TDP GPU-PSU requirements

Moselberry · May 11, 2016

Question. My Desktop PC has a TDP of 173 Watts (according to PC Partpicker). I have a 450Watt PSU. I have been looking into buying a GPU. Something like a GTX 970. This has a TDP of 145Watts. This puts my PC at a TDP of approx. 318Watts.

On paper, it appears that I I have enough power. But I have been told that my 450Watt PSU is not enough.

Can anyone explain?

Nuckles_56 · May 11, 2016

Okay, what 450W PSU do you have? As depending on the quality of the unit, it might or might not be enough, but 450W is enough (Assuming it is a quality unit) for a gtx970 unless you start to overclock it

Karsten75 · May 11, 2016

PSUs are made by various manufacturers with variations in quality. Some PSUs do not put all their power on the same 12V rail.

Unless we know who made your PSU and what model it is, we cannot give you an informed response.

Also, TDP is not the same as Watts (The latter measures power draw) the former measures heat dissipation. When talking about sizing a PSU, we use Watts.

Alan Caldwell · May 11, 2016

Specs? Which PSU?

Moselberry · May 11, 2016

It is a Thermaltake Litepower 450

http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001755

Karsten75 · May 11, 2016

I am sorry to ask for information piecemeal, but cod you link us to the PCPartpicker analysis that arrives at 173W? I have a i5 3370K with a Radeon HD 7950 and the average power draw according to my UPS is 194W OFC it will increase under load, so I'm wondering if you have Intel or AMD and what the rated power is?

I did mean to add that your PSU seems on the older side - 2008-2009 vintage, which means it's getting to be past its warranty. It may lack a few connectors, but if it has a PCIe connector for the graphics card, it's probably rated for it.

I wouldn't do it, but then I'm not in your position, either.

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Sure,

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/GgJg99

Please note that the PSU listed on partpicker is not the one I have. I could not find it (perhaps because of the age, as Karsten mentions). Therefore, I chose a 450W alternative. The one I have is the Litepower 450W

Thank you for all the questions guys. I appreciate the support and feedback.

I would not plan to overclock it, but if I cannot run the GTX970 on this PSU, I may wait to see if Nvidia is releasing as Pascal update to the GTX 960 (the 1060?). I was looking at the current GTX 960, but compared to the GTX970...

Karsten75 · May 12, 2016

Your configuration definitely needs a beefy GPU - There has been no mention of the inevitable expansion of the 10-series card into the lower-performance, lower-price, lower-power tiers, so we don't know when that will happen. However, based on the 1080.1070 performance, I think Nvidia has devalued the entire line of current 9-series cards.

[strike]I would say it is a borderline, qualifies, hesitant "yes" that you can run a GTX 960 on the PSU - I have never done it, I probably would never do it.[/strike]

Read the specs on that page carefully: http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001755

Make your call. Good luck.

Alan Caldwell · May 12, 2016

Thermaltake, leading brand manufacturer of power supplies, cases and cooling solutions, today announced their latest additon to the Litepower series of entry-level power supplies. The Thermaltake Litepower 350W, 450W and 550W are specifically targeting energy efficient PC systems with lower overall power consumption in application fields such as HTPCs, office and entertainment computers. While out-of-this-world high-end PC configurations freuquently require a nuclear power plant of your own in the living room, small form factor setups simply don’t. In fact for HTPC-like computers it is important to have shorter and fewer cables to easier keep order within the case and maintain as much open space as possible for an optimized air flow. The Thermaltake Litepower series now offers you all these characteristics.

Better get a nice PSU.

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Thanks Karsten. On the specs page for the Thermaltake Litepower, there is a statement:

"The +3.3V & +5V & +12V1 & +12V2 combined output power shall not exceed 385W."

This is interesting to me, as the PSU is rated at 450W. From a layman's perspective, that makes it sound like the 450W PSU is actually a 385W PSU. But I won't pretend to understand how PSU's work.

I just read that the GTX950 is actually a newer card than the GTX960. Do you think my current PSU would run a GTX950?

To be completely honest, I'm not really sure I need a higher end card. I looked at the GTX970 because it has such great reviews. My current setup (i.e. no dedicated GPU) runs the games I have (Splinter Cell Blacklist, Skyrim, Deus Ex Human revolution, Sniper Elite 3, AC Black Flag) smoothly at 720p and 30fps. I'd just like to play some of the newer games (Witcher 3, GTA5, MGS Phantom Pain, Black Ops 3). I'm happy if this is at 720p and 30fps.

Thanks Alan, could you give me an idea of what you mean by a nice PSU?

