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How much power do I need for 2 HD4850?

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kingtz   09-26-2008 at 01:34:11 AM

Ok, so I ordered some stuff from newegg and got:

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371007

ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121253

along with some other parts.

They all just arrived about 20mins ago, but now I'm having second thoughts about whether I have enough power for future expansions.

I know that this is more than ample power as is, but I may want to get another HD4850 in the near future when I have a little more money.

My question is if this current PSU has enough juice for 2 HD4850, and if not, how much will I need? Recommendations much appreciated, but please keep in mind that I am working within a budge somewhat, so I'm looking at around $100 for the PSU. The cheaper the better :) .


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invisik   09-26-2008 at 01:37:56 AM
- 0 +

the earthwatt500 is a great psu it will handle 2 4850 easily maybe a 3rd but u would be pushing it.
wats the rest of ur rig? would help more.


Message edited by invisik on 09-26-2008 at 01:41:11 AM
------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik
dagger   09-26-2008 at 01:40:17 AM
- 0 +

500w is pushing it. You should have gotten higher psu. There is expansion available though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153069

Power consumption:
http://www.anandtech.com/video/sho [...] =3341&p=22

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
Kari   09-26-2008 at 01:43:19 AM
- 0 +

^^if Anands system uses 302W I'd think 500W unit would be enough... :P

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Kari
dagger   09-26-2008 at 01:48:05 AM
- 0 +

Kari wrote :

^^if Anands system uses 302W I'd think 500W unit would be enough... :P



Yeah, well, the cpu and everything else is idle. Besides, you don't want near full load on psu, it can't handle full load. :p

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
kingtz   09-26-2008 at 01:48:47 AM
- 0 +

Ok, there is my what I'm going to build:

ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121253

Antec earthwatts EA500 500W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371007

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

OCZ Platinum Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227280

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037

Plus some stuff from my old computer that I'll be reusing:
74GB WD Raptor
A DVD burner
2x 300GB HDD for storage

So yeah, can the EA500 PSU still handle all of this and 2 HD4850?

Reply to kingtz
invisik   09-26-2008 at 01:54:06 AM
- 0 +

im a 100% sure. it will be more then enough.
look at my rig. im running it on the same psu i have 2 gtx260 which consume much more power and i have a quad core.
ur system will probably use 350-400w max.


Message edited by invisik on 09-26-2008 at 01:56:29 AM
------------------------------ intel core 2 quad q6600 @3.2ghz msi p6n diamond (X-FI Extreme sound) 6gig of OCZ+CoRSAIR oc 900mhz Nvidia gtx 260 sli @ 730/1465/1250
Lite-On Blue-ray Western Digital 7200rpm 500gb Antec 500 Earthwatt Window vista 64-bit
Reply to invisik
Yuka   09-26-2008 at 03:22:57 AM
- 0 +

Each 4850 draws 110W on full load, that's ~10A per rail to each card.

That Antec shows: +3.3V@24A,+5V@24A,+12V1@17A,+12V2@17A,-12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2.5A

That means you still have ~6A (assuming 11A draw each, worst case scenario) on the 12V's for CD/DVD ROM and some HDD's. That's plenty of room for them :)

Esop!

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to Yuka
spathotan   09-26-2008 at 03:27:25 AM
- 0 +

Ditch the OCZ Plat and get some Reapers instead. Ive had my 1066 Reapers OC'ed to 1200mhz for about 2 days once and they remained cool to the touch man, the little copper heatpipe on them actually does work, might be worth the extra $$ if you are paranoid about those things like I am.

 

Also, 500W on a quality PSU should be alright, but like others have said, its pushing it, I wouldnt go and add multiple hard drives abound and what not.


Message edited by spathotan on 09-26-2008 at 03:28:40 AM
------------------------------ http://valid.canardpc.com/cache/banner/547515.png
Intel Xeon X3370 @3.6ghz Under Enzotech Extreme-X,EVGA GTX 285 SC, 4GB Mushkin Ascent eVCI @ 1066mhz, Gigabyte P45 UD3P
 Reply to spathotan
Yuka   09-26-2008 at 03:46:23 AM
- 0 +

I found a little more info for the big picture:

- 1 DVDRW-ROM bay draws 2.0A MAX (that's one hungry unit though, avg is 1.8A on recording).
- 1 DVD-ROM bay draws 1.1A avg (not sure is this amount though...).
- 1 HDD (WD Caviar RE2, power hog) 10W -> ~0.9A.

Now, think about 80% efficiency overall, but 99% efficiency on those 12V rails. Make the math and see for yourself.

Esop!

EDIT: Spelling xP


Message edited by Yuka on 09-26-2008 at 03:47:02 AM
------------------------------ - Athlon64 X2 4400+ @2.4Ghz
- DFI Lanparty UT NF4 SLI-D
- 2Gb (512Mbx4) Corsair XMS 2.5-3-3-7 @440Mhz
- Sapphire HD4850 @650Mhz 512MB GDDR3 @993Mhz (wasn't stable @680Mhz :( )
 Reply to Yuka
kingtz   09-26-2008 at 04:03:40 AM
- 0 +

Thanks for your answers, everybody. I guess I'll be keeping the PSU after all. And yeah, like I was saying, at other than the aforementioned components, I won't be adding anything else - except maybe that 2nd HD4850.

Reply to kingtz
megamanx00   09-26-2008 at 04:21:34 AM
- 0 +

That power supply should be fine. That Antec could be compared to some of the cheaply made 600W units. In the off chance that it isn't, that power supply should switch itself off if you draw too much power. You should also notice that high pitched whine that comes with pushing a power supply to it's limits. So yeah if you put in another 4850 and your PC doesn't shut itself off then your fine, if it does just upgrade your power supply ^_^


Message edited by megamanx00 on 09-26-2008 at 04:22:30 AM
------------------------------ Playing X-Men Origins: Wolverine Athlon 64 X2 5000+ @3.24 Brisbane | GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-DS4 | 4GB Mushkin DDR2 1066 | Plextor 760A| 2x 3850 512M CF| WD 1TB Black| Fortron Blue Storm II 500W | APEVIA X-Dreamer Black | Win XP Pro & Vista Buisness 32bit
 Reply to megamanx00
magicbullet   09-26-2008 at 07:17:00 AM
- 0 +

Yuka wrote :

Each 4850 draws 110W on full load, that's ~10A per rail to each card.

That Antec shows: +3.3V@24A,+5V@24A,+12V1@17A,+12V2@17A,-12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2.5A

That means you still have ~6A (assuming 11A draw each, worst case scenario) on the 12V's for CD/DVD ROM and some HDD's. That's plenty of room for them :)

Esop!


very helpful comment, even i learn something to day.

i'll second it.

Reply to magicbullet
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