4870 power requirements

Hi,

I was just looking at the picture of the new 4870 on http://www.gpureview.com and it appears to have 2 x 6 pin pci-e power sockets on it ?

Can anyone confirm if it actually requires that many to power up ?

I am asking cause i am speccing out a new rig for 2 x 4870 in a xfire configuration, and want to make sure i buy the appropriate power supply.

Many Thanks.

Cyb

Yep that's right.

I suggest either a Corsair TX750 or a PCP&C Silencer 750. You could get away with a TX650, but it doesn't have 4 PCIe power connectors so you'd have to use adapters.

Newegg does overcharge for PSUs, but I always link there 'cause it's so easy

Some of what I've heard (possibly just speculation) puts the 4870 at around 150w of power draw. In other words, it technically COULD possibly run with just one plug, though it'll probably refuse to boot without the second. It won't have much need for that much power... However, chances are that because of that, it should have plenty of room for overclocking if the GPU and GDDR5 allow.

This speculative guessing is driving me crazy - but hey! - I am still reading it = hahaha!

This is quickly moving into the realm of the "cyber athletes" and professional gamers - why don't they just put a Cummings Diesel on it and get it over with. I think I am losing it - o well. For all we really know, it's probably solar powered, self-replicating, and some new kind of renewable resource. If it makes good coffee, I'm in!

Imagine trying to ggogle this a year from now, and getting all this speculative misinformation.

Excitement overload for just another little while. And then, the interpretations take over. Wow. (I have to go to work).

there were rumours that it only needs one to run at stock speeds, the second one is there only to help overclocking...

No doubt a VX550 has enough 12V amperage, but it doesn't have 4 6pin PEG connectors. Molex -> PEG adapters should work, but they're kind of a hassle and that doesn't leave you with much room for other components. I just recommended those 750W monsters because they're the only ones with enough connectors; power wise they're way overkill.

Sure, the 610W PCP&C model has a whopping 49A +12V rail. From the speculated 150-160W TDP we can assume that the 4870s will draw ~13A each. So that leaves you with 23A for the rest of your components. Unless you overclock the bejesus out of everything you should be OK with that PSU.