Is 600w PSU Good Enough for SLI GTX 970?

TonyStark420 · Sep 3, 2015

Title pretty much says it. Thinking of upgrading, will my current 600w PSU be enough for 2 GTX 970's?

Kristi Mara · Sep 4, 2015

660W isn't enough for SLI. It won't be able to handle 2 of 'em, for one its more than fine, cooler and all other stuff included. I'd actually get a 750W PSU for SLI 770/780/970.

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

Maybe, if you have a very high quality 600W PSU that can handle putting out 500-600W continuously while gaming.

If you have anything less than a top-notch quality PSU, most likely not - at least not for long until the PSU dies and possibly takes one or more of your other components down with it.

TonyStark420 · Sep 4, 2015

InvalidError :

I've got a Corsair CX600M. Should I still upgrade?

sna · Sep 4, 2015

TonyStark420 :

GTX 970 consumes 145W TDP each ,

so 2 cards will need around 300 WATTS on 12V .

The CPU needs 100 WATTS if not OC

and the mobo around 50

and each HD around 10 max

so you need around 500 watts on 12V

look at the table on your powersupply , if it says can give more than 500W on 12V then you are OK

or 41.6 Ampere on 12V

Edit : you are OK , your powersupply can give 46A on 12V
you need 41.6A on 12V

Congratulations

TonyStark420 · Sep 4, 2015

sna :

TonyStark420 :

GTX 970 consumes 145W TDP each ,

so 2 cards will need around 300 WATTS on 12V .

The CPU needs 100 WATTS if not OC

and the mobo around 50

and each HD around 10 max

so you need around 450 watts on 12V

look at the table on your powersupply , if it says can give more than 450W on 12V then you are OK

or 37.5 Ampere on 12V

Edit : you are OK , your powersupply can give 46A on 12V
you need 37.5A on 12V

Congratulations

Thanks!

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

TonyStark420 :

The CX/CXM series have inconsistent quality and a somewhat troublesome history which landed them in tier four of the PSU list - not suitable for heavy loads and often problematic lifespan.

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

If you seriously intend to do SLI, you should consider a better PSU (tier one or two), and preferably something 700W-ish.

sna · Sep 4, 2015

InvalidError :

I ve been using such PSU for 20 years and they work fine and never failed.

if you calculate it right you are OK.

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

sna :

Detailed power anaysis disagrees:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-970-maxwell,3941-12.html

178W average under load with frequent 200-225W peaks.

sna · Sep 4, 2015

InvalidError :

and ? still works .. want to calculate again ?

oh and you missed this from that review :

[EDIT] We originally posted Power Consumption Torture (GPGPU) results that showed a simulated GeForce GTX 970 reference card pulling over 240 Watts. This does not represent Nvidia's reference GeForce GTX 970 board because our data point was simulated with a Gigabyte GTX 970 card that has a non-reference ~250 Watt power target, unlike the reference board's ~150 W power target.

stop cheating.

link

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-970-maxwell,3941-13.html

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

sna :

Calculate this: the CX/CXM series use CapXon and Samxon output filter caps. These are only one notch above Fuhjyyu. How long would you expect them to last under heavy load? Not very long.

As for what I "missed" from the review, OP did not specify exactly which GTX970 he wants to use and most vendors have multiple variants, both based around the reference design and in-house re-designs. 150W is only for models that stick really close to the reference design.

sna · Sep 4, 2015

InvalidError :

okay lets then TRY it and if it overheats them replace it ... DEAL ? dont RUSH and buy PSU.

I am in this business for 20 years... and they work... more power is exaggeration ...

Mousemonkey · Sep 4, 2015

SLi'd 970's here, running on a 10 year old 620w PSU and folding 24/7.

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

sna :

The problem is not quantity, it is quality. The CX/CXM series are known to be problematic and they use almost bottom-of-the-barrel output capacitor brand. I think every PSU I have ever owned which used these low-end capacitor brands in their output filters have failed within two or three years and that includes the power modules inside LCDs and external HDD boxes. Both of my LG LCDs failed at around three years old. Replacing their dead or dying Samxon/CapXon/Samwha output caps with Rubycon/NCC/UCC/Panasonic ones extended their life by several years (seven for the oldest) and counting, still work as new.

I wouldn't trust a 600W PSU using the original low-end output capacitors with a 500W build.

Mousemonkey :

And what PSU would that be? Something like an Antec HGC? As I said a few posts ago, yes, a high quality 600W-ish PSU designed for 600W continuous should be able to do it or at least one refurbished with high quality output capacitors. Not a PSU with the original Chinese output capacitors.

