Worried about having insufficient power for build (500W)

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
microapple

microapple

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
37
0
10,540
I bought a Corsair CX500 when it was on sale @ Newegg for just $30. At that time I was planning on using a 7850 in my build, but now I've noticed that there is a really inexpensive 7870 that I can just about squeeze into my budget.

Keeping in mind that I do not plan to overclock, and that I'm using a AMD FX6300 as my processor, should I go for the 7870, or be more realistic with my power consumption and stick with the 7850? (7850 only uses 1 PCI plug, 7870 uses 2)

I'm a n00b when it comes to PSU stuff, please be easy on me. :p

Here's a link to my full build: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1kjOe
I'll probably throw in a few fans, and have a couple USB devices plugged in at all times.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Another possibility: Would it be worth the hassle to return the Corsair PSU and buy a more powerful one? If so, what are some good recommendations?
 
Solution
ko888
For a system using a single AMD reference design Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition graphics card AMD specifies a minimum of a 500 Watt or greater system power supply. The power supply should also have a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 28 Amps or greater and have at least two 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

Total Power Supply Wattage is NOT the crucial factor in power supply selection!!! Sufficient Total Combined Continuous Power/Current Available on the +12V Rail(s) rated at 45°C - 50°C ambient temperature, is the most critical factor.

Overclocking of the CPU and/or GPU(s) may require an additional increase to the...
Sort by date Sort by votes
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990
For a system using a single AMD reference design Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition graphics card AMD specifies a minimum of a 500 Watt or greater system power supply. The power supply should also have a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 28 Amps or greater and have at least two 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

Total Power Supply Wattage is NOT the crucial factor in power supply selection!!! Sufficient Total Combined Continuous Power/Current Available on the +12V Rail(s) rated at 45°C - 50°C ambient temperature, is the most critical factor.

Overclocking of the CPU and/or GPU(s) may require an additional increase to the maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current ratings, recommended above, to meet the increase in power required for the overclock. The additional amount required will depend on the magnitude of the overclock being attempted.

The Corsair Builder Series CX500 (SKU# 75-001667 / CP-9020047), with its maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 38 Amps and with two (6+2)-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors, is more than sufficient to power your system configuration with a single Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition graphics card.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
microapple

microapple

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
37
0
10,540


Thank you so much for your quick response. One or two last questions: Does your estimate take in to consideration the CPU and other components, or do they consume a negligible number of amps?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
ko888

ko888

Titan
Feb 18, 2009
16,708
41
84,990


The estimate is based on a reference system that uses a 130 Watt TDP CPU which is a bigger power consumer than your AMD FX 6300 95 Watt TDP processor.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
microapple

microapple

Honorable
Jul 24, 2013
37
0
10,540


Great! Thank you so much!

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom