PSU Question

[schumi]

Hi I currently have a 8800GT and a Antec 550w modular PSU and am wondering whether to upgrade to a new GTX280.
Would i need a new PSU ?

MY PC setup is:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 3.2Mhz
Gigabyte GA_965P_DS3 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
4GB OCZ PC2-6400 Dual Channel Platinum Revision 2 XTC Series DDR2
BFG GeForce 8800 GT OC 512MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Gamer Sound Card UK Retail
Western Digital Raptor 36GB
3 x 250GB Sata HDDs
Antec NeoHE 550W Modular ATX2.0 PSU

 

[Washout]

I'm in a similar situation. I think we're right on the edge of the recommended minimum though.

 

[Wayne~]

Well my 512GTS recommended around 500 so I would think it should need more

 

[Kearney_1988]

apparently you need a 550W with 40A on the 12V rails

 

[icey_haj]

Does that mean IF I were to buy a GT280, my 500W wouldn't cut it?

 

[Ben M]

the card itself draws 238W at full power according to the big green giant.

 

[schumi]

Yeah i think the Antec is 18A on the 12V rails so i guess i will need a new psu, anyone got any suggestions for a new PSU.
Also what do you guys think about the performance increase from a 8800gt would it be worth it ??
I'm currently playing Age of Conan and find it a bit sluggish running at 1680x1050.

 

[fornowagain]

You don't need that much. Remember that's after psu efficiencies (typ. 85%), actual used is lower.

Link.

Intel Core2 Extreme X9650 (3 GHz)
Intel X38 Motherboard
2 x 1GB DDR3 1333MHz
Integrated HD Audio
Seagate 7200.10 160GB SATA Drive
ATAPI DVD-ROM Drive

 

[icey_haj]

You don't need that much. Remember that's after psu efficiencies (typ. 85%), actual used is lower.

Link.

Interesting, are those accurate?

 

[fornowagain]

Interesting, are those accurate?

 

[icey_haj]

^ Thanks fornowagain, I guess they are fairly accurate

That means my 500W should be able to handle it

 

[fornowagain]

^ Thanks fornowagain, I guess they are fairly accurate

That means my 500W should be able to handle it

This is the OP's which has plenty (504w/42A). Whats yours?

 

[icey_haj]

This is mine

 

[schumi]

So i should be fine then looking at those stats thx

 

[Dutch Guy]

You don't need a 550W PSU with 40A on the 12V rails, they only say that to stop people with generic PSU's from filing a lawsuit against them, your PSU is well above minimum spec.

 

[p4radox]

A 550W PSU is easily enough, I mean you could probably run 2 cards with that much power.

 

[Fire Wizard]

snip

Hello schumi, as fornowagain has already stated, the power supply that you currently have will be absolutely fine.

snip

Hello icey_haj, the Coolermaster power supply that you have is able to deliver 33 amps on the +12Volt rail. Now, the Nvidia GTX 280 maximum power consumption is around 240 watts which equates to 20 amps. Now, looking at those graphs that fornowagain has posted and the sort of test system they are using in for example, the Anandtech review, it would seem that the Nvidia GTX 280 doesn't quite pull quite as much as the stated power consumption.

However, when looking at the power requirements, you should always take the peak power consumption as if it was the average to be on the absolute safe side.

Now, getting back to the sort of power your system including the Nvidia GTX 280 will require. As already said, the Nvidia maximum power consumption is around 240 watts which equates to 20 amps. The overclocked Intel E4300 will consume around 85 watts which equates to 7 amps. Then if you add a couple of hard drives rated at one amp each and then some for the extra headroom, you are looking at about 32 amps which leaves very little overhead if you wanted for instance, wanted to push your system a bit more or add a couple of extra hard drives for example.

You don't need a 550W PSU with 40A on the 12V rails, they only say that to stop people with generic PSU's from filing a lawsuit against them, your PSU is well above minimum spec.

Hello Dutch Guy, that would be very much dependent on the sort of system that a person has. For example, an Intel Q6600 overclocked to 3.3 GHz will pull around 150 watts which equals to 13 amps. Then, the Nvidia GTX 280 requires 20 amps, add a couple of hard drives at one amp each and then once again some for the extra overhead, you are looking at about 38 amps. So, the quoted figure of 40 amps which is required for a power supply to have isn’t that far off the mark for a high end system.

 

[Dutch Guy]

Hello Dutch Guy, that would be very much dependent on the sort of system that a person has. For example, an Intel Q6600 overclocked to 3.3 GHz will pull around 150 watts which equals to 13 amps. Then, the Nvidia GTX 280 requires 20 amps, add a couple of hard drives at one amp each and then once again some for the extra overhead, you are looking at about 38 amps. So, the quoted figure of 40 amps which is required for a power supply to have isn’t that far off the mark for a high end system.

You are right for a overclocked system and a max power use of 240W but the OP has a Dual Core and as many reviews have proven is that there is no situation where the GTX280 will use 240W

I would just try it with the current PSU and if it proves to be unstable or blow up get a new PSU.

I ran my old system for years on a Enermax 475W PSU that was also borderline, it died a few weeks ago so I bought a new one.

 

[gt_junkie]

I use a 550 watt yesico fanless psu in my rig in sig with no problems.

Only has around 30amps available on the 12v rail -> 16A on one and 18A on the other.

You should be fine i'd imagine.

gt

 

[schumi]

OK Thanks for the advice guys i think you've answered my question.
Now i just have to decide whether to get a GTX280 or not