Will a CX600 do for a GTX 780?

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

I'm building my first PC in a few weeks and will be getting a GTX 780, and I need a PSU.

I'm currently eyeing up the Corsair CX600. I'm aware that it is a pretty basic PSU and that I'm better off spending more money on a higher quality unit, but I am on a budget. Corsair is a reputable brand, so I don't expect the power supply to die particularly quickly, and 600W should be plenty for my system.

Will the CX600 do the job?

The full system:

i5-4670k @ 4.2GHz w/ cooler
Asus Z87-A
Corsair Vengeance 8GB, 1600MHz
MSI GeForce GTX 780 Lightning
Coolermaster CM Storm Stryker

I actually only need to use this PSU for about a year, because at that point I should have enough saved to buy a second 780, and then I will get a new, super-high-quality PSU to support the SLI configuration (and I don't want to just get that super-high-quality PSU now because A) I may not do SLI; and B) I don't really have the money). If I don't end up doing that, then the computer will have to last just another year afterwards. So the PSU needs to last just under 2 years at the max. And Corsair provides a 2 year warranty anyway.

Also, a question about connecting the gpu to the psu - the 780 requires 2 8-pin connectors, of which the CX600 has none. It does have 4x 4-pins, so would I use all of these instead? And that would leave no 4-pins; are 4-pin connectors needed elsewhere in a PC?
(In other words, do I need to buy any other connectors?)

Thanks.

meowmix44 · Nov 3, 2013

Ko888 will be here soon. I believe it should work

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

The CX600 has two 2x 6+2pin (which make 8 pins)

The 4 pins are used for motherboard and CPU

Make sure you get the latest CX600, the older ones sucked

I would even consider the EVGA 600B or the Antec HCG 620M as alternatives as they are on sale right now as well

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

stickmansam :

Thank you for clarifying about the connectors! Much appreciated. I guess that'd make sense; on the Corsair site it lists 2x PCIe connectors.

If you're in the US then you do not share the same sales as me here in the UK

though the evga 600B is considerably cheaper across all websites. If it will get me through 2 years of a GTX 780 then I will get that instead, as it saves a bit of money. And the Antec you mention is considerably more expensive.

meowmix44 · Nov 3, 2013

stickmansam :

It has 2 PCI-E connectors and the MB connector. Thats not a prob.
EDIT: Did EVGA lie?

BlankInsanity · Nov 3, 2013

mmmm CX600 is for low-mid budget built and the GTX 780 is high-budget, the CX600 doesn't use the best quality items, I'd suggest the XFX 650w or the TX650W they would prove better since they use high-quality components

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

BlankInsanity :

Antec HCG 620M as well
Made by Seasonic (like the XFX), also semi-modular

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

BlankInsanity :

I acknowledged that in post #1. What I am asking is, will it do the job for 1-2 years?

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

spending say $10 more over two years is worth it not dying on you (if it happens, probably won't) and even if warranty, RMA can be an hassle

BlankInsanity · Nov 3, 2013

Treeroy :

I reckon it'd do 3 years lol. If my shitty dell 460W psu is at 4 years and counting im sure a high-quality PSU will be well over fine

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

stickmansam :

So would, say, an Evga 600B be fine, then? Better than the CX600? I don't really know much about evga as a PSU manufacturer, so my instinct would be to go Corsair because I trust them.

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

They're comparable, I'll get the cheaper of the two. the Antec or XFX or Seasonic or TX will be the step up

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

BlankInsanity :

Yeah I have a 450W unbranded PSU and it's been fine for 2 years with a 6850.

But we are talking about the GTX 780 here, an ultra top of the range card. I don't want the PSU to die because it can't handle my components, or worse, my components die because of the PSU.

Though frankly, despite everyone saying the CX is low quality, I never hear of horror stories about them. Funny, that.

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

stickmansam :

Sooooo the CX600 would be good enough to handle it? This seems contradictory to what you were suggesting before. :S

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

It is enough, I run the original CX600 myself
I never said the CX600 was not enough, I merely offered alternatives

I wasn't sure of the CX600 price so I suggested the EVGA as well (quick check on pcpartpicker shows the EVGA 600B is $40, the Antec 620M is $50 and the CX600 is $55)

BlankInsanity · Nov 3, 2013

the CX600 like I said doesn't use top brand components so a if you were to use a 780 on it, it could suffer I honestly don't know but just to be safe you should get the XFX 650w, TX 650W or something of equivalent quality

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

stickmansam :

Ah okay. I think I got the wrong end of the stick in the "spending $10 more is worth it"

What is your CX600 running?
I am a little concerned that a 780 might be too much for it but pcpartpicker reckons my system needs 458w anyway. So the CX600 should be fine, I'd have thought.

I think I read somewhere that the CX is stable at 30 C and the TX at 50 C. This is a big difference but I don't really know what that means in practice, particularly in this setup.

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

Stable means it can output its rated load at that temperature (tested at it)

So at 50c the TX can output full power while at the same 50c, the CX600W might not manage full power output

Just an i5 and 7850

Treeroy · Nov 3, 2013

stickmansam :

Right so is there a danger that because the system is so powerful it gets to a temp which it won't power the PC in? Anything like that?

stickmansam · Nov 3, 2013

well depends on where you live as well, if you place is frequently 30c+, there is danger involved (it can never be cooler than ambient)

At higher loads, the PSU will heat up and if the fan can keep temps in check, the PSU output can drop

Will a CX600 do for a GTX 780?

Distinguished

Honorable

Splendid

Distinguished

Honorable

Honorable

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Honorable

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Distinguished

Splendid

Honorable

Distinguished

Splendid

Distinguished

Splendid

Share this page