Power question

[BaldEagl]

Thanks for the input guys. Even if I went up to  card like a 970, 600W would have me covered?

That depends on the amperage output.  Video cards draw a lot of amps.

I always prefer a single rail PSU with enough amps to cover my system.  That way I know that as the draw increases due to surge the rail will be able to provide what's needed.

Some say multiple rail PSU's are better because they isolate power surges from the rest of the system but, each rail produces fewer amps, therefore you need to make sure you can provide enough power including surges.  Some video cards allow for multiple plugs allowing you to utilize more than one rail to supply this.

[Serenity]

By the way, do you know the quality of your current PSU?

Unfortunately not. This is the basic build I have, (I upgraded a few things, but not the PSU). I just got it a month ago, so it's new, but they don't specify the manufacturer.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Year_End_AMD_8-Core/

[Dimebag]

that's where I bought mine at too.   I put a 750w power supply in it from evga for like 18 dollars more. 

just do it and you don't have to worry

[Bizman]

Unfortunately not. This is the basic build I have, (I upgraded a few things, but not the PSU). I just got it a month ago, so it's new, but they don't specify the manufacturer.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/Year_End_AMD_8-Core/

For what I could find it seems to have two 12 volt rails 24 amps each. Source: http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/spec/getspec.aspx?n=POWERSUPPLY&v=600%20Watts%20-%20Standard%2080%20Plus%20Certified%20Power%20Supply%20-%20SLI%2FCrossFireX%20Ready

At least the PSU has a 80+ certification and claims to be Crossfire/SLI ready which means it should be capable to run a decent video card. A GTX 970 has two 6-pin power inputs and the requirements include 500 W and 28 A of the power supply. As I said, your PSU gives 2 x 24 A, so if there's any logic those two rails should feed the two inputs without any problems. As Tom's hardware says

In short, it's the total capacity of the 12V source that matters, how the rails are laid out does not affect you much. 

Of course you can open the side panel of your computer to find out the brand and model of your psu, it's not a bad idea at all, but IMO you don't have to hurry to the shop for a new PSU until the current one has run out of warranty.