Can The Corsair HX520 Cut It?

[afxwinter]

Hi there.
I recently bought a few upgrades for my machine and am wondering if I'll need to grab a larger PSU now.
I currently have a Corsair HX520.

Mobo/CPU
2500k at 4.5ghz on an Asus P8Z68-v Pro/Gen 3

Cooler:
CM 212 Hyper Evo with 2 120mm fans in a push-pull config.

Drives:
1tb WD Sata
200gb WD IDE
Optical Drive

Videocard:
Not sure yet, definitely a single card. I read that a 480 will need a larger PSU so I've been steering towards GTX 560 ti, possibly 570 or 580.

Case:
Corsair 600t Graphite SE
It's got 2x 200mm Fans and a 120mm.

Misc:
Delta 44 IDE Audio Interface

So guys, what do you think, will I be ok or should I drop some more money on a new PSU?

 

[constepatdyak]

Definitely get a new PSU. Your PSU just cuts it, you will have problems later on.

 

[xXmjzXx]

yeah if i was you id go with a 550 watt and above.

 

[ubercake]

The reference 570 video card will use a max of about 220W. Each of the three 12V rails only accommodates 18A (x12=216W total per rail available and 480W over the 12V combined). 580s will exceed that requirement.

You could safely run a reference non-LE 560 ti (with a max of 170W) along with your other equipment on that power supply:

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-560ti/specifications

If you want to run a 570 or 580 go with a 600W or higher psu and I'd suggest a single 12V rail.

 

[4745454b]

All of those 5 series cards should be fine. The GTX480 will be close. Considering the performance difference, I'd probably just grab a GTX560/570 and not worry about the 480. The GTX570 ~ GTX480, and has better power figures anyways.

Edit: Ubercake, how do you figure? 220W for GTX570, 150W for OC'd CPU, and 50W for everything else. My math says 420W. How is that more then 480W? Technically he could squeeze in that GTX480 which is rated at 250. (450W total draw) But then you'd be dealing with only a 30W difference which is why I said no to that card. Because which with the GTX570 out there isn't much reason to get the GTX480.

And single rail? Wouldn't make a difference.

 

[Rugger]

The most power-hungry PSU that you listed is the GTX 580. Nvidia specifies a 600W PSU with at least 40A on the 12V rail with (1) 6-pin and (1) 8=pin PCIe connectors.
GTX 570 requires a 550W with 35A and (2) 6-pin PCIe connectors
GTX 560ti requires a 500W with 31A and (2) 6-pin PCIe connectors

The Corsair HX520 with (3) 18A rails capable of providing a total of 40A and is more than sufficient for either the GTX 570 or the GTX 560ti. It is barely sufficient for the GTX580 and would not leave room for OC on the CPU or the GPU.

There are 3 versions of the HX520 with different PCIe connector configs; (2) 6-pin PCIe, (2) 6+2 pin PCIe, and (1) 6-pin + (1) 6+2 pin PCIe. If your PSU has (2) 6-pin PCIe connectors, then it is sufficient for either the GTX 570 or the GTX 560ti. It would require an adapter to be compatible with the GTX580.

 

[ubercake]

All of those 5 series cards should be fine. The GTX480 will be close. Considering the performance difference, I'd probably just grab a GTX560/570 and not worry about the 480. The GTX570 ~ GTX480, and has better power figures anyways.

Edit: Ubercake, how do you figure? 220W for GTX570, 150W for OC'd CPU, and 50W for everything else. My math says 420W. How is that more then 480W? Technically he could squeeze in that GTX480 which is rated at 250. (450W total draw) But then you'd be dealing with only a 30W difference which is why I said no to that card. Because which with the GTX570 out there isn't much reason to get the GTX480.

And single rail? Wouldn't make a difference.

Wouldn't the single rail limit of 18A limit the total wattage of a single device connected to it? Maybe I don't understand?

 

[4745454b]

Uhm, sure? I'm not sure I see where you are going with this?

I'm assuming you want to point out that 250W is > 216W? Did you forget that 75W of that will be supplied by the PCIe slot? So the PCIe plug will only be pegged for 175W. As long as you pay attention to what plug you use it should be fine.

Edit: Don't forget that each of those plugs will be on different rails anyways. It's pretty hard to trip the OCP using normal off the shelf stuff. It's possible, but you'd probably have to work on it. (assuming the PSU can handle the load that is. Easy to trip it running a GTX480 and a small 350W PSU.)

 

[delluser1]

520/620HX are actually dual solder point psu's with no OCP enabled, the effect of which makes them single rail psu's
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=18

Plenty of power for a basic system with an OC'd 2500K and GTX570

 

[ubercake]

Then it's settled.

 

[afxwinter]

Best answer selected by afxwinter.

 

[afxwinter]

Thanks for the help guys!
I'm going to keep using the 520 until I decide to move to a more power-hungry GPU.