Can my PSU handle a high end next gen/series GPU?

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

Hi, Ive been planning on buying a new GPU when the next series of GPU's come out. Either from AMD (Polaris) or Nvidia (Pascal) depending on which company releases their cards first. Im planning on getting the 970 equivilent of that series (Nvidia 1070 or a AMD 490). Do you guys think my PSU can handle it?

PSU: http://www.corsair.com/se-fi/cx600-80-plusr-bronze-certified-power-supply-eu

CPU: Intel i7 6700K @ 4.2GHZ

Dark Lord of Tech · Jan 5, 2016

Nope , CX series is for budget setups.

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

Then what would I need? I always thought that 600W is enough for most builds...

Dark Lord of Tech · Jan 5, 2016

It's the quality not the wattage.

Dark Lord of Tech · Jan 5, 2016

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA G2 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($84.98 @ Newegg)
Total: $84.98
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-01-05 15:13 EST-0500

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

Excellent PSU. It's what I have, and aside from maybe a 750W, I couldn't be happier.

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

What is the difference between a Bronze certified PSU and a Gold certified PSU?

Btw I found a reply you made in 2014 to a thread asking if a CX600 can handle a 970 and your reply was "Yes it can easily handle a 970"
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2357782/gtx-970-corsair-600.html

So a Pascal 1070 would most likely draw just a tiny bit more power than a 970. Maybe it would draw even less since newer cards seem to get more and more power efficient.

Dark Lord of Tech · Jan 5, 2016

It can run some of the higher end cards but aren't recommended because they are budget Power Supplies with poor CAPACITORS and have a high failure rate.

Higher end cards should be run with quality power.

mp5mafia · Jan 5, 2016

Anything is good if you on the budget.
Saying that cx won't handle 970 is false.
Yes, 80 gold is better than 80 bronze in some ways but it doesn't mean you get different wattage output. You basically produce more waste which translate in heat etc etc too much to talk.
Get whatever you can afford at the moment man and don't worry about haters! Lol
Peace

Edit: spelling

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

Schytheron :

What SR-71 Blackbird is saying is yes, a CX600 can run a GTX970. Any 600W power supply can. The point though is the CX600 is a budget power supply, and is not recommended due to its lower build quality.

There are two major things to consider when looking for a PSU. One is the wattage. The other is the build quality. The PSU is the MOST important component in any build, as without it nothing works. And if it dies, it could take any or all of the components with it. Always always ALWAYS spend a little more for a better built PSU, even if it means sacrificing somewhere else in your build. Here is a list of power supplies by tier. Look through it and choose a PSU that is tier 1 or tier 2. Anything tier 3 and lower would be setting yourself up for failure down the road.

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

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

But most motherboards have a safety feature in case of PSU failure right?... or am I wrong??

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

rwoody :

Schytheron :

What SR-71 Blackbird is saying is yes, a CX600 can run a GTX970. Any 600W power supply can. The point though is the CX600 is a budget power supply, and is not recommended due to its lower build quality.

There are two major things to consider when looking for a PSU. One is the wattage. The other is the build quality. The PSU is the MOST important component in any build, as without it nothing works. And if it dies, it could take any or all of the components with it. Always always ALWAYS spend a little more for a better built PSU, even if it means sacrificing somewhere else in your build. Here is a list of power supplies by tier. Look through it and choose a PSU that is tier 1 or tier 2. Anything tier 3 and lower would be setting yourself up for failure down the road.

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

Whats the chance for a Bronze PSU to actually blow up and take all components with it? Spending 100$+ for a Gold PSU seems a little over the top if the chances are minimal.

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

Schytheron :

The chances of it happening at all are identical across the board whether you spend $20 or $200. The difference is WHEN it will happen. Lower quality PSU's use lower quality parts and smaller gauge wires. They will do the job just as well as the expensive PSU's...for a while. The difference in spending more comes down to reliability over a long period of time. The 80+ rating isn't just a badge of approval. It refers to the efficiency of the PSU. While bronze is good, silver and gold are obviously better, and platinum and titanium are even more so. Why? Heat. The less efficient the PSU, the more power it wastes in the form of heat. This heat is expended out of the PSU and into your computer case. It wears down the PSU capacitors more quickly and makes the rest of your PC hotter, shortening the lifespan of all of your components along with it.

So if you want to spend less on a PSU, no one is going to stop you. Your PC will work just fine on a cheap PSU...for a while. Like celebrities and their anti-aging treatments, a good PSU just buys you more time until the inevitable long nap. Just do yourself a favor and keep your warranty paperwork and all the boxes to your components. You may need them if (and when) your PSU fails.

Every PSU will fail. The question is, will it happen while your PC is running on it?

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

rwoody :

Schytheron :

The chances of it happening at all are identical across the board whether you spend $20 or $200. The difference is WHEN it will happen. Lower quality PSU's use lower quality parts and smaller gauge wires. They will do the job just as well as the expensive PSU's...for a while. The difference in spending more comes down to reliability over a long period of time. The 80+ rating isn't just a badge of approval. It refers to the efficiency of the PSU. While bronze is good, silver and gold are obviously better, and platinum and titanium are even more so. Why? Heat. The less efficient the PSU, the more power it wastes in the form of heat. This heat is expended out of the PSU and into your computer case. It wears down the PSU capacitors more quickly and makes the rest of your PC hotter, shortening the lifespan of all of your components along with it.

