(EVGA) Gtx 770 on 550w Power supply?

BattleX100 · Apr 21, 2016

I currently have a 550w power supply on my rig and buying a new graphic card since I don't have one yet.

The calculator I found on Linustechtips power supply video seems to say that it should be okay.
http://outervision.com/b/5lT4yL

However, officially the Gtx 770 is listed as requiring a minimum of 600w power supply. So confused here. Please help me out whether I should get the Gtx 770 or not?

herrwizo · Apr 21, 2016

Please post your exact PSU model. Thank you.

Sakkura · Apr 21, 2016

The official power supply requirements are inflated to provide a little more safety margin with low-quality power supplies that struggle to safely deliver the wattage they promise.

A good 550W power supply is plenty with a GTX 770. The question is whether the model you have is good quality.

Alan Caldwell · Apr 21, 2016

Which PSU is it?

herrwizo · Apr 21, 2016

Only the best 550W PSUs can reliably handle the GTX770 on long term. <-- note the "long term". The card will most likely work if your other components are relatively modest in terms of power requirements and no overclocking is involved. But longevity of your PSU will certainly be lowered.

For starters, the 770 requirements call for 42A on +12V rail (for the whole system, not just the card), and not many 550W PSUs can provide this. XFX/Seasonic and a few others do, but they are all best in class - anything less or more budget and you are out of luck.

The alternative is to purchase GTX970 instead of 770 - not only you gain more performance, but it also uses 50% LESS power. GTX970 usually needs only 28A on +12V rail. So most 550W would be more than fine with 970, even on long term. Not so with 770, however.

Sakkura · Apr 21, 2016

herrwizo :

It doesn't take that much. The GTX 770 itself draws just under 200W at full load, and the FX-6300 under 100W when it's at full load. So even in the rare instance of full load simultaneously on GPU, CPU, and the rest of the system, the PSU would be delivering less than 350W.

herrwizo · Apr 21, 2016

True. And 350W is more than enough to kill virtually any 550W PSU if it is a cheap one or falsely advertised as being 550W. That's why we need to know the exact model first

BattleX100 · Apr 27, 2016

I'm very sorry for late reply. The power supply is this one http://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-Series-Pro-550W-Psu/dp/B000WDSYXK

herrwizo · Apr 27, 2016

I am highly suspicios. Specs are here:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3276574

It can only provide 30A on +12V rail. This effectively means that it is a 360W PSU, given that most components use +12V rail. I would even call this statement to be falsely advertised and realistically a few dozen watts below that.

I would not recommend this PSU for GTX770 at all.

Alan Caldwell · Apr 27, 2016

Get a better PSU that is Tier 1 or Tier 2.

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

BattleX100 · Apr 27, 2016

Ohh okay thank you very much guys I will steer clear from that GPU. Thanks for sharing the link Alan that is very informative.
Is it okay to use a R9 270x, R9 280 or a GTX 970 with this PSU? I think those cards require not more than a 550w.

herrwizo · Apr 27, 2016

GTX970 should work fine, provided you don't overclock anything. It is also the best in terms of pure performance and has the lowest power requirements of all 3 cards you mentioned.

Regardless, consider replacing the PSU in near future - it is far from being a quality model.

BattleX100 · Apr 27, 2016

Oh okay thank you very much! I was considering getting the Gigabyte R9 270x instead and overclock the crap out of it lol. But I'd wait until either for a Gtx 970 or till I can replace my PSU.

herrwizo · Apr 27, 2016

270x not only uses more power than GTX970, but is also considerably slower. With that PSU, you cannot afford any gambling. Get a card with TDP below 150W at all costs. GTX970 should fit the bill.

BattleX100 · Apr 27, 2016

Oh okay thank you very much again! I will wait till I have some more money and see if I could either get a better quality PSU or get the Gtx 970.

herrwizo · Apr 27, 2016

Or both

Hehe...

BattleX100 · Apr 27, 2016

Eventually

Sakkura · Apr 27, 2016

herrwizo :

The R9 270X uses about 125W in games, the GTX 970 around 170W depending on model.

herrwizo · Apr 27, 2016

Ahh, yes, forgot to add "overclocked 270x", he planned to OC it like hell

Nevertheless, the OP settled for GTX960 which is the perfect fit after all.

(EVGA) Gtx 770 on 550w Power supply?

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