Buying a graphics card, want to know if PSU will handle it?

[infusedsandwich]

Hello! So the question is fairly simple, right up there in the title. My PSU is 500 W. Here is my setup:

# AMD FX 6100
# HD 7870 (that's the reason why i'm asking this question, i'm gonna buy this card and I want to know if I have enough power)
# 2x 4GB Kingston Blue RAM
# Hitachi 500 GB Hard Drive (just approximately)
# MSI 7641 P21 FX Motherboard
# finally, a 212 X EVO cpu cooler (just because it's blackmarket, I suppose it takes more power than a stock one)

That's it, so if anyone can tell me if I can buy the 7870 (or if I can settle with the 7850, because there's no big difference).

Thank you all 😉

 

[rolandzhang3]

What's the exact model of the PSU? alternatively you could tell us the amp reading/s under the +12v rail/s

You'd need an amperage of 23A for a 7870 and 21A for the 7850 (this is including all your other auxiliaries)

If you need a new PSU howvever, these would be good choices

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100b10500kr
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-power-supply-sp550pcbus

 

[deadmaufive]

If your PSU has 16A on the 12v rails you should be good to go.

Make sure it's a good name brand PSU though. Something like Thermaltake or Coolermaster or Antec or Corsair or something, not one of those no name brands where they say 500 but really it's only 400 or so.

btw, 212x isn't blackmarket, it's aftermarket. 😛 just had to get that off my chest. 😛 haha

 

[rolandzhang3]

16A would be ridiculously low for a "500W" PSU, 16*12=192W

A decent 500W PSU would have around 40A on the +12v rail

 

[deadmaufive]

Sorry, I didn't clarify, I didn't mean ONLY 16A lol

I'll clarify some more too, I only say this because if your running to much already it could cause it to not have enough power, which you're not pulling much already. but a lot of PSU's have two +12v rails with 25A or so on them, So, yes, you probably have about 50A and using maybe a little more than half of your total output with your setup already, which means you'll have plenty of room left to squeeze in a high end card. And since those cards take 16A (roughly 200W) for the card itself you'll be leftover with with around 50-100W usage, on a "good" psu that is.

 

[infusedsandwich]

Okay, thanks for the help. I'll get my pc open and check the details, then post them back here

 

[infusedsandwich]

Okay, cracked it open. Not gonna say much, just show you, here's the pic: - - -https://www.dropbox.com/sc/1xl9z1pwae3ip1r/J4k2RbDjQA - - -

Ps, the camera didn't catch it, but up the psu it says: model - 500w atx

 

[deadmaufive]

I'm gonna have to go with no. You probably won't have enough power or if you do just barely. It'll be safer to grab a better one. 500w from a decent brand should be good for you.

 

[infusedsandwich]

I'm gonna have to go with no. You probably won't have enough power or if you do just barely. It'll be safer to grab a better one. 500w from a decent brand should be good for you.

What makes you think I don't have enough? I checked the website on the R9 270x and 7870, they both have a minimum of 500w required

 

[deadmaufive]

because it looks like you have a single +12v rail with a total of 27A, the card is going to use 16 or 18, I believe 16, could be mistaken, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong, for max output requirement of 225w, assuming you're going to OC it. Your PSU also seems to not actually deliver 500w, closer to 450, even though it says 500, it's one of those liar lables to make you feel better about yourself. I'm not saying it definitely will not work no matter what, though. I'm saying that if it does work, you'll be cutting it really really close without any sort of leeway, which is always a good idea.

 

[infusedsandwich]

i read on the internet that I have a two rail +12v

 

[deadmaufive]

do you have the exact model?

 

[deadmaufive]

because from the picture you linked us, there's only a single rail listed.

 

[rolandzhang3]

That's a single rail at 27A, which should be enough for either card really, (considering auxiliaries as well). I'd probably stick with the 7850

 

[infusedsandwich]

That's a single rail at 27A, which should be enough for either card really, (considering auxiliaries as well). I'd probably stick with the 7850

So the R9 270x or the 7870 are out of the question? Because the 7850 isn't really high end, but the above listed ones are.

Technically the R9 270x and the 7870 require 500 minimum Watts, which is what I have..

 

[deadmaufive]

That's a single rail at 27A, which should be enough for either card really, (considering auxiliaries as well). I'd probably stick with the 7850

So the R9 270x or the 7870 are out of the question? Because the 7850 isn't really high end, but the above listed ones are.

Technically the R9 270x and the 7870 require 500 minimum Watts, which is what I have..

Like I said, yours adds up to less than actually 500w. When I added it I think it came out to 462 or something around there. The card will use, at full load, 225 max wattage. If you try to oc the card, it can use even more than that. That's nearly half your usage right there. You rices doe uses somewhere around 110, and everything else you have will use maybe another 40, maybe more depending on exactly what all you have in the pc. It's not a very high end card and as long as it's not stressed to the max, you're ok, but when it does hit that point you'll have to be careful because you won't have a lot of leeway leftover.

It's like I said earlier, it's not that it definitely won't work, it's just better to be safe than sorry, cause over loading the psu is never a good idea.

 

[infusedsandwich]

That's a single rail at 27A, which should be enough for either card really, (considering auxiliaries as well). I'd probably stick with the 7850

So the R9 270x or the 7870 are out of the question? Because the 7850 isn't really high end, but the above listed ones are.

Technically the R9 270x and the 7870 require 500 minimum Watts, which is what I have..

Like I said, yours adds up to less than actually 500w. When I added it I think it came out to 462 or something around there. The card will use, at full load, 225 max wattage. If you try to oc the card, it can use even more than that. That's nearly half your usage right there. You rices doe uses somewhere around 110, and everything else you have will use maybe another 40, maybe more depending on exactly what all you have in the pc. It's not a very high end card and as long as it's not stressed to the max, you're ok, but when it does hit that point you'll have to be careful because you won't have a lot of leeway leftover.

It's like I said earlier, it's not that it definitely won't work, it's just better to be safe than sorry, cause over loading the psu is never a good idea.

So, lets say I have ~470W. The graphics card is ~240W max. That leaves room for 230W. My CPU is ~95W max. That leaves 135W. The Hitachi hard drives are usually like only ~30W at max (when not idle). So I have about ~100W left?

If not, then what do you recommend?: Buying the 7850 OC'd 2gb or getting a new PSU and the r9 270x

 

[deadmaufive]

You also have to take fans into account. Let's just say at max 10w per fan that leaves you at 70w and then your cd/DVD drive. Leaves you at around 40 give or take.

I'd recommend a good sturdy reliable psu and then grab whatever the best card you can afford from there.

That's only a recommendation though. If you feel comfortable getting the better card and holding off for a psu later, it's your pc, and your money. 😛

 

[rolandzhang3]

The 7870 should be fine, but 27A for a 500W PSU is quite low, most decent 500W PSUs have around 40A on the +12v rail

Your other components and a 270x shouldn't consume more than 24A under load

Might as well get a new PSU and a better card like the 280x/7970/770 down the line

 

[infusedsandwich]

The 7870 should be fine, but 27A for a 500W PSU is quite low, most decent 500W PSUs have around 40A on the +12v rail

Your other components and a 270x shouldn't consume more than 24A under load

Might as well get a new PSU and a better card like the 280x/7970/770 down the line

alright.. which psu would you recommend for my setup + the r9 270x?

 

[rolandzhang3]

Either of these should be fine

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/evga-power-supply-100b10500kr

http://pcpartpicker.com/part/thermaltake-power-supply-sp550pcbus