What PSU wattage for this set up?

sastusbulbas · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:21

Hi all,

I am still undecided over which PC to build, the release of a few more expensive i5 P55 mobo's and the latest quality issues have made me wonder about that route, though I have been wondering about the P55 power saving and self overclocking features as it would be a quieter more efficient family all rounder sollution.
What I do know is it "may" end up a similar spec to below if I get carried away. Even if I do go the i5 route I may end up trying Crossfire.

To that end, if I ended up with the components below in my PC, what power supply wattage would best suit me for quietness and efficiency? I see no point in saving £20 and getting a PSU suited to a single card i5 system if I may end up adding or upgrading to a system like that below.

My choice of PSU will be either BeQuiet or Corsair.

Cheers all.

BigRazer93 · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:24

This one will get you head room to add extra fans and hardrivs. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-018-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084
This one gives you head room for extra gpu etc http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-019-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084
I would go with corsair because of the 7 year warrenty.
Depends on what gpu's you are going to crossfire. If its the 5 series, the 850w would be fine, if the 4 series, 750 would be fine.

PermaBanned · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:25

I would go with a single 5870 over two 4870s, or two 5770s, your choice. They're so much better cards...

sastusbulbas · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:37

My reason for thinking of two 4870's is only due to having one already.

I am still temted with the P55 route with a single card,, but to be honest I think it needs to mature for a few months to sort out all the hype and bias. My original plan was an Intel E8500/Biostar single GPU system, but the release of i5 has made that decission redundant.

And I would rather buy a PSU that may have some amount of future proofing as the system changes than end up with a brick with not enough power and a lack of proper connectors.

This had been my initial first choice after deciding against AMD,

BigRazer93 · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:39

The 850w psu i posted is future proof unless you want to pay £150+ for a 100w psu that you won't really need mate

PermaBanned · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:40

Practically NO games support triple GPUs, it's pointless. Sell the one you have and get either two 5770s (better performance but less upgrade potential, low power draw) or a single 5870 (lower performance but possibility of crossfire in the future).

sastusbulbas · 17 Oct 2009 at 13:54

Superewza said:
Practically NO games support triple GPUs, it's pointless. Sell the one you have and get either two 5770s (better performance but less upgrade potential, low power draw) or a single 5870 (lower performance but possibility of crossfire in the future).

Sorry the first picture was not what I was buying but the spec, IE two cards were listed but I would only be buying one, if that was the route I was going I would be getting the basic i7 system and adding some of that stuff later.

I was only thinking of crossfire, it would mean I only have to spend £135 to have two identical cards.

A single 5870 would be around £300 by comparison, so not really an option unless its better than two 4870's in crossfire, in which case I would stick with a single 4870 and upgrade the GPU next year.

b-star · 17 Oct 2009 at 14:03

agree with wise guy!

sell HD4870 (~£80) and get HD5850 for £200, no needs for HD5870!
HD4870 crossfire NOW is out of date and is not worth extra £135!