Is this PSU enough for this Graphics card?

[RTHolmes]

Do I actually have to go there?

no you dont, because ive done it for you (ie checked and posted BFG's PSU requirements.)

I'd say its very unlikely that the stated specs are just for a CPU and GPU because that isnt a working PC, its just 2 components. more likely when they say "PC" they mean a typical working PC with a mobo, RAM, optical and hard drives etc.

If the goal is performance, then why arent we looking at the requirements for a i7 based system with a couple of GTX 295? Looks like a bang-for-buck system to me (good choice too - 9800GT is working great for me )


edit: good find there mipoikel, and no surprise. GPU manufacturers build in a huge margin of error on PSU requirements, gamers have always added their own margin on top of that. The only reason I upgraded my PSU from 300w to 500w was because the original didnt have a 6-pin connector, I have no doubt it would have been fine to run my system.

[Charge]

I have Antec NEO HE 430W PS and I have been very satisfied with it. (Q9300, NV8800GT, 4GB memory, 3 HDDs, waterpump, DVD burner)

My suggestion:

http://www.antec.com/pdf/manuals/TP-550_Manual_EN.pdf

http://www.hitechlegion.com/reviews/power-supplies/561-antec-tp-550-power-supply?start=1

-C+

[batch]

GPU manufacturers build in a huge margin of error on PSU requirements, gamers have always added their own margin on top of that.

This is very true of nearly any component in any system, however..........

Ive built and tested and repaired many systems over many years and never have found a component that gets near the "rated requirements" . But theres an old saying and computer builders hold to it like the bible....... "better safe than sorry"

Id rather have a huge margin and way overkill than a dead system any day of the week.

[gyrene81]

no you dont, because ive done it for you (ie checked and posted BFG's PSU requirements.)

I'd say its very unlikely that the stated specs are just for a CPU and GPU because that isnt a working PC, its just 2 components. more likely when they say "PC" they mean a typical working PC with a mobo, RAM, optical and hard drives etc.

If the goal is performance, then why arent we looking at the requirements for a i7 based system with a couple of GTX 295? Looks like a bang-for-buck system to me (good choice too - 9800GT is working great for me )


edit: good find there mipoikel, and no surprise. GPU manufacturers build in a huge margin of error on PSU requirements, gamers have always added their own margin on top of that. The only reason I upgraded my PSU from 300w to 500w was because the original didnt have a 6-pin connector, I have no doubt it would have been fine to run my system.

You've never actually run a system at full capacity have you? Yes there is an "extra margin of power" built into all of the calculations...but rated and actual are 2 very different stories...the manufacturers of the PSU's tend to fudge the numbers on their specs so they can sell their parts...you have to consider the fact that add-ons and upgrades happen and they may or may not fit within the capacity of the PSU you thought was adequate 4 years ago...those of us who actually build systems and fix them when they break know what can happen when a power supply doesn't actually perform at it's rated specs...I've seen enough mobo's blown due to an underpowered PSU that suddenly decided it wanted to give up the fight.

So please...give your expertise a break.

[Skuzzy]

Have you ever measured how much your PC ACTUALLY needs power?

This capture is from finnish computer magazine tests:

(Image removed from quote.)

http://www.mbnet.fi/nettijatkot/2008/10/virrankulutus/mittaukset.aspx (all in finnish )

Some months ago we did some measurements with Charge and we were really surprised of low consumption of our computers.

Does it say how they measured "Max"?  What was running on the computers?  Was "Max" at boot time?  If not, did they measure actual startup power?  What type of device did they use to measure with?  What was its time resolution?

The reason I am asking is my personal home computer, at startup, will hit 603W for 50ms.

[RTHolmes]

You've never actually run a system at full capacity have you?

Yes I have, but thanks for the anklehump anyway