Power supply & suggestions for my Crossfire 5870 setup?

blotkis

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Team,

Building a new system for my son at the end of the week. The only thing left that I need is a power supply. I'm kinda weary of the online power supply apps that show you how many watts you will need because they seem pretty inconsistent. So what power supply would you get for this setup? Would you change any of the components? This will be used for gaming at 1920x1200. Any advice appreciated:

SETUP:

MOTHERBOARD: ASRock X58 Extreme LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor (Going to OC to 3.6 GHz)

MEMORY: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8 G

CPU COOLER: Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler

HARD DRIVE(S): Kingston SNV225-S2/64GB 2.5" 64GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) (Boot Drive)

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000HLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (for gaming)

CASE: COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon

VIDEO: (X2 IN XFIRE) ASUS EAH5870/G/2DIS/1GD5/A Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity

OTHER: SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner

Nippon Labs Delux 3.5" Internal All In One Card Reader/Writer with USB2.0 & eSATA Ports Model ICR-BB

Thanks for the help all.
 

overshocks

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750W with 80 plus certified power supply is enough for 2x 5870. Read the power consumption on the 5870 review.

If you overclock your cpu, you didn't state this. Then get a 850W power supply

Why you using 2x 5870 anyways? you don't need it for 1920x1200, it really depends if you wanna max all settings
 

blotkis

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He wants 2x5870 to make sure he can max out settings in every game and have extremely high FPS's.

I'm old, I just do as I'm told = (

Any other suggestions on the setup or particular power supply to get (brand, etc.)?
 

overshocks

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I suggest going for 850W would be better because, in a year or two your son will probably upgrade the graphic cards since new games are more demanding.

Also, the 5870x2 will come shortly, so if you can wait then it'll be good idea, assuming cost is not an issue here.
5870x2 will be better choice for the FUTURE, because then you can just add another 5870x2 in the future when your son play new games that are more demanding
 


Each 5870 requires two 6-pin pci-e connectors, so for 4, you are looking at a 750 watt unit. Nothing else matters much.

I like PC P&C units for bottom mounting so that the cooling air goes straight through. The silencer750 is good:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703019

As an alternative in the same price range, the Corsair 850TX is a good deal, and cheaper than the 750 unit:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009
 
Hmmmm.......Last night I read half a dozen technical reviews of the brand new ATI Radeon HD5870 video card. I paid particular attention to the power consumption charts. I also took a look at the ATI recommendations.

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)

I read a technical review of the 5870 over at anandtech.com. They measured the total power draw at the wall outlet (mains). That's the total power used by the entire pc. The test system consisted of an Intel Core i7 920 @ 3.3Ghz and just one 5870 and another test with two 5870's in Crossfire mode. They did the test while playing World of Warcraft. The total power draw for the entire system with one card was 295 watts. The total power draw for two cards in Crossfire mode was 430 watts. I knew the new cards were going to be energy efficient.

In terms of future upgrades we will be seeing more energy efficiency with the development of 32nm cpu's and gpu's in the future. Intel already did a show and tell presentation for a new 32nm cpu. They will require less power instead of more.

NOTE - I do not know how much power other popular games would require.
 

overshocks

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You are correct in what you are saying. +1