r9 270x = 180w with 2x6pin || GTX 980 = 165w tdp with 6+8pin. PSU upgrade?

kay_ · Jul 5, 2015

Hi, I'm currently running an r9 270x, the reference card has a tdp of 180w (though I have the gigabyte windforce version, not sure if it uses more power. It requires a minimum of a 500w psu which I have been running for the past couple years with no problems.

My 500w psu only has 2x 6pin pcie cables and I'm thinking about upgrading to an asus strix gtx 980 (6 + 8 pin connectors). The specs on the gtx 980 say 165w tdp and since I've been running my 270x with the higher 180w tdp, shouldn't it still be able to run the lower tdp asus gtx 980 if I just plug in my 2 6pins?

Does the asus model draw more power than the EVGA version that only needs 2x 6 pins?
I'd prefer the strix but if the EVGA is a safer bet for my psu, let me know, thanks

I assume the Gigabyte version (which requires 2x 8pins) is out of the question for me.

Darkbreeze · Jul 5, 2015

No, the 6 and 8 pin connections have different standards for maximum power. You need a unit with either a 6+2 or 8 pin connector or a card that only requires two 6 pins.

Plus, depending on your PSU model, it might not even be capable of sustaining those loads on the 980. The GTX 980 recommends a 520w unit as seen here:

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

The 270x and 980 have different amperage requirements so simply because the unit works with the 270x doesn't mean it will be sufficient for the 980.

What is your PSU model?

kay_ · Jul 5, 2015

So my only option with my psu if I want a 980 is the EVGA version then?

Darkbreeze · Jul 5, 2015

That depends on your current power supply model. That card might not even be option regardless of the connection types if the PSU isn't a capable model.

Darkbreeze · Jul 5, 2015

The 270x only requires 24 amps while the 980 requires 30 amps. What works for one might not with the other and exceed what's possible with your PSU. We'd need to know the brand and model number to determine that.

kay_ · Jul 5, 2015

Darkbreeze · Jul 5, 2015

That unit is fine. That's a pretty good unit actually. It's probably fine although I'd plan to upgrade to a higher capacity unit at some point, especially if that one has some miles on it already.

That unit with this card should work fine:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 980 4GB Superclocked ACX 2.0 Video Card ($507.82 @ Amazon)
Total: $507.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-07-05 18:31 EDT-0400

If you can swing the cost of a new PSU in addition to a card, that would of course be more advisable as that's not the highest performing of the available 980 models, and you're edging right on the cusp of the power supplies capabilities, but it's still within maybe 5-7% of the Strix or G1 gaming I'd think.

kay_ · Jul 5, 2015

Ok thanks

So out of all of them, the G1 takes the most power and preforms the fastest? I was under that assumption from reading around here that the asus strix and msi g4 gaming were tied for second, and not sure how far below the evga superclocked acx 2.0 stands but still ASSUME it takes the least amount of power just going by its 2x 6pin connectors. So I'd be a bit safest with the evga?

When you say within 5-7% of the g1 or strix, do you mean I can still get away with one of them with my current psu even though I don't have the 8pin connector?

Oh and I'm powering:
i5 4690k @4.1ghz
z87-A mobo
2x mechanical hdd, 1x ssd
1dvd

kay_ · Jul 5, 2015

Considering the price of a new decent power supply, I'm not sure if that price is worth difference in performance from an EVGA up to an Asus strix, msi, or gigabyte G1, know what I mean?

Darkbreeze · Jul 5, 2015

Exactly. What I mean is that the EVGA card that only used two six pin connectors still offers gaming performance close enough to those other cards that it shouldn't really be that big of a consideration. If you overclock that card a bit, it can still achieve similar results to what those cards offer out of the box. Then again, any overclocking is going to raise the requirements for PSU capacity too. But even at it's out of the box stock speeds, it's a good card and will probably offer more performance than you expect.

kay_ · Jul 6, 2015

I'm going to pick one up today or tomorrow. The gigabyte G1 requires a 600w psu so its out of the question, but the Asus should still work though right? How much of a risk am I taking really? I like that the Asus comes with a backplate and its currently exactly the same sale price as the evga. Will the connector cause incompatibility even if I find some kind of adapter?

Darkbreeze · Jul 6, 2015

Different models, in reality, aside from very specialized models, all use the same recommendation. A Tier 1 or Tier 2 550w unit is more than enough for any GTX 970 that is not overclocked on a system that also does not have the memory or CPU overclocked. If you plan to do any overclocking, add 100w to the recommendation for the GPU card. The G1, Strix and any of the EVGA GTX 980 non-TI models will run perfectly fine on a 500w unit, but 550w or more is what's recommended in order to allow some headroom for out of spec current draws or spikes.

If you're going to run on that 500w unit I'd probably stick with the EVGA card that only requires two 6 pin connectors. If you go with a model that requires an 8 pin, I'd also get a higher capacity PSU. That's not a requirement, per se, but that's my recommendation. Some people have been known to use the 4 pin molex to 8 pin adapters that come with the graphics card when they don't have an 8 pin but I highly discourage doing that. IF the PSU doesn't have an 8 pin connector it is a bad idea to use it with a unit that requires one.

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r9 270x = 180w with 2x6pin || GTX 980 = 165w tdp with 6+8pin. PSU upgrade?

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