Need help deciding on a power supply & other info

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, Cases & Mods Need help deciding on a power supply & other info

Im rather new to building and i was thinking about getting a 6950:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/XFX+-+ [...] &cp=1&lp=7

I was wondering if my Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 @ 2.50GHz would bottleneck it.
I also need a power supply that can run this so i was wondering the best "bang for the buck" to run this without spending more than needed.

Specs:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 @ 2.50GHz
Motherboard: Intel Corporation DG43GT
Power Supply: COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS500-PCARD3-US 500W
Video Card: GTS 250

was wondering if that 6950 would work smoothly with everything I currently have.
Thanks in advance!

Message edited by Racanarr on 01-26-2012 at 09:16:21 AM

Reply to Racanarr

You will need to overclock your cpu. Also how much ram do you have? That 6950 costs way too much: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127604 you can get a much better one for the same price.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ Overclocked Intel HD 3000 Performance: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] e#t1978730
Thermal Paste Removal/Installation Guide: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] emoval-ins
Reply to amuffin

8 GB of DD2
And what power supply would you recommend for that ?

Message edited by Racanarr on 01-26-2012 at 09:20:50 AM

Reply to Racanarr

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/art [...] Review/969

This is the cheapest unit on bestbuy that can power a system with a 6950.
Antec Earthwatts Green EA-500D $63
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Antec+ [...] Id=3424201

Personally I don't think there will be much, if any significant bottlenecking on the CPU.

Reply to Silvune

From the last page of the review:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/art [...] view/969/9
Don't buy this PSU.

One of my systems has an OC'd Q9550, 4 GB RAM, a GTX260 - a card with slightly less power requirements than yours, a Gigabyte EP45-UD3P motherboard, 3 hard drives and an optical, and a Soundblaster card all powered by a Corsair 750TX.

Running 3 instances of Prime95 to load the CPU and 3DMark06 to load the GPU, it pulls 375 watts from the wall as measured by my Kill-a-Watt meter. Figuring 80% PSU efficiency, the system pulls 300 watts from the PSU.

I estimate that your system with a 6950 would pull around 350 - 380 watts. A good 500 watt PSU would do, but a 600 watt PSU would be better.

Reply to jsc

You definitely want to pick a better psu.

This probably the best thing going at this exact moment price wise:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139027

Although closer to Valentines day they may have more specials. Not the most romantic of gifts, but...

actually I got my wife a new psu for Christmas.

Reply to totalknowledge

amuffin wrote :

You will need to overclock your cpu.

Will need a new motherboard to do that.

Reply to delluser1

You won´t be able to OC your Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300, as your mobo (DG43GT) is locked. As delluser1 stated, you need a new mobo for OC, but if you are to buy a new mobo, then you´d probably get a new cpu, eh? Perhaps it is time to get a new rig.

Reply to jemm

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817151094

The Seasonic S12II 520W has no $10 rebate at Newegg but i'd be hard-pressed to take the Corsair over the S12II at this price point. Don't get me wrong - the Corsair is a great unit but I'd go for the Seasonic at this price point. Johnny Guru review of the S12II.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.p [...] 5&reid=185

Reply to Rugger