Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > SLI GTX 260 power supply
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
arlehk   06-11-2009 at 02:02:20 AM

I currently have an 850 watt thermaltake PSU and 1 PNY GTX 260. I'd like to add a 2nd card but my power supply only has 3-6 pin connectors and I need 4. I'm running the i7-920 with 1 HDD, 1 DVD drive, and 3 gigs of ram. Is it at all possible to add a 2nd card in w/o buying a new PSU?

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
theAnimal   06-11-2009 at 05:50:03 AM
- 1 +

Your PSU has way more than enough power, you'll need to use a Molex to PCIe adapter (which should come with the card).

------------------------------ *How To Ask For New Build Advice*
HAF 922 | HX750
Rampage2Gene | i7 920 D0 | 6GB Gold 1600 | Hyper 212+
Caviar Black 640GB | HD3870
 Reply to theAnimal
gkay09   06-11-2009 at 08:22:09 AM
- 0 +

^+1 850W is more than suffice for dual GTX 260...
Like theAnimal said you just need a molex to pcie power adaptor...like this one...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6812887001

Reply to gkay09
Steezus   06-11-2009 at 03:55:35 PM
- 0 +

What about my Corsair 550VX PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004

Is this PSU quality enough to actually support 2 GTX 260's?

Message quoted 2 times
Reply to Steezus
theAnimal   06-11-2009 at 11:32:57 PM
- 0 +

Steezus wrote :

What about my Corsair 550VX PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004

Is this PSU quality enough to actually support 2 GTX 260's?



What are the rest of your specs?

------------------------------ *How To Ask For New Build Advice*
HAF 922 | HX750
Rampage2Gene | i7 920 D0 | 6GB Gold 1600 | Hyper 212+
Caviar Black 640GB | HD3870
 Reply to theAnimal
arlehk   06-12-2009 at 12:39:19 AM
- 0 +

psu specs

GENERAL:
- Wattage 850 Watts
- Fan 140 mm
1900 rpm ± 10%
Air Flow: 82 CFM
- Efficiency 85% +
- PFC Active PFC
- Hold-Up Time 16 ms
- Switches ATX Logic on-off additional power rocker switch
- Motherboard Connectors 24-pin Main Connector
4+4-pin Power Connector

- Power Good Signal 16 ms
- Form Factor ATX 12V 2.2
- Dimension 6.3 x 5.9 x 3.3 inch (L)x(W)x(H)
160 x 150 x 85 mm (L)x(W)x(H)
- Warranty 5 Years
- Certifications ATI CrossFire X Certified
80 Plus Certified
AC INPUT:
- Input Voltage 100 VAC~240 VAC
- Input Current 115 VAC / 10A max
230 VAC / 5A max
- Input Frequency Range 47 ~ 63 Hz
- Inrush Current
- Operating Range
- MTBF >120,000 hours
- RFI / EMI CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, BSMI
DC OUTPUT:
- Output Table
ENVIRONMENT:
PROTECTION:
- Over Voltage Protection +5V trip point @ 7.0 Vmax
+3.3V trip point @ 4.5 Vmax
+12V trip point @15.6 Vmax
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/_Resource/LeaderImage/psu_table/W0319RU.gif

Reply to arlehk
one-shot   06-12-2009 at 01:26:19 AM
- 0 +

Steezus wrote :

What about my Corsair 550VX PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004

Is this PSU quality enough to actually support 2 GTX 260's?



The quality is irrelevant in this case. The power output is not enough to power 2 GTX 260s. The best 550W PSU or the worst 550W PSU still cannot produce enough power for two of these GPUs.

Message quoted 2 times
------------------------------ Antec P182, i7 920 3.7Ghz @ 1.3V, Xigmatek 1283, Asus P6T X58, 3 x 2048MB OCZ Plat DDR3 1600 RAM, 2 EVGA GTX260 Core 216 in SLI, WD 160gb,320GB 1TB WD Black. Corsair 750TX. Acer 24" Monitor. Vista x64 Home Premium.
 Reply to one-shot
Bronze CPUs badge Delluser1   06-12-2009 at 02:08:51 AM
- 0 +

one-shot wrote :

The quality is irrelevant in this case. The power output is not enough to power 2 GTX 260s. The best 550W PSU or the worst 550W PSU still cannot produce enough power for two of these GPUs.


