Just A Thought

[FoxwoodForgemoor]

Hi there

Okay, so right now, I have a PC, with in i3 2120 and and XFX R7770 DD Edition in it

If I was to upgrade the parts, this is what I would get:

Z77 Mobo
and Another 7770 DD

But as I look through the cheap motherboards, One has the connector which looks like a Pulltab, like a T shape, and in the other PCI it has a Pull thingy.

For example:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-z77a-g43-intel-z77-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-hdmi-atx This motherboard is one like this.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/msi-z77a-g43-intel-z77-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-hdmi-atx And another one.

Can I get one like that which can work in a crossfire config like the second one, or do I need somthing like this:

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigabyte-ga-z77-ds3h-intel-z77-s-1155-ddr3-sata-iii-6gb-s-sata-raid-pcie-30-(x16)-d-sub-dvi-d-hdmi-a Where the tabs are the same.

And another thing:

How can I find out how much power the PSU is using mostly so when I order another card in the near future with moneys and it will work with the PSU i have and not have power surges and problems? I have a 430W Corsair Builders Series in my PC at the moment, works like a charm, and it has the necessary cables for another card like the 7770, but how can I find out if the power draw will be sucessful?

Many thanks!

 

[clutchc]

I have no idea what you are talking about when you refer to cheap motherboards with a "thing like a pull-tab". Your links don't work.

The HD 7770 draws 6.67A at +12V for a total wattage of 80W at max usage. That's for each card. Your i3 will need another 5.4A at +12V for 65W of power. Then there's the drives, and other MB devices. Your PSU has a single 32A +12V rail, so it may be marginally sufficient depending on what else you have on the PSU's other rails. Use a PSU calculator to find out if you are OK or too close with a 430W PSU:
http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/
I'm thinking it will be close. And once you pass 80% power usage, your efficiency dies off fast. One other thing; I only see one PCIe 6/8 pin connector on that PSU. (It obviously wasn't intended for use with dual cards)

However, I'm betting your not going to like the micro-stutter you end up with by CFing 2 mid-range cards. This seems to be a problem that neither AMD nor Nvidia has solved yet. Some folks are more susceptible to m-s than others, but once you notice it happening, that's all you can think about when gaming.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-stutter-crossfire,2995.html