XFX 450W Core Edition Enough for HD 6870? [34A]

[yummerzzz]

So, to keep this simple, I'm wondering if I can power a HD 6870 with this power supply, I remember reading somewhere that the HD 6870 needs 28A to run(Full System Load) and Anandtech says it uses 306W of power at full system load using furmark.

Chosen Components :

Phenom II 955 Black Edition
MSI 770-C45 770 or Asus M4A78LT-M LE 760G
XFX HD 6870 1GB w/ two free games
4GB Mushkin Silverline 2X2GB 1333Mhz DDR3 RAM
500GB Samsung F3 7200RPM HDD
24X Sony DVD Writer
XFX 450W Core Edition 80+ Bronze PSU. Single 12V Rail at 34A.

 

[simon12]

It may be just OK but I suggest you don't chance it.

 

[yummerzzz]

But if it only uses 306W of for the full system load, and the power supply can pump out 408W or power on just the 12V Rail, shouldn't it be enough?I also forgot to mention it was an 80Plus Bronze PSU.

 

[Ubrales]

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/reviews/xfx_radeon_hd_6870_review

This will give you and idea as to how much power is required. 254 watts max., and the Newegg site recommends a total of 500 watts system power.

http://reviews.cnet.com/graphics-cards/xfx-radeon-hd-6870/4507-8902_7-34201911.html?tag=specs

Your 450 watts PSU might just make it with the 34A at the 12V rail. Try it.

 

[yummerzzz]

Okay, I'm getting this Rig (Hopefully) next months, so in a few weeks, and I'll be able t report back and tell you guys what happened, or hopefully, what didn't happen.

 

[simon12]

Its up to you but everything I can find including AMD recommends a good 500W PSU minimum, this should give you some margin for error so it should be OK but if you have not bought it yet I still recommend you get that extra 50W.

 

[yummerzzz]

Well, I can't do that, but I can downgrade the GPU to a HD 6850 or GTX 460, and the GTX 460 recommends a PSU with 24 Amps on the +12V rail.

EDIT : and spend the extra money on a better PSU.

 

[Ubrales]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027

On same for $40 after MIR

 

[yummerzzz]

That is the essentially the same PSU, it has the same number of PCI-E connectors and amps on the 12V Rail, also, I'm in the UK, but thanks for the help.So, should I downgrade the GPU and spend the money on a better Mobo, or maybe a cooler to overclock the processor.

 

[simon12]

How much are you paying for the 6870 and the PSU?

 

[yummerzzz]

Er, £134 for the HD 6870 with Shogun2 and STALKER : CoP (I intended to buy STALKER anyway) and £36 for the PSU, so £170 together.

 

[Ubrales]

That is the essentially the same PSU, it has the same number of PCI-E connectors and amps on the 12V Rail, also, I'm in the UK, but thanks for the help.So, should I downgrade the GPU and spend the money on a better Mobo, or maybe a cooler to overclock the processor.

If I were you, no, I would not downgrade the GPU. Most people are looking to upgrade, not downgrade the GPU.

Can't you find similar deals on Corsair PSUs in the UK? XFX is also a good brand; so is Antec.

Try not to downgrade any components.

 

[yummerzzz]

Which Corsair PSU's do you have in mind, as the CX500 is identical apart from having 1 extra floppy connector, and one less SATA connector. Also, as this will be my first time build, and will be running at 720p for a while, under a year though, and my current setup is a Athlon 64 x2 3800+ 2Ghz wth 1GB DDR2 RAM and an X1300PRO, so any of these components would be an upgrade.

 

[simon12]

I would still trust the CX500 more and its only £6 extra, I assume you are looking at Aria.

 

[yummerzzz]

Why would you trust the CX500 more?, when its stating more power than a 450W psu with the same amps can supply.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=224
There's a solid review.

 

[simon12]

Corsair is just a better make

 

[yummerzzz]

............That's not really a valid reason.

 

[Ubrales]

............That's not really a valid reason.

These are not standardized ratings and evaluations. Therefore, the manufacturer's reputation is important. And Corsair has a solid good reputation for their PSUs, RAM.

As with all good manufacturers, occasionally a bad product, or a bad batch will slip through. In a way, this is good, because the cost of 100% good products, 100% of the time, is infinite. Zero defects -----> infinite cost.

As long as a good company has few defects (acceptable %) and a good RMA process, I have no issues.

 

[yummerzzz]

Oh, the PSU is a Seasonic S12II, and IIRC, Seasonic is a VERY reputable PSU brand.

EDIT: I believe XFX has a good RMA process, and it does have a 5 year warranty.

But if this PSU is that much worse than the CX500, I guess I'll have to downgrade to a HD 6850.

 

[Ubrales]

Oh, the PSU is a Seasonic S12II, and IIRC, Seasonic is a VERY reputable PSU brand.

EDIT: I believe XFX has a good RMA process, and it does have a 5 year warranty.

But if this PSU is that much worse than the CX500, I guess I'll have to downgrade to a HD 6850.

Seasonic is fine! Good quality!

 

[simon12]

Yes seasonic is a very good brand and I think you now have as much info as you need to make a decision, good luck whatever you choose.

 

[yummerzzz]

So I should stick with the XFX?

EDIT : Yeah, I'll stick with the XFX one.

 

[simon12]

Up to you, I would find/pay the £6 extra for Corsair especially if something goes wrong and you need to return a failed part you can say you where using a power supply of the recommended no of watts. If you really can't find £6 its a shame to have to drop back to a 6850 though as well.

 

[Silvune]

Yes, because has plenty of power for your build.

You should choose it over the Corsair CX500 because it is more efficient and has a higher temperature rating.

Surely it is a recommendation, not a requirement. I wouldn't have thought warranty could be refused because of a 'recommendation'. And AMD's recommendations for power supplies take into account the fact that a lot of 'power supplies' on the market cannot supply what they claim.

 

[yummerzzz]

Oh, I'm not dropping back.
I keeping the GPU AND the PSU as if this PSU couldn't handle the GPU then neither could the CX 500 as they both have the same number of Amps on the +12V, which is the GPU's power source.