Is a 550W PSU enough for this build?

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Muckster

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I've gotten great advice for my build and I've already been told a quality 550W PSU is enough by a few of the xperts here, but I want to mention a few things before I make the purchase.

Below I list my entire build, already purchased. I don't plan to upgrade and I may run a USB device from time to time, but this should be pretty much it. Here's why I'm concerned the 550 may not be enough.

* This resource from a different forum suggests a 550 for the stock R9 290 and of course the Sapphire has a slight overclock.
http://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/printer/power-requirements-for-graphics-cards

* Sapphire's website says the the R9 290 tri-x "requires" a 750W PSU.

* When Anandtech did a review of the Sapphire R9 290 tri-x, they rated the Sapphire power usage at 413 as opposed to 384 for the stock R9 290. This was at heavy furmark load. Granted their build was different from mine in other ways, but it wasn't clear to me if this represented the total draw on the whole build or if it was just what the GPU was eating up.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/7601/sapphire-radeon-r9-290-review-our-first-custom-cooled-290/4

So, considering all this, will 550W be enough power?

bonus question: In particular I'm considering the Kingwin 550. (LZP-550) I know cheaper options are available, but I'm also looking to keep noise levels down. Does buying a "quiet" PSU like the Kingwin mean my case will run hotter than a louder PSU where the fan is running more often? The kingwin, like other "quiet" PSUs keeps the fan from starting until the load reaches a certain point.

my build:
Mobo: GA-B85-HD3:
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4566#sp
CPU: Xeon E3 1230 V3
http://ark.intel.com/products/75054/intel-xeon-processor-e3-1230-v3-8m-cache-3_30-ghz
GPU: Sapphire R9 290 Tri-x OC (100362-2SR)
http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/product_index.aspx?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1227&pid=2091&psn=000101&lid=1
Case: Fractal Design R4 no window
Memory: G.Skill DDR3 1600 2x8GB
HDD: 1TB Western Digital Blue
SSD: Samsung EVO 250GB
DVD: Lite-on
Xtra case fan: Antec TrueQuiet 140mm fan
CPU Cooler: Mugen 4 (SCMG-400)
OS: Win 8.1
 
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Traciatim

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Yes, it should be fine. Keep in mind that the 413 that they are describing is from the wall, so if they are using an 80Plus Gold PSU and hitting about 92% efficient then the PSU is actually supplying about 380 watts to the machine. That PSU you mentioned is capable of 546W on the 12v rails, so to hit peak efficiency at around 50-70% of your capacity you should be looking at using in the 280 - 380 watts or so, which looks just about right for your machine.
 
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Muckster

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I appreciate your suggestion and normally I would just go to a 650/660 for the peace of mind. However, I've been doing a lot of research on "quiet" PSUs which means the XFX isn't something I'd consider. Because "quiet" PSUs tend to be more expensive, jumping up a level in wattage is also more expensive. This is why I'd really like to know if 550 is enough.
 
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Traciatim

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If you are that concerned you could try something like the http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012 HX650 instead... it has a fan off mode for lower usage scenarios (ie, your web browsing and junk) plus it would save a little cash over the Kingwin one.

The difference between 80Plus Gold and 80Plus Platinum is very small. If your machine actually consumes 380 watts at it's peak then this would mean the difference between 422 watts from the wall, or 413 watts from the wall (about a 10 watt difference in heat).
 
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Ahmadjon

Ahmadjon

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Yeah then Corsairs HX650 PSU is the way to go, i also have GS700 from Corsair and 95% of time fan doesn't spin at all, it makes some sound while fan not working, but this sound quieter than fan sound!
 
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Muckster

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Everyone,

As always, thanks for the replies. I'm CERTAIN that I'm overthinking all this. lol.

I had a little trouble with gamers2321 eXtreme calculator because I couldn't find my vid card. I compiled my system on PCPP and came up with 508 watts.
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/3daHP

Some of you like Traciatim and gamer2321 seem to think I'd be okay with 550, but the rest of you seem to be suggesting more power. No OC in the future and no relevant hardware upgrades. The only other consideration is that I tend to keep my builds longer than most and then pass them down to family members so longevity is a concern. The build I'm replacing is 8 years old and running strong. Maybe a 550 wouldn't last me.

For me it's between the Kingwin 550 ($130) and the Corsair RM 750 ($120). I like the kingwin better and I believe it would be quieter, but peace of mind is nice...

Still open to responses, but I plan to make a purchase later today.
 
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Traciatim

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There is no way at all that this machine would be using 508 watts. Even 400 is probably slightly above the actual usage once you factor in the PSU efficiency and figure out what the machine actually needs delivered to it.

Even the Anand test system only pulled 413 at it's peak from the wall. If their PSU was between 85 and 92% efficient that means teh machine actually consumed 351 - 380 or so. I believe their test machine is also an overclocked hex core i7, which would use a good chunk of change more than the E3 1230 . . .
 
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bob hays

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Everyone plays it too safe on these power supply issues. The anandtech draw is TOTAL power for the system. The whole system drew a MAX of 413 from the wall while under load in furmark. You will be fine with a 550. And unless you are running furmark you will also stay in the 50-70% efficiency range with either a 550 or 600. The kingwin is very expensive for 550w. If you are worried about noise, remember that many psu's don't spin or are silent for 25% load, and start spinning upto 50% load, and only get very loud at 70%+

If you want it to be quiet you should get a ~650w. If your system draws about 350w it'll be in the lower end of the 50-70% range so it'll be efficient and quiet at the same time.
 
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Muckster

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At the end of the day there's just no way I can really know how it will sound like until after it's assembled so for that reason I'm throwing a little money at it and going for a quieter PSU. What bob hays says is also my understanding of the advantages of a larger PSU. Pair that with my concerns about 550 not being enough power and I ended up with the Corsair RM 750 for $120.

Thanks to all. My build is done. I've been working on this for a long time waiting for bitcoin prices to come down and for good sales. I'm spending about 12% less than the current PCPP listing for my components so that's a good thing. You folks here at TH have been invaluable, with a special thank to logainofhades.

Thank you.
 
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Ahmadjon

Ahmadjon

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Before you buy it just for note: many people said that some RM PSU's have thermal issues! Just for note!
http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=123484
 
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Muckster

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Before you buy it just for note: many people said that some RM PSU's have thermal issues! Just for note!
http://forum.corsair.com/v3/showthread.php?t=123484
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm aware of that issue and will check the serial number. I'm hoping that the PSUs with a problem have been replaced by new ones by now. Buying from a larger inventorier like NewEgg ups my chances.

 
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Ahmadjon

Ahmadjon

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Good Luck :)
 
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