Mousemonkey · Sep 4, 2015

A Corsair HX620w. :ange:

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

Mousemonkey :

Just as one would expect from a tier one PSU

sna · Sep 4, 2015

InvalidError :

sna :

The problem is not quantity, it is quality. The CX/CXM series are known to be problematic and they use almost bottom-of-the-barrel output capacitor brand. I think every PSU I have ever owned which used these low-end capacitor brands in their output filters have failed within two or three years and that includes the power modules inside LCDs and external HDD boxes. Both of my LG LCDs failed at around three years old. Replacing their dead or dying Samxon/CapXon/Samwha output caps with Rubycon/NCC/UCC/Panasonic ones extended their life by several years (seven for the oldest) and counting, still work as new.

I wouldn't trust a 600W PSU using the original low-end output capacitors with a 500W build.

Mousemonkey :

And what PSU would that be? Something like an Antec HGC? As I said a few posts ago, yes, a high quality 600W-ish PSU designed for 600W continuous should be able to do it or at least one refurbished with high quality output capacitors. Not a PSU with the original Chinese output capacitors.

still will work, you are talking theory I am talking experience. and ooooh you are talking about 3 years life ? hahahahaha .., so what? let the powersupply stop after 3 years ... you get what you paid for. and let him relpace it after 3 years IFFFFFFFFF it stops.

InvalidError · Sep 4, 2015

sna :

I have been repairing electronics as a hobby for almost 15 years. The three years is very optimistic: if you read these forums, there are plenty of people running into issues with Corsair CX PSUs fresh out of the box or shortly thereafter on rigs that might barely break 200W.

sna · Sep 4, 2015

InvalidError :

lol cant you stop ? his PSU is not out of the box defekt . come on lol .. stop it. I am in the PC hardware business for 20 years , and from experience I can tell you the GPU power requirement as advertised is exaggerating. go to china and see them using no name power supplies with sli lol ... anyways , his will work well dont worry and if it fails even in 2 years it is fine, it is what he paid for. why make him pay $100-$150 now ?

InvalidError · Sep 5, 2015

sna :

If you had read my post correctly, you would have seen that I did not say his PSU was defective out of the box. I said that people on THG forums regularly have problems with CX PSUs and the passable output caps tell me that the CX won't handle heavy load for very long assuming no other issue makes it fail earlier.

As for "getting what you paid for," you do not get that with the overpriced CX since you can find significantly better PSUs for about the same price, no need to look over $100. For example, the CX500 costs $55-60 while the much better 520W Seasonic S12-II costs ~$60. The CX600 sells for $65-70, the 620W S12-II sells for ~$70. Only ~$5 more on the regular retail price to jump from tier four to tier two.

If you have enough spare change to afford an overpriced low quality CX, you only need to stretch your budget a wee bit wider to get something far better.

turbopixel · Sep 5, 2015

The reason why people recommend at least 700 W for SLI 970 is, because they assume a 120-145 W cpu and they think about slightly overclocking with peak levels and such. Also they think most people have cheap psu with not so great components.

So, if you don't overclock, have cpu of only 80 W TDP and your psu is a high quality top tier unit, then I would try it with a 650 W unit. Like me, I'll probably add another GTX 970 on my Super Flower Leadex Gold 650 W. But I wouldn't go below.

It maybe will work out for a limited time. You may think its enough, but the components in psu and all of your pcs inside will be under high stress. That is not good for its lifetime. I for example had used a single GTX 970 with a second tier quality Bequiet 400 W psu. My detailed calculation was more than enough. It seemed to work, bit sometimes I had mysterious problems and games crashed randomly.

So, in short, I don't recommend you to SLI GTX 970 with below 700 W. 650 W maybe, but not less, even if your calculation on wattage and 12v rail is enough.

sna · Sep 5, 2015

InvalidError :

sna :

If you had read my post correctly, you would have seen that I did not say his PSU was defective out of the box. I said that people on THG forums regularly have problems with CX PSUs and the passable output caps tell me that the CX won't handle heavy load for very long assuming no other issue makes it fail earlier.

As for "getting what you paid for," you do not get that with the overpriced CX since you can find significantly better PSUs for about the same price, no need to look over $100. For example, the CX500 costs $55-60 while the much better 520W Seasonic S12-II costs ~$60. The CX600 sells for $65-70, the 620W S12-II sells for ~$70. Only ~$5 more on the regular retail price to jump from tier four to tier two.

If you have enough spare change to afford an overpriced low quality CX, you only need to stretch your budget a wee bit wider to get something far better.

he already has the PSU , he is not buying new one ...

InvalidError · Sep 5, 2015

sna :

If OP wants to SLI a pair of GTX970, there is a high probability that he will need a new one somewhere between soon and very soon.

Another way to look at it: does it make sense to risk ~$900 worth of GPUs on an overpriced low quality PSU with marginally adequate nominal output rating? For most people who can afford spending the better part of $1000 on GPUs alone, it doesn't make any.

Is 600w PSU Good Enough for SLI GTX 970?

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