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GTX 280 on Earthwatts 500?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - GTX 280 on Earthwatts 500?

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My current system:

Gigabyte p35-DS3L
Q6600@3.3ghz
8800 GTS OC
4 gigs DDR2 800
2 SETA HD's
1 Optical Drive

I just bought a EVGA GTX 280 SSC (http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/894040) for $220! I've got a confirmation email and # from buy.com, but I don't know if they're honor it or not.

The GTX 280 needs a 6 pin and 8 pin connection for the PSU. The Earthwatts only has 6 pin connectors, but rumor has it you can get adaptors.

Should I give the earthwatts a chance? Or just buy a 750watt PSU from PC P&C or Corsair. Power supply calculators show I need 500 watt min with 40 amps on the rail. EVGA says the card needs 550 watts min w/ 40 amp rail. The earthwatts only has 34 amps on it's single rail.

Thoughts? :??:

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I'd like to see it.
There is one member here [ invisik ] who runs an oc'ed Q6600 and dual 260's on his EA500.

------------------------------ q9650 @ 4.050 | Asus Rampage Formula | 2x2 Corsair Dominators | WD Black 640 x2
EVGA GTX260 Core216 @ 686/1479/1103 | Antec TPN 750

Reply to Delluser1

Wow...2 260's on a Earthwatts 500. That's amazing. Maybe I'll give it a chance.

Reply to Billiardicus

might as well give it a chance. i've heard of a guy who managed to get a GTX280 to run with a core 2 quad on a 400-something watt power supply. so you should be ok. and you won't lose out by trying it first. in the worst case, you buy a new one. not really a big deal.

Reply to Nik_I

You should be at about 400w of usage at load, if it were my system i'd probably run it, but i'd be putting money aside to upgrade to a more suitable PSU while i ran it.

Reply to dirtmountain

well i tried this card on a 320w and a 380w, my experience is that its not stable with such cheap power

on 380w i was able to play crysis for a few hours or until it got really warm before it crashed, on the 320w crisys did not even start for more then a few seconds before crash

in conclusion 400w probably is to small if you want stability in games

the card works fine in windows but when it starts to work hard and power levels spike its over with the fun : (

what can i say i like dumpster diving and save money ; )

i guess i have to get a 450w or bigger somewhere

the 8 pin connector is no problem you can just wire that your self, just google the pin out

Message edited by siiix on 08-16-2009 at 03:13:23 AM

Reply to siiix

A high quality 500 watt power supply is more than enough for any single video card made. It also may be enough to run some SLI or Crossfire configurations. You should not have any problem with the Antec Earthwatts 500 watt psu. It is a very good psu. Don't worry! Be Happy!

Most power supply calculators and recommendations by video card vendors are inflated. That's because people insist on buying cheap, poor quality psu's of questionable value.

EDIT - Almost forgot - Yes you can buy molex to 6 pin and molex to 8 pin adapters from online vendors. Some video card manufacturers include the adapters with their video cards.

Message edited by JohnnyLucky on 08-16-2009 at 03:32:51 AM

Reply to JohnnyLucky

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GTX 280 on Earthwatts 500?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - GTX 280 on Earthwatts 500?