gpu needs 500watts

[waqaramini78]

if a gpu on amazon says 500watts. do I need a psu that has 500 wats or above?

 

[James Mason]

generally yes.
It's not an exact number, but the GPU doesn't know what else you have in your computer, so it over estimates a safe number.
It's actually "If you have 500watts it will work" When you're only using 350watts in reality.
Also, alot of PSUs are made really poorly, and don't provide the watts they actually say they do, so you may have a "400 watt" psu but it can only provide 300 or so.

 

[ss202sl]

That's generally what it means. It's really the available amperage, and sometimes you can get away with a lower wattage, but it depends on the GPU, PSU and other specs of the system.

 

[ubercake]

if a gpu on amazon says 500watts. do I need a psu that has 500 wats or above?

Not necessarily. It depends on the video card and the power supply. There are many PSUs under the 500W mark that can power most GPUs that specify a 500W requirement. The 500W requirement listed by the video card manufacturer covers most worst-case scenarios with regard to power supplies the customer will use to power the video card.

What kind of PSU do you have? What video card are you looking to buy?

 

[jsgrant31]

Can you tell us what specific GPU you're looking at? It depends. Most will probably say "power supply of 500 W or above required," but if you're looking at a 295x2 then it probably says "TDP: 500 W." If it's the former, then you need 500 W or above; the latter will require a larger PSU as the other components will obviously draw some power in addition to the 500 W (850 W PSU would be appropriate here).

Cheers

 

[4745454b]

Usually it means you need a 500W. Very few GPUs actually need 500Ws. The important thing is to buy a good one. Which one are you looking at?

 

[waqaramini78]

THE GTX 970 FROM AMAZON SAYS IT NEEDS 500WATTS???

 

[waqaramini78]

will a 600watt psu work well with my gpu and cpu and everything else

 

[4745454b]

Which 600W? I know 500W units I'd trust with the 970, I know 750W units I wouldn't let it near. WATTAGE AMOUNT ISN'T EVERYTHING!!! (used caps because you did.)