OCZ 550w with 50 amps: what cards can run?

[Chronobodi]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

just wondering... will this run a 5970? i know that card is probably overkill, ok, gtx 470 then?

 

[welshmousepk]

probably not a 5970, at least not if you intend to overclock.

a 5870, or GTX470 should be fine though (of those two, the 5870 is considerably more powerful though)

 

[outlw6669]

You will probably need a better PSU.
ATI Officially Recommends a 650W+ PSU for a single 5970.
I would recommend looking into a new Corsair, PCP&C, Seasonic, Enermax or Antec 650W+ PSU before upgrading to a 5970.
As with the above, any current single GPU card should work fine with your PSU.

Really, you should probably wait another week or two before upgrading your GPU.
Nvidia's Fermi is scheduled for a paper launch the end of this week.
Depending on its performance, ATI will probably drop their prices in order to undercut what nVidia can offer.

 

[Chronobodi]

ah ok, but what the hell is a paper launch? when's the "real" launch?

 

[jsc]

No 550 watt PSU can put out 12 volts at 50 amps. 12 volts X 50 amps = 600 watts.

You have fallen into the classic noob PSU trap. You assume that because each of two rails can provide a max of 25 amps, the max total is 50 amps.

A good 550 watt PSU can provide around 40 amps.
For example: Corsair 550VX (41 amp 12 volt rail)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

 

[outlw6669]

A paper launch is where all the details and a few review samples are avaliable but the product is not avaliable in retail.
If I remember correctly, we should start seeing Fermi based GPU's in the wild around April 6th.

 

[outlw6669]

^
^
That is quite correct.
You can not just add the amperage together from multiple rails.
What you need to do is locate the Combine +12V Wattage and divide that by 12.
In the case of your PSU, it can output a maximum of 450W on the +12V rail which equates to 37.5A Peak Power.

 

[Starges]

No 550 watt PSU can put out 12 volts at 50 amps. 12 volts X 50 amps = 600 watts.

You have fallen into the classic noob PSU trap. You assume that because each of two rails can provide a max of 25 amps, the max total is 50 amps.

A good 550 watt PSU can provide around 40 amps.
For example: Corsair 550VX (41 amp 12 volt rail)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Yeah, fell into the same trap a while back. Bought a ''noname'' 430w psu with "38A at 12v rail", only to find out (using a digital multi-meter) that it oly had about 9A on each 12v rail!!

And furthermore, the shop i bought it form fefused to RMA it, claiming that i had "tampered with the screws".

Lesson: Go for branded psus like Corsair and Antec, don't rely on numbers alone!

 

[JohnnyLucky]

Looks like the veterans beat me to it.

 

[Chronobodi]

Best answer selected by ChronoBodi.