6870 on 500W?

Evilsod · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:30

I'm thinking of getting a new pc soon and was looking at the 6870 HIS and the new i5 3.3GHz Sandybridge.

Now i was originally thinking of a 6850 so a 500W Stealthstream was adequate (so i believe), though i began looking at the 6870 instead. I'd be connecting 1 SATA HDD and in the future maybe 1 SSD and i'm not sure about what potential for overclocking i would use. Would a 500W PSU be enough, given that sandybridge is more efficient or would i be better off spending a little more for a 600W or even 650W?

stulid · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:32

Its adequate, but only one 6pin PCI-E connector.

this has two 6+2 pins - http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-042-BQ&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1083

Orcvader · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:32

Do you have the OCZ 500w PSU now?
The 6870 will be fine on that PSU, it will cope.

sas30uk · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:34

Personally i would go with the 650W for future proof and overclocking just incase you ever have the bug to do it

Evilsod · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:41

Nah i don't have it now. Its all theorycraft atm, putting together things in my OcUK shop basket to see how much it'd cost (so i will be nagging for advice on a case soon

).

I don't really understand much about PSUs and all the slots they have on em (i'll probably start hallucinating the words PCI soon i've read it that much today looking at mobo's). What would be the advantage of the 2 6+2 pins on the BeQuiet over the StealthStream?

stulid · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:42

you wont have to use a ugly molex to pci-e adapter for the 6870 second 6pin power input.

Evilsod · 17 Jan 2011 at 23:52

Ah, didn't consider that (didn't even realise, as you can tell i've never built my own pc before and i'm pretty sure my 9600GSO isn't properly powered, it has 2 3+1 pins coming from it and only 1 is connected to the PSU).

If thats the case i might just look for a 600W 1 just to be on the safe side and for the future but i'll take a look at the BeQuiet.

ps. the first time i heard molex i thought Squark had made it up...

jamesfreddie · 20 Jan 2011 at 17:12

Should Be OK

ATIorNvidia · 20 Jan 2011 at 17:24

400w can power a 6870,and yes, with overclocking. 500w is far more than enough.

@Certain people please stop grossly overestimating the amount of watts you need when it comes to PSU's. *sigh*