PSU sufficient for GTX 970

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Slippereh Puppeh

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Aug 22, 2015
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Hello all,
I am considering upgrading my graphics card to a GTX 970, but I am unsure if my psu can handle it. I have an Asus prebuilt PC running an OEM GTX 760 (192-bit with 1GB VRAM).

According to my research my PC has a 500W psu but inside the case it is labeled as 480W. The first 12V rail is rated to handle 20A while the second is rated to handle 25A. From the link below, I gather the 970 draws 28A.

https://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/power-requirements-for-graphics-cards

Now my question: Will my psu be able to handle the draw from the 970, or should I upgrade? And if I need to upgrade, should I be looking for a psu with individual rails that can handle more current than the gpu will draw? I don't mind upgrading the psu, but I just need a straight yes or no answer so I don't shell out money for a decent psu if I don't need to, and I wasn't able to figure it out on my own. Thank you for your help.

If you need them to make a better judgment, here are the rest of the specs for my PC:

Intel I7-4770s @ 3.10GHz
12 GB RAM
2 TB HDD
 
Solution
N3rdR4ge
Generally the power supplies that come with pre-built machines are not the best quality. Going over the amperage draw on a psu can cause it to go into overcurrent protection and shut your machine off. That is, if your psu is decent quality and has the proper safety features. I would imagine it does from a name brand like Asus. That aside, the 970 also recommends a minimum of a 500w psu and you may be pushing the limits even if you don't have an amperage problem. It is never good to run a psu near max load constantly as they are not made to handle constant stress. It never hurts to go over your wattage/amperage. The system will only draw the power it needs from the PSU. I would say its a good choice to upgrade.

Here is a good...
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CTurbo

CTurbo

Pizza Monster
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Aug 27, 2013
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You need a quality 550w psu. Ironically, there are a couple really good 650w models and a good 750w model on sale cheaper than the cheapest GOOD 550w model. There's nothing wrong with a little headroom.

http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/compare/antec-power-supply-ea650green%2Cevga-power-supply-110b20750vr%2Cxfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9%2Cxfx-power-supply-pro650wp1650snlb9/
 
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N3rdR4ge

N3rdR4ge

Distinguished
Jun 16, 2014
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Generally the power supplies that come with pre-built machines are not the best quality. Going over the amperage draw on a psu can cause it to go into overcurrent protection and shut your machine off. That is, if your psu is decent quality and has the proper safety features. I would imagine it does from a name brand like Asus. That aside, the 970 also recommends a minimum of a 500w psu and you may be pushing the limits even if you don't have an amperage problem. It is never good to run a psu near max load constantly as they are not made to handle constant stress. It never hurts to go over your wattage/amperage. The system will only draw the power it needs from the PSU. I would say its a good choice to upgrade.

Here is a good quality upgrade with plenty of wattage/amps:
EVGA B2 750w 62A Semi-Modular
https://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-110b20750vr
$49.99 after $30 mail in rebate from NCIXUS
 
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