Alan Caldwell · May 12, 2016

A high quality and stable PSU (Courtesy of JonnyGuru)

A poor quality PSU (Courtesy of JonnyGuru)

This list looks at the main and critical sectors of a Power Supply Unit -

Components - Higher quality components means more stable functionality, thus longer life on power supply and components of PC. Low quality components can affect the life of the unit and all components of your PC.

Stability - A power supply that can output it's wattage and ampere current at a stable temperature and beyond or below capable with minimal ripple and without shutting down shows that the unit is more than capable of powering any PC within it's labelled wattage. A power supply that can't must be avoided.

Efficiency - Although not really relevant to the quality or the stability of any power supply, but it can contribute to saving money on energy bills and can even be close to virtually silent. Perform research on your desired PSU to see if it can reach its labelled efficiency rating. Link above for more information.

Safety - A power supply must be capable of working without short circuiting or causing any serious harm to you or others around you if it fails. Perform critical research on your desired PSU to make sure it is safe to use with all safety switches, such as over-temperature protection included. Stay away from units with close to no safety switches at all, for the safety of you and others around you.

Alan Caldwell · May 12, 2016

Systems specs?

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Sure,

http://au.pcpartpicker.com/p/GgJg99

Just looked at the JonnyGuru Links. Bit too in depth for me. Not sure I'd need a 1200w PSU?

Maybe somebody could give me an idea of the kind of GPU my PSU could run? GTX950?

Alan Caldwell · May 12, 2016

You have the PC now? Does it have the Thermaltake Litepower PSU or the Corsair VS?

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Nuckles_56 :

Hello Knuckles, I have updated my thread/question. I would appreciate some more input from you. Could you have a look at my specs and give me an idea of the kind of GPU you think I could run?

Karsten75 · May 12, 2016

Moselberry :

Yes, that is exactly the part that I wanted you to read. It's usually indicative of a lower-quality, older PSU. , but the review I read over at Hardware Secrets (If I recalll) was reasonably complementary about the PSU.

Moselberry :

Some of the most recent 950 cards have been explicitly designed for low-power configurations and don't eved draw power through an additional PCI-e connector. I'd personally feel a lot more reassured with the decision at this point in time to spend the lesser amount of a 950 card and then wait for a PSU/GPU upgrade to after Nvidia completes the rollout of the 10-series cards.

Here is an article covering one of the manufacturer's new low-power cards.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/10237/evga-releases-geforce-gtx-950-low-power-graphics-cards-with-75w-tdp

Alan Caldwell :

Alan, OP provide the specs earlier in the thread and at that time mentioned that he could not configure the Thermaltake PSU, so substituted the Corsair.

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Yes, built the PC just over 1 year ago

Moselberry :

Alan Caldwell :

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Thanks Karsten,

Maybe the GTX950 is the one to go for. Appreciate your advice.

Karsten75 · May 12, 2016

How difficult is it to actually get yourself a better-rated PSU?

Right now, my honest advice would be to sit tight for a month or two and watch the rollout of the new Nvidia cards (and possibly the AMD response, which can't be far off). Then, once things are more clear, watch for a price reduction in the 9xx-series or go for the improved performance/reduced power in the new 10xx series and buy a decent PSU at the same time.

If you can't wait, I'd recommend the safe route of the 950s right now. Or buy a better PSU for peace of mind and then you can buy any GPU on the market - your processor certainly will support it.

Alan Caldwell · May 12, 2016

The VS series is Tier 4. Built down to a low price. Not exactly the most stable units ever created. Very basic safety circuitry or even thin gauge wiring used. Not for gaming rigs or overclocking systems of any kind. Avoid unless your budget dictates your choice.

So get a better PSU that's Tier 1 or 2 and wait for Pascal/Polaris.

Moselberry · May 12, 2016

Thanks Karsten. I can get a better PSU. I'll be honest and say I don't want to. But it makes more sense to get something that can keep a $500 GPU safe.

I'm in no particular rush. I never expected my i5 to run the games I have at all. But it does, albeit on low graphical settings similar to those of the xbox 360. I found that pretty amazing. This is why, over 1 year since buidling my pc, I still have no dedicated GPU.

I think the new flagship Geforce cards are out in early June, so maybe nvidia will hint at their plans for the "1060/1050" rollout then. I can definitely wait a little longer to see.

Maybe I also need to have a think about the GPU I really need. If I had purchased a PSU 1 year ago (when I built), I would have gone with the 750Ti, as I wanted something that could produce PS4 standard graphics. So with that in mind, the GTX950 looks a pretty decent option. I am a casual gamer. I play on (1366x) 720p happily and have no desire to change. Maybe 1080p if the card has the capability.

Alan Caldwell · May 13, 2016

Reports till now have indicated that the GTX 1060/1050 aren't expected to be out till the end of this year.

Moselberry · May 13, 2016

Ok, Thanks.

TDP GPU-PSU requirements

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