How do i know if i am maxing out my PSU?

[ambizro]

could that be why i can't achieve the clocks i want on my video card?

psu i have is coolermaster 750w

i5 760 oc'd to 4.2gig

gtx 570 struggling to hit over 820 core

 

[Ubrales]

A good 750 Watts PSU should be sufficient for what you want to do. However, Cooler Master makes great cases, and their PSUs are not all that great.

Look into: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139010 Corsair Modular Power Supply

This is a PSU calculator: http://www.corsair.com/learn_n_explore/?psu=yes (There are other similar ones just as good)

 

[Hotobu]

If you live in a house and don't have access to a voltage/ammeter I guess one method would be to tun your computer off, go outside read your electricity meter, and see how much power is being drained. Then go inside, turn it back on and read it again.

If that's not good enough I think it's a service of some electric companies that they'll supply you with a plug in device (between the outlet and whatever you want to test) that will give you the info you're looking for.

Also I wouldn't trust power calculators on any site that's trying to sell power supplies. I just tried that Corsair site, put in modest parts and am being recommended a 950W power supply; a recommendation that I know is complete BS. The site that I've seen recommended more than any other is this one right here. You can pay for an even more elaborate version, but this one's pretty good as is. If you put in your specs you'll come in way under 750 W, but as was said Cooler Master makes some suspect power supplies.

 

[Ubrales]

Corsair's HX-750 is on sale for 2 days - http://promotions.newegg.com/neemail/july-0-2011/48hoursale05/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL070511&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL070511-_-EMC-070511-Index-_-E0-_-PromoWord

Use the promo code and MIR

This will serve all your stated needs and the PSU is 'Modular' - better cable management resulting in better air flow.

 

[homegun]

The site that I've seen recommended more than any other is this one right here. You can pay for an even more elaborate version, but this one's pretty good as is.

Wow - that calculator puts my system at 834W, and my PS is 850W. I guess I'll have to blame any instability on lack of power margin!

 

[boiler1990]

Wow - that calculator puts my system at 834W, and my PS is 850W. I guess I'll have to blame any instability on lack of power margin!

It overestimates on purpose by ~50 or so watts. I've used it several times; it told me I'd have enough headroom to run an i7-930 + 2x470s on a 650W PSU, and sure enough it did (Antec EA650, 1st generation)

 

[boiler1990]

could that be why i can't achieve the clocks i want on my video card?

psu i have is coolermaster 750w

i5 760 oc'd to 4.2gig

gtx 570 struggling to hit over 820 core

GPUs OC somewhat similarly to CPUs (just by different means). At some point you'll reach the GPU's limit and it may start artifacting, which is it's way of demonstrating that it isn't stable. Unfortunately, you can't just swap out the graphics processor on the PCB like a CPU...