Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > Will 600 watt psu do it?

Will 600 watt psu do it?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - Will 600 watt psu do it?

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Hey, I recently built a system with the following

XFX nForce 750i Extreme Mobo
BFG Tech 9800 GTX+
OCZ SLI-Ready Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2x2048MB)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS Hard Drive - 500GB, 7200, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM
some old dvd-rw drive (honestly don't remember what exact model, nothing fancy though)

I currently have a 600 watt PSU, and it's been working fine.

However, looking at the prices of the GTX 260 and the 280 video cards, and assuming that they are going to continue dropping with time as always, I was wondering that if I were to upgrade to either of these video card, could my PSU handle it? Or would I need to upgrade that as well?

Thanks in advance =D

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Seeing as you named all the spec beside your psu, i'm going to think you have a generic psu. In wich case i wouldnt recommend it. But if its a nice quallity one with good amps on its 12v rails your good to go.

So all in all we need your psu specs (brand, amps on 12v rails, age)

Reply to ill b ben

You'll be fine.

Reply to Lucuis

how exactly?

i know a lot of psu's that are rated around 500-600 with only 15-20 amps on there 12 rails

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to ill b ben

^+1

Reply to mi1ez

Wow, it completely slipped my mind to mention what kind of power supply. lol.

Thermaltake Purepower W0121RU 600W ATX12V V2.0 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready PSU

I also forgot to mention my CPU, which is a Q9400 2.66 Ghz Intel Core 2 Quad

Thanks again!!

Reply to jblock2490

ill b ben wrote :

how exactly?

i know a lot of psu's that are rated around 500-600 with only 15-20 amps on there 12 rails

The GTX 260 and 280 require 2 6-pin connectors if i remember right. I think as long as there's enough connectors it'd be fine. Unless for some ungodly reason there's only 15-20 amps TOTAL on the 12v rail(s).

As for a 500-600w PSU with only 15-20amps total on the 12 rail(s), umm yeah right. Where'd the put the rest of the power? Don't tell me the have like 30amps on the 5v rail or the 3v rail? lol. I'd like to see a link of such a PSU.

For example 20amps on a 12v rail is 240watts, leaving 260watts or 360watts of power for the other voltages in a PSU. Seems a bit retarded to me.

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Reply to Lucuis

I'm runing a core 2 duo e8500, egva gtx 260 55nm factory superclocked , 2 dvd burners (samsung& pioneer), seagate 500g, 4 gig cruical balisticx 800 memory, asus p5q-em mAtx
motherboard on a 550 watt antec power trio (about 42 watts avail on the 12 volt rail) with about 110 watt draw at idle and 230-240 watt draw mesured at the wall socket with kill a watt metor (very low power drawing set-up w/good gaming preformance-15,000 3d-mark 2006). The new gtx 260 55nm are a good choise cause the have a lower power draw and great price i'd reomend factory overclocked version cause card capable of much faster settings, 2 6 pin
power conectors. Gtx 280 a little faster card but requires 1 6 pin and 1 8 pin power conector, much higher power draw and not available in 55nm chip-original 65nm only-the newer gtx 275 55nm may be a beter choice over the 280. You will probly be ok with a gtx 260 55nm depending on your cup? watts and most importantly your power supply 12v rail rating should be at least 32-36watts . maybe gtx 280 or gtx 275 ok bu of the two i'd definitly go with the 275 its a 55nm chip and ony needs 2x6 pin power conectors and the performance is probably a little beter than the 280. Hope all this helps?

Reply to BANDIT333

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817182031

This one has no current specs, not even on manufacturer's page:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817170023

Here's a real winner of a 550 watt PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817342015

Here's one where the specs look pretty good, except for a 40% 1 rating in the newegg reviews:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817162023

Here's a 550 watt PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817101034

And I'm less than halfway through the $25 - $50 listings.

Reply to jsc

@ Lucuis, I know how the amps on the rails work. I just doubt on the that you know how marketing works. Its indeed retarded. but hey it still sells

Reply to ill b ben

Well i have been proven wrong. I never before seen such shitty PSUs, lol.

What i did realize, and perhaps my interpretation is off, but it seems as if companies claim that their PSU gives more power then it's rated for.

For example http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=da750
60a @ 12v is 720w of power.
28a @ 3.3v is 92.4w
30a @ 5v is 150w

Where already way of the rated 750w spec. ???

Also it says it's input voltage is 12a @ 115v. That's 1380w at the wall, max. At ~80% efficiency were talking 1104w peak output, is is this the wrong line of thinking?

From what i remember it's supposed to be 750w rated output, 80% efficiency equals 900w at the wall.

I figure this could be some useful info for the OP as well.

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Reply to Lucuis

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