So if you want to spend less on a PSU, no one is going to stop you. Your PC will work just fine on a cheap PSU...for a while. Like celebrities and their anti-aging treatments, a good PSU just buys you more time until the inevitable long nap. Just do yourself a favor and keep your warranty paperwork and all the boxes to your components. You may need them if (and when) your PSU fails.

Every PSU will fail. The question is, will it happen while your PC is running on it?

So what you are saying is that I should not replace my PSU now and instead wait for it to fail and buy a new one after mine breaks?

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

Schytheron :

rwoody :

Schytheron :

The chances of it happening at all are identical across the board whether you spend $20 or $200. The difference is WHEN it will happen. Lower quality PSU's use lower quality parts and smaller gauge wires. They will do the job just as well as the expensive PSU's...for a while. The difference in spending more comes down to reliability over a long period of time. The 80+ rating isn't just a badge of approval. It refers to the efficiency of the PSU. While bronze is good, silver and gold are obviously better, and platinum and titanium are even more so. Why? Heat. The less efficient the PSU, the more power it wastes in the form of heat. This heat is expended out of the PSU and into your computer case. It wears down the PSU capacitors more quickly and makes the rest of your PC hotter, shortening the lifespan of all of your components along with it.

So if you want to spend less on a PSU, no one is going to stop you. Your PC will work just fine on a cheap PSU...for a while. Like celebrities and their anti-aging treatments, a good PSU just buys you more time until the inevitable long nap. Just do yourself a favor and keep your warranty paperwork and all the boxes to your components. You may need them if (and when) your PSU fails.

Every PSU will fail. The question is, will it happen while your PC is running on it?

So what you are saying is that I should not replace my PSU now and instead wait for it to fail and buy a new one after mine breaks?

I never said that..at all...anywhere. I said every PSU will fail eventually. The difference between a good one and a bad one is whether it happens in 3 months or 10 years. When a PSU dies, it has to the potential to fry other components. If you want to spend less on a PSU, you are taking the chance that you will be using it when it dies. If you spend a little more for a quality unit, there's a better chance you will upgrade to something else, or build a whole new computer before it dies.

It's very simple. Spend less and have more risk, or spend more for less risk. Personally, I worked hard to save up the money to buy my motherboard, GPU, and other components. I'm not going to scrimp on a cheap PSU just to save a few bucks and risk losing all that.

mp5mafia · Jan 5, 2016

I think everyone need to ask him self if they would buy a car insurance if they didn't have to?

Buying a better quality product will obviously bring some premium with it. In this case we talking about longer life span for your psu. Question is: how long you planning on keeping your psu? Will you upgrade your pc in couple years? And Will you keep your old cx still in the system or you'll like to get different bigger psu for your new fresh setup? Will cx last couple years? Yes, probably it will.

Btw extra heat created by less efficient psu is dumped outside the case not inside. It does mean psu cooling fan need to rev up higher more often so just expect couple decibels more noise that's all.

We not talking here about cheap china/hong kong psu. It's still corsair just less efficient though

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

rwoody :

Schytheron :

rwoody :

So what you are saying is that I should not replace my PSU now and instead wait for it to fail and buy a new one after mine breaks?

I never said that..at all...anywhere. I said every PSU will fail eventually. The difference between a good one and a bad one is whether it happens in 3 months or 10 years. When a PSU dies, it has to the potential to fry other components. If you want to spend less on a PSU, you are taking the chance that you will be using it when it dies. If you spend a little more for a quality unit, there's a better chance you will upgrade to something else, or build a whole new computer before it dies.

It's very simple. Spend less and have more risk, or spend more for less risk. Personally, I worked hard to save up the money to buy my motherboard, GPU, and other components. I'm not going to scrimp on a cheap PSU just to save a few bucks and risk losing all that.

Looks like Im gonna buy new PSU

. What is the general opinion on Fractal Design PSU's? Found a Fractal Design Platinum 1000W PSU on SALE for 130$ (Fractal Design Newton R3 1000W). I would get a Gold 650W PSU for the same price here in Sweden.

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

I have heard good things about Fractal PSU's. That line doesn't seem to be on the tier list, but Edison's are tier 2. I would do a little research on the Newtons to see what others have said about them.

Scratch that...just overlooked them. The Newtons are considered tier 3. Not great, but they will work okay. I would see what else is out there in that budget range and compare it to the tier list.

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

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

rwoody :

Ive looked up some reviews on the Newton PSU and from a few trustable sites and it has gotten a 9/10 score on average. The cons listed are mostly minor complaints.
EDIT: Minor question: A PSU will most likely fry or fuck up if its at full load, correct? 1000W is obviously overkill for me but since it will never reach 1000W on my system it will most likely not have any problems even if it was the biggest pile of shit PSU known to man.

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

Schytheron :

rwoody :

Ive looked up some reviews on the Newton PSU and from a few trustable sites and it has gotten a 9/10 score on average. The cons listed are mostly minor complaints.

Then that's what I would go with.

Schytheron · Jan 5, 2016

rwoody :

Schytheron :

Then that's what I would go with.

Ordering now!

1000W Platinum PSU for 130$ is a steal considering you would get a gold 650W PSU for that price here in Sweden!

rwoody · Jan 5, 2016

mp5mafia · Jan 5, 2016

Good move man xD

Can my PSU handle a high end next gen/series GPU?

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