 1 dvd rw and 2 case fans on a corsair 520W psu. Works flawlessly
Click to expand...

Awesome. Have bought it anyway as the bloke wasn't holding it for me.
If it doesn't work I will give my brother my 4890 and I will have the 5870 in my rig:p
 
People always exaggerate the amount of power needed for these things, I'm still using a 430W seasonic after all these years.
 
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