PSU Overkill Danger

Bennie-Mac · 26 Sep 2008 at 14:42

Ive just ordered a 1000W PSU and was wondering if there are any dangers using this on a syatem that only requires about 600W? Im planning to get more graphics cards and upgrades in the future and thought id save the hassle by getting a bigger PSU now.

Thanks

james.miller · 26 Sep 2008 at 14:45

yes it will explode.

(im lying it wont). what system are you building that reqiures 600w? i bet it doesnt....

Greebo · 26 Sep 2008 at 14:50

james.miller said:
(im lying it wont). what system are you building that reqiures 600w? i bet it doesnt....

I reckon your right too. If it does use 600W then its perfect. The fan will hardly be running and it should be right in the middle of the best efficiency of the psu.

Is this a tri-sli system? If not, then a 700-800W psu max would have sufficed.

EsaT · 26 Sep 2008 at 15:28

Bennie-Mac said:
...that only requires about 600W?
Im planning to get more graphics cards

Now just one graphic card? Then 300W is closer to actual draw.
(4807X2 is two cards in one package, Ati just hides fact better than Nvidia)

Strife212 · 26 Sep 2008 at 15:33

More direct answer, no it wont hurt, it only draws what it needs. I'm currently using a 1000w as well.

Mattus · 26 Sep 2008 at 16:26

It won't hurt, but drawing 300W from a 1000W PSU will raise your leccy bill a bit compared to 300W from, say, a 600W PSU. PSUs are less efficient when they're only lightly loaded.

adamsleath · 26 Sep 2008 at 16:32

a good 1000W psu should handle 2 x 4870x2's

a corsair 750tx will handle a 4870 crossfire system, close to optimum efficiency

adamsleath · 26 Sep 2008 at 16:34

oops sry for double post...

under load - full system power draw.

james.miller · 26 Sep 2008 at 16:36

Mattus said:
It won't hurt, but drawing 300W from a 1000W PSU will raise your leccy bill a bit compared to 300W from, say, a 600W PSU. PSUs are less efficient when they're only lightly loaded.

if you look at the efficancy firgures its literally a couple of percent at most. you'd gain far more from using more efficiant hardware in the first place, and if your running xfire or sli thats hardly a priority lol

flinco · 26 Sep 2008 at 17:35

why would you get a 1000w, even with 2 gfx cards you dont need near that.

Bennie-Mac · 26 Sep 2008 at 17:35

Well ive got a 4870x2 and will probably buy another one when i get the moolah

Im not really that bothered about power draw or anything i was just checking it wouldnt explode

Greebo · 26 Sep 2008 at 17:43

flinco said:
why would you get a 1000w, even with 2 gfx cards you dont need near that.

Depends. I don't like my psu having its fan running so keeping it to 60% capacity is a good thing in my books.

Gives my room to grow later with a couple of 4870x2

setter · 26 Sep 2008 at 17:53

Adding a 4870x2 to my system next week and im wondering if my psu will be ok with this card, along with my quad @3.6ghz, 4gb ram, 2 dvd drives 1 hdd and 4 fans. psu is a thermaltake toughpower 750w.

The Mad One · 26 Sep 2008 at 18:01

setter said:
Adding a 4870x2 to my system next week and im wondering if my psu will be ok with this card, along with my quad @3.6ghz, 4gb ram, 2 dvd drives 1 hdd and 4 fans. psu is a thermaltake toughpower 750w.

You'll have no problem with that PSU, I'm currently trying to find out whether my Corsair 520W will power a 4870 X2, looking at those charts adamsleath posted it might just.

EsaT · 26 Sep 2008 at 19:54

adamsleath said:
http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/734/power_consumption.jpg
oops sry for double post...
http://techreport.com/r.x/radeon-hd-4870-x2/power-load.gif
under load - full system power draw.

Not system draw, draw from wall so numbers include 15% of air.

The Mad One said:
I'm currently trying to find out whether my Corsair 520W will power a 4870 X2, looking at those charts adamsleath posted it might just.

Well enough unless you've got some power waster CPU.

MikeHunt79 · 26 Sep 2008 at 20:03

Lol, a 1000W psu could power 2 pc's