Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > [Solved] Does this PSU have the power?

[Solved] Does this PSU have the power?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - [Solved] Does this PSU have the power?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Ask the community Add a reply

Best answer from DellUser1.

Word :    Username :           
 
1st duke of marlborough   11-11-2009 at 08:27:56 AM

System:

Phenom X4 9750 OC to 2.76Ghz
Gskillz x4Gb DDr2@1066
Asus Radeon 4870 1Gb
ASRock 780GXE/128
Antec Earthwatts 650W PSU

With the release of the new 5xxx series from Radeon, I have been giving thought to my current GPU. At the moment it more than suffices, as my resolution is only 1400X900, but it has still given me cause to at least consider my upgrade options. This is all the more difficult, however, because I am not sure if my current PSU will support another 4870 in Xfire. According to the Antec power calculator, with my current set up and an additional 5870, I will need 711W of power at 90% load. So my question is, can this PSU handle that much load? I know that PSU's can often exceed their advertised limit, sometimes by a lot; can this one do the same?

Note: I know that the PSU doesn't have the requisite number of PCI-e connectors, as it only comes with 2, but if it could meet my wattage requirements, I would simply buy some molex to PCI-e converters.

Thanks for the help!

1st Duke.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ PhenomX4@2.76GhzOc'd
ASRock A780GXE/128M
Asus Radeon 4870 1GB
4Gb DDR2@1066Mhz
Add a reply
Best answer from DellUser1

1st duke of marlborough wrote :

According to the Antec power calculator, with my current set up and an additional 5870, I will need 711W of power at 90% load. So my question is, can this PSU handle that much load? I know that PSU's can often exceed their advertised limit, sometimes by a lot; can this one do the same?


The psu calculator doesn't provide you with actual power consumption numbers, it provides a wattage reccomendation for a power supply that will safely run your components, with some overhead built into the figure.
Being under by 50 or 60 watts won't pose a problem with a decent quality psu, such as yours.
As far as psu's exceeding their rating, it's nice to know that one can but it's not something you would want to do on a full time basis.

Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
JackNaylorPE   11-11-2009 at 08:55:28 AM

Use this:

http://www.antec.outervision.com/

------------------------------ If a man speaks in the forest and no woman hears him, is he still wrong ?
 Reply to JackNaylorPE
Bronze CPUs badge DellUser1   11-11-2009 at 12:12:34 PM
Best answer

1st duke of marlborough wrote :

According to the Antec power calculator, with my current set up and an additional 5870, I will need 711W of power at 90% load. So my question is, can this PSU handle that much load? I know that PSU's can often exceed their advertised limit, sometimes by a lot; can this one do the same?


The psu calculator doesn't provide you with actual power consumption numbers, it provides a wattage reccomendation for a power supply that will safely run your components, with some overhead built into the figure.
Being under by 50 or 60 watts won't pose a problem with a decent quality psu, such as yours.
As far as psu's exceeding their rating, it's nice to know that one can but it's not something you would want to do on a full time basis.

Reply to DellUser1
Silver CPUs badge JohnnyLucky   11-11-2009 at 01:58:31 PM

Here are the official power requirements for the new ATI Radeon HD 5850 and HD 5870 video cards.


ATI Radeon™ HD5850 System Requirements:

PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard

500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended

600 Watt and four 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode


ATI Radeon™ HD5870 System Requirements:

PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard

500 Watt or greater power supply with two 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended

600 Watt and four 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX™ technology in dual mode

The power supply recommendations are for an entire pc system. Figure about 40 amps on the 12 volt rail(s) for Crossfire mode.

Reply to JohnnyLucky
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > [Solved] Does this PSU have the power?
Go to:

There are 1152 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.375 seconds
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them