Does my PSU suffice?

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cherev

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Aug 30, 2014
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Hey,

I have a 450 (peak) psu.

Currently it provides enough power for:

fx8320
M5A99fx r2 mobo
Gigabyte GTX 660 Windforce
8Gb ram
1Hdd
1 R/W DvD
3 fans
1 Creative Extreme Music

I want to replace the extreme music with an Asus ROG Phoebus soundcard. It needs a 6 pin connection to the PSU, while the extreme music needs no connection.

I tried the different psu calculators on the web but they give varying results.

Do you think it will suffice, the psu?

Cheers,
 
Solution
geofelt
Why are molex to pcie cables not advised?

If a psu is capable of running two pcie 6 pin connectors, they will have the leads.
Older or cheap units do not have the wattage on the +12v rails where modern cpu and gpu's need them
The big potential problem with a cheap psu is that it will lack sufficient protective circuitry.
When such a psu gets overloaded, it can damage everything it is connected to.

A cheap psu can become very expensive.
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jimthenagual

jimthenagual

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Apr 8, 2012
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What is the make/model of your PSU?

At full load
Your cpu uses 125 Watt
Your gpu uses 140W
Let's say a crazy number like 100W for the sound card (I can't find its TDP anywhere).
Another 100W for the rest of your system and you are at 465W.

So a 450W psu could probably handle that system, as I've over estimated some of those numbers to be safe. But I personally wouldn't want my PSU working that hard. Especially if you have a cheaper PSU.

Does your PSU have three pci-e connectors? If not you'll need to use a molex->pci-e adapter, and those are typically not recommended.

That's a really good PSU for a great price linked above.

edit: changed number of PCI-e connectors needed. Thanks geo, didn't see it needed 2 for the GPU.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,295
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174,240
450w(peak) suggests a poor quality psu.
Exactly what make/model are you using?
A GTX660 normally will run with a 430w psu:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm
But, the windforce version is highly overclocked and needs 2 6 pin psu connectors that are only found on stronger cards.
A sound card needing an aux 6 pin connector is new to me and suggests you really need a stronger psu that has 3 such connectors.
 
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C

cherev

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Aug 30, 2014
29
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Hey,

Tnx for all the feedback,

I cant check the make of my psu right now since im away for business. Its generic 400w 450 peak psu.

I hat has 2 six pin connectors, one of which goes to the mobo.

I have connected the 660 (which only needs one six pin connection) with a molex - six pin cable.

Why are molex to pcie cables not advised?

Ill look into buying a new psu

Tnx again for the feedback.

Cheers,

 
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jimthenagual

jimthenagual

Splendid
Apr 8, 2012
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I like to go by the 'if it doesn't have the connectors for it, then it wasn't designed for it' rule.

I'm just worried you'll hurt other parts in your system. I'm not trying to be all doom and gloom here, but cheap generic PSUs hurt systems. We've seen it too much on this forum, and can't stress enough how important it is to have at least a medium quality PSU.
 
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geofelt

geofelt

Titan
Oct 9, 2006
54,295
4,145
174,240
Why are molex to pcie cables not advised?

If a psu is capable of running two pcie 6 pin connectors, they will have the leads.
Older or cheap units do not have the wattage on the +12v rails where modern cpu and gpu's need them
The big potential problem with a cheap psu is that it will lack sufficient protective circuitry.
When such a psu gets overloaded, it can damage everything it is connected to.

A cheap psu can become very expensive.
 
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