http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] tec-review

------------------------------ q9650 @ 4.050 | Asus Rampage Formula | 2x2 & 2x1 Corsair Dominators | WD Black 640 x2
EVGA GTX260 Core216 @ 686/1479/1103 | Antec TPN 750

 

Reply to Delluser1

theAnimal   06-12-2009 at 02:22:38 AM
- 0 +

one-shot wrote :

The quality is irrelevant in this case. The power output is not enough to power 2 GTX 260s. The best 550W PSU or the worst 550W PSU still cannot produce enough power for two of these GPUs.


2 x GTX260 uses less than 220W, so how is 550 not enough?

------------------------------ *How To Ask For New Build Advice*
HAF 922 | HX750
Rampage2Gene | i7 920 D0 | 6GB Gold 1600 | Hyper 212+
Caviar Black 640GB | HD3870
 Reply to theAnimal
one-shot   06-12-2009 at 04:08:25 AM
- 0 +

Considering Nvidia recommends greater than 650W for a GTX295, I wouldn't SLI 2 GTX 260s on my 650W PSU. Here is a very good article about PSU power consumption. I highly recommend you read it.

 

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/c [...] ttage.html

 

The high end PC has an i7 920 at stock speeds, 3x1GB DDR3, 1 HD and a GTX295.
The system drew 502.8 @ full load with i7 920 and a GTX295. I believe a 550W PSU may not be able to adequately supply power to the entire system for an extended period of time. This system was at full load with the GPUs and CPU both stressed. I wouldn't be so foolish as to use a small power supply running at near 100% when I could spend a few more dollars for a larger unit which can supply a larger amount of current. I agree that 1000W PSUs are pointless, but a 750W is not by any means. If you still strongly feel a 550W PSU can supply enough current, go ahead and do it. A power supply is the last component you want to cut corners with just to say that you "can" use a 550W PSU.


Message edited by one-shot on 06-12-2009 at 04:12:27 AM
------------------------------ Antec P182, i7 920 3.7Ghz @ 1.3V, Xigmatek 1283, Asus P6T X58, 3 x 2048MB OCZ Plat DDR3 1600 RAM, 2 EVGA GTX260 Core 216 in SLI, WD 160gb,320GB 1TB WD Black. Corsair 750TX. Acer 24" Monitor. Vista x64 Home Premium.
 Reply to one-shot
Steezus   06-12-2009 at 10:41:39 AM
- 0 +

I am already using the PSU. I love it. Best power supply I have ever owned. I was just wondering if people thought it would be worth it or not.

Sounds like I will just wait until the GTX 285 drops in price and replace the GTX 260 instead of just picking up a second one. I don't run high resolutions anyways, so the SLI wouldn't scale that well anyways. Would have been neat to try is all.

Reply to Steezus
swifty_morgan   06-12-2009 at 06:48:13 PM
- 0 +

If you run a power supply that "supplies" enough power...... not one that's friggin "good" enough, everything will run as it should and things will run cooler. I've been down that road. Stop trying to cheapen things up by buying just enough..... it's a losing situation in the long run.

Reply to swifty_morgan
Steezus   06-13-2009 at 01:54:55 PM
- 0 +

There is no such thing that will always supply enough power. There is always a new card that makes old power requirements seem weak. 500 watts seemed extreme a few years ago. Then 750 was crazy to even think about, now 1,000 watts is getting to be the norm.

I have never had a PSU destroy a component from being overloaded, just BSD it and restart. So it doesn't seem like there is much harm in asking if anyone else has tried this before buying yet another soon to be outdated PSU.

Reply to Steezus
yukss   10-24-2009 at 09:21:57 PM
- 0 +

i have my two gtx260 runing in sli with my antec true power trio 550 w.. max amp 42amp .. no problems so far..

take at look

http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 007-8.html


"If you wish to operate the GTX 260 OC in an SLI configuration, you will need a branded power supply with between 510 and 550 watts and 42 to 46 A on the 12 volt rail."


Message edited by yukss on 10-24-2009 at 09:22:35 PM
Reply to yukss
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > SLI GTX 260 power supply
Go to:

There are 1347 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.307 seconds
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them