Dated ATX-IB680W-BL and the GTX 460/560

[desolator4u]

Sup ppl?
I have an ATX-IB680W-BL from back in the day (like 4 years ago) that I just (ya) started using. I want to get the GTX 560 or the GTX 460 worst case, since my GPU is suppose to last for a few years.

On EVGA's site, the requirements are as follows:
■GTX 460: Minimum 450 Watt recommended power supply, with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amps.)
■GTX 560: Minimum 500 Watt recommended power supply, with +12 Volt current rating of 30 Amps.)

Now, for the PSU that I have, the "APEVIA ICEBERG ATX-IB680W-BL" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-148-028&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Keywords=460#scrollFullInfo it's specs:
■1 x 12V P4 / P8 (4/8 pin)
■Main Connector.... 20+4Pin
■+12V Rails............ 2
■PCI-E Connector... 2 x 6-Pin
■Output... +3.3V@38A, +5V@40A, +12V1@22A, +12V2@24A, -5V@0.3A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2A

My question now (obviously) is, can it power any of these 2 GPUs properly? I am not familiar with this type of technical stuff, but from what I see, it has +12V1@22A and +12V2@24A. So does that mean I can only power the GTX460 with the +12V2@24A connection? Need some assistance here...

Respect
~Des

 

[rolli59]

The amp requirement is for the total system on the combined +12volt rails which you exceed by a large margin. Your PSU is big enough but is APEVIA and is 4 years old, they are not known for their quality rather the opposite. Here is a review of it when it was called Aspire Beast 680 basically the same PSU http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=78
I will recommend a new PSU just based on their reputation and that it is rated at peak load not constant (see review).

 

[desolator4u]

Thanks for pointing that out, but again, an upgrade isn't an option since I JUST started using it. Based on the link you sent me, it isn't the exact PSU that I have. I understand that it's the same company so the poor quality may reflect on my PSU, but I haven't been able to find much negative feedback on the one I have in my system.

There are a few reviews, such as:
http://www.overclockersclub.com/reviews/apevia_iceberg.php
http://www.viperlair.com/reviews/cases/other/psu/apeviai/
http://www.modthebox.com/review508_1.shtml
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2522440&CatId=1483
along with the New Egg user feedback, that shows the actual PSU I have is decent, but regardless, I don't want to upgrade unless it dies.

Could you point me to a link, or explain how those specs on my PSU mean I can manage a GPU that requires a Minimum 500 Watt Power Supply, with +12 Volt current rating of 30 Amps? Because I just don't see it...

~Des

 

[rolli59]

Well what it says in manufacturers specs is 500watt with 30 amps on the + 12 volts. Then they are talking about total over all +12 volt rails. If you look at the picture of the rating of the one in the test (which looks different but has the same amp ratings on all rails as yours) they have 310watts under the combined +12 volt rails. That means total available is 310/12 = 25.83amps which is really low for a 680 watt PSU. Here are the same numbers for your PSU http://www.apevia.com/ProductsInfo.asp?KEY=ATX-IB680W-BL basically all the same but 330watt on the +12 volt counting in all the -voltages.
It basically means that although your PSU is 680watts it has only 26amps (rounded) on the +12volt rail and does not meet the requirement!

 

[desolator4u]

Well, no way i'll be running that GPU with my current PSU then. Thanks allot for the in-dept feedback guys, and not just saying "go upgrade".
I've been looking at the Corsair 750 TX here (may take the HX version with Modular cables if I can get an extra $40 quickly):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&cm_re=corsair_tx_750-_-17-139-006-_-Product
It's a 750W with 4 PCI-E Connectors and only one +12V Rail of 60A. It definitely seems like a solid PSU to go with, right? Also, since one GTX 560 requires a 500W PSU, and this is 750W, would there be probs if I were to run the 560s in SLI? It would add up to the 60A it supports, but does the total Wattage now sum to 1000W to support both cards together at the same time?

~Des

 

[desolator4u]

Think I just answered my own question. Researching the GTX 560 Ti's Power Consumption, it goes ~330W under full load, so about 660W would leave only 90W to power the rest of my system, which can't be safe. Guess i'll have to get one with a higher number on the Watts for a SLI setup...

~Des

 

[desolator4u]

What's your monitors native resolution OP. You make a gpu decision according that.

Yeah, I have a 24" Samsung HDTV @ 1080p but 720p looks almost as good on it (when I test it games like Battlefield 2 from 2005)

~Des

 

[desolator4u]

...

 

[rolli59]

Think I just answered my own question. Researching the GTX 560 Ti's Power Consumption, it goes ~330W under full load, so about 660W would leave only 90W to power the rest of my system, which can't be safe. Guess i'll have to get one with a higher number on the Watts for a SLI setup...

~Des

The card does not consume the full 330watt it is total for the system. The Corsair 750TX is a solid PSU choice if you are thinking going to GTX560Ti SLI setup later on. Here total system power consumption 571watt with Furmark stress test http://www.anandtech.com/show/4209/amds-radeon-hd-6990-the-new-single-card-king/18

 

[desolator4u]

Lol your playing games on a hdtv? bfc is cpu intensive and bad coding.

For the 560 or 460 a 500w psu will do. Don't know if anyone mention it but the Seasonic 520w one going for 69.99 is a good buy.
Just don't go play 720p with your new card your going to make your cpu suffer.

For sli setup 650w would be fine. Corsair 650w and up units are bang for buck

Well I had my eye on a Corsair at first, but after some researching, i'm gonna go with a XFX Black Edition P1-750B-CAG9 750W since 80 Plus Silver, it's Modular and i'd have to spend ~40 extra for that same feature on the Corsair. From what i've read on Jonny Guru and elsewhere, it uses the same Seasonic PSU, just a different fan that seems to make more noise, so that should definitely be good.

Getting a 750W so I can SLI in the future with no probs, run at an overall low total system wattage to not stress the PSU and also because i'm gonna OC to get an extra 1GHz out of each core, so that should get rid of whatever "suffering" you're saying that my CPU would have to go through, right?

~Des

 

[desolator4u]

Best answer selected by Desolator4u.