GTX 760 okay with stock power supply?

Stormy_weather · Jan 16, 2014

Hi everyone,

I have an HP Pavilion Elite 480t (specs below) of which I am going to upgrade the graphics card from the Radeon HD 5770 to the GTX 760. Now, the stock power supply is 460 watts, but the GTX 760 specs say that it requires at least a 500 watt power supply. At first, I assumed I would need to get a new, more powerful PSU without thinking twice. But, I used the eXtreme Power Supply Calculator (I know this shouldn't be the basis for my decision, which is why I'm posting this question) and it estimated about 404 watts being drawn at 90% load. My question is, in practice, will the stock power supply do fine? As in, continue to work as well as it would otherwise? I would rather not have to spend the money or time on a new PSU if possible, but if it is absolutely necessary, then I suppose I'll have to.

Can't wait to hear what you all think!

Thanks

i7-930 2.8 GHz
Pegatron IPMTB-TK motherboard
8 GB memory
1.5 TB HDD
256 GB SSD
DVD Burner

rolli59 · Jan 16, 2014

Yes the stock 460watt will handle it. Total measured system load less than 350watts. http://anandtech.com/show/7103/nvidia-geforce-gtx-760-review/16

aevm · Jan 16, 2014

See if the card would fit in the case too...

Stormy_weather · Jan 16, 2014

rolli59 :

Cool, thanks for the info. My only other question would be, in the long run, could it cause the power supply to fail sooner than it might otherwise?

aevm :

Believe it or not it actually does!

DiaSin · Jan 16, 2014

rolli59 :

True, it should handle it..personally I would not trust a stock PSU with a gaming-grade graphics card, they are not always the best quality.. but it should work... thing is.. would the stock PSU even have the power connectors? The 760 takes an 8-pin and a 6-pin.

rolli59 · Jan 16, 2014

That stock PSU should be a Delta model (good quality) with at least 1 6pin PCIe power and the card has 2 x 6 pin so a adapter can be used for the other one.

DiaSin · Jan 16, 2014

rolli59 :

Actually the card (at least the two I glanced at on newegg to check, MSI and EVGA) has a 6 pin and an 8 pin. But.. I was told by several people in the past that those adapters are really not a good idea in the long term, as the wiring is often lower-guage than should really be used with the kind of amperage a GPU can draw. Is that not the case anymore? Really rather not tell the guy to use an adapter and then have the amperage fry the adpater.

Stormy_weather · Jan 16, 2014

rolli59 :

Cool, good to know. Do you happen to know if that power supply would have the two extra molex plugs required for one of the adapters? I would look myself but this computer is offsite.

Actually, I could also get a couple SATA to molex power adapters, and between any extra molex and SATA power adapters i should be good to go, right?

aevm · Jan 16, 2014

DiaSin :

Here's a version that is only 8.6" long, takes only one 8-pin PCI-E connector, and comes with the adapter you need if the PSU doesn't have that PCI-E connector.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121775

How's the cooling in that case? The HP specs don't even say how many fans are there

DiaSin · Jan 16, 2014

I still wonder about those adapters, as I stated above in more detail.

Stormy_weather · Jan 16, 2014

aevm :

Interesting. Besides being 2 GB instead of 4, why is this card able to be smaller AND use less power? I've not seen one like it.

DiaSin :

Good point, might not be a good idea.

rolli59 · Jan 16, 2014

Most manufacturers ship adapters with the cards, they are the same gauge as the wires on the PSU and I have a rig that has been using one for 4 years!

Stormy_weather · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

Was he talking about the SATA to molex adapters? If so, do you think this one has heavy enough wiring?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812816038

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

Stormy_weather :

The one you have there is for connecting a SATA HDD with Molex this is what we are talking about molex to PCIe power http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200106 still ships with many graphics cards http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200106

Jaroslav Jandek · Jan 17, 2014

i7-930 eats up to ~216W at full load without GPU and can reach 396W when OCed.
GTX 760 alone eats around ~160W when gaming.

That means your PC can easily eat 376W under load or 556W when overclocked. Just don't try overclocking.

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

Jaroslav Jandek :

460watt PSU is rated on the DC output side not AC input side! Meaning it can deliver 460watts to the components but at full load if 80% efficient will pull 575watts from the wall!

Jaroslav Jandek · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

Yeah, my bad, I have already edited my post - you were fast

Stormy_weather · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

Right, what I was meaning is I don't think the PSU has any extra molex (or any at all for that matter). But it does have extra SATA power, so I was planning to use the SATA to molex, and then the molex to PCIe. So, in that respect, do you think the SATA to molex would be of high enough quality/guage for the current that the 760 will draw?

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

If you look in the pictures here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127745 you can see two bundled adapters 1 x 2x4 pin molex to 6pin PCIe and 1 x 6pin to 8pin PCIe. If the manufacturer is shipping the adapters with the cards then they must belief they work!
Looks like most of the overclocked cards have 6 and a 8 pin but the std cards have 2 x 6pin.

Stormy_weather · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

As stated above, I don't think I have any extra molex power connectors. So, think this would be a good solution? SATA to PCIe power adapter http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400105

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

Stormy_weather :

rolli59 :

As stated above, I don't think I have any extra molex power connectors. So, think this would be a good solution? SATA to PCIe power adapter http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400105

Yes that should do it.

Stormy_weather · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

After some thinking, I am very slightly considering the GTX 770 instead… How much would that change things? Would the stock PSU still be able to handle it?

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

That would be pushing it since it pulls about 50watts more and I would in that case upgrade PSU http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9

Stormy_weather · Jan 17, 2014

rolli59 :

How about this PSU? It's really discounted currently which is what appeals to me, but besides the price from what I've read it's a pretty solid. Thoughts? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-171-068&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=100&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=%28keywords%29&Page=1#scrollFullInfo

rolli59 · Jan 17, 2014

Yes that is a good PSU although it is a Cooler Master.

GTX 760 okay with stock power supply?

Honorable

Titan

Illustrious

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Illustrious

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Share this page