Optimal PSU for 2x6950 OC

[dravan]

CROSAIR CARBIDE 400R TOWER
I5 2500K OC 4.0
8G RAM 1600 CAS LATENCY 9(unfortunately)
Mobo Gigabyte Z68
128G SSD R/W 300+/S
640G sata 2
CROSAIR 500W MODULAR PSU 80PLUS CERTIFIED
1 PowerColor 6950 2GB DualFan stock @ 800hz OC'd at 860 - running at 62C during Load.


I am going to be purchasing another 6950 2GB DualFan to CrossFire shortly. I want to buy a PSU with lowest W required to save money.

I think it'd be 700W but I may be wrong and I know you can't mess that up because it could wreck parts of the computer.

My budget for the PSU is $90.00 and under. What PSU should I buy according to you and why?

Other ideas like Replacing the 6950 for a powerful single card that would perform similarly to 2x6950 but run on my 500W are also appreciated - but which card, will 500W do...

I like NCIX.com as it is local for me; NewEgg is good too.

 

[kiezz]

psu calculator

http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/

i reckon a 750w psu would do

 

[kiezz]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153136

with your budget id say this one maybe basically your looking for it to be 80 plus certified this one is bronze certified dearer ones can be gold certified you can look for longer see can you get a gold certified one at your budget

 

[Silvune]

What PSU do you have?

Corsair have released two 500W PSUs, neither of which is modular.
They have released a 520W and a 550W PSU which are modular though.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4061/amds-radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950/24
Shows a system using an i7-920 and two stock 6950s drawing 509W at the wall under Furmark.
You also need a PSU with four PCIe connectors.

This meets the power requirements but is only less than $90 after rebate:
XFX Pro 750W Core Edition 80Plus Bronze Modular $95 ($25 rebate)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59617&vpn=P1750SNLB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1019

It's worth going for because it meets your needs and is high quality.
Some reviews for it:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/XFX-PRO-750-W-Power-Supply-Review/1182
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story2&reid=216
http://hardocp.com/article/2011/01/31/xfx_pro_series_core_edition_power_supply_review/
It shares the same internals as the Corsair TX750 V2 if that helps convince you that it is high quality.

The 650W version also has four PCIe connectors and is under $90 before rebate.

I don't know what the single card equivalent of 6950 CrossfireX would be performance wise.

I'd advise against getting that Thermaltake unit because a similar unit received a negative review at Hardwaresecrets:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/902

 

[dravan]

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=60329&vpn=CMPSU%2D500CXV2&manufacture=Corsair

That's the one, sorry not modular. My bad.

 

[dravan]

What PSU do you have?

Corsair have released two 500W PSUs, neither of which is modular.
They have released a 520W and a 550W PSU which are modular though.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4061/amds-radeon-hd-6970-radeon-hd-6950/24
Shows a system using an i7-920 and two stock 6950s drawing 509W at the wall under Furmark.
You also need a PSU with four PCIe connectors.

This meets the power requirements but is only less than $90 after rebate:
XFX Pro 750W Core Edition 80Plus Bronze Modular $95 ($25 rebate)
http://us.ncix.com/products/?sku=59617&vpn=P1750SNLB9&manufacture=XFX&promoid=1019

It's worth going for because it meets your needs and is high quality.
Some reviews for it:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/XFX-PRO-750-W-Power-Supply-Review/1182
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story2&reid=216
http://hardocp.com/article/2011/01/31/xfx_pro_series_core_edition_power_supply_review/
It shares the same internals as the Corsair TX750 V2 if that helps convince you that it is high quality.

The 650W version also has four PCIe connectors and is under $90 before rebate.

I don't know what the single card equivalent of 6950 CrossfireX would be performance wise.

I'd advise against getting that Thermaltake unit because a similar unit received a negative review at Hardwaresecrets:
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/902

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=6032 [...] re=Corsair

That's the one, sorry not modular. My bad.

 

[dravan]

Best answer selected by Dravan.