Question Is my 600W PSU enough for my new RTX 2070 Gaming card?

[Troubled PC User]

My Rig - PC Part Picker
PC Part Picker only had XC versions of the card, but I only got the regular Gaming Black
I just installed a new RTX 2070 Gaming graphics card to my computer. When I bought it (from NewEgg) the website said 550W PSU minimum. When I went to install the new card, the installation guide said the minimum PSU is 650W. I found one website (a review site) that said I should use a 700W PSU. I don't plan on overclocking or adding any extra hardware to this build. Do I need to upgrade my PSU anyway?
My PSU - Corsair.com

If I do need a new PSU, what is a good choice?

Thanks

 

[Sgt_Anarchy]

Well, if you aren't noticing any performance issue, there probably isn't a problem. However, sometimes if a GPU is drawing too much power from your power supply, it can severely damage your PSU. If you see no flaws in the performance of your machine, it is probably ok. If you have the money, I'd recommend you get a better one. As for recommendations, if you're looking for a PSU that's modular, affordable, and dependable, I'd go for this: https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Bronze-Modular-Warranty-110-BQ-0600-K1/dp/B01MTJTO2O
700W should be enough, but if you're planning on upgrading your rig in the future and adding on parts that draw even more power than that, I'd go higher. Best of luck.

 

[clutchc]

That PSU is fine, especially if no OC'ing is involved. Mine is running nicely on a 550W. EVGA only requires 550W in their specs for that card. (More if you want to OC)

 

[Troubled PC User]

That PSU is fine, especially if no OC'ing is involved. Mine is running nicely on a 550W. EVGA only requires 550W in their specs for that card. (More if you want to OC)

Thank you for your input. It's strange that the guide says 650W when the manufacturer really only says 550W.

 

[Troubled PC User]

Well, if you aren't noticing any performance issue, there probably isn't a problem. However, sometimes if a GPU is drawing too much power from your power supply, it can severely damage your PSU. If you see no flaws in the performance of your machine, it is probably ok. If you have the money, I'd recommend you get a better one. As for recommendations, if you're looking for a PSU that's modular, affordable, and dependable, I'd go for this: https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-Bronze-Modular-Warranty-110-BQ-0600-K1/dp/B01MTJTO2O
700W should be enough, but if you're planning on upgrading your rig in the future and adding on parts that draw even more power than that, I'd go higher. Best of luck.

Thanks for the reply. I might upgrade later, after my budget has recovered some. Haven't really tested it yet, since I didn't want to damage anything because of power issues. I guess I'll see how it works.

 

[clutchc]

Thank you for your input. It's strange that the guide says 650W when the manufacturer really only says 550W.

Evga lists the minimum requirement. What guide are you going by?

 

[Troubled PC User]

Evga lists the minimum requirement. What guide are you going by?

The physical Installation Guide packaged with the card. Picture

 

[Karadjgne]

What most sites won't explain is the reason 'why' a certain psu recommended size is given. Whomever recommended the 700w psu was an idiot.
Psus range greatly in quality and output, regardless of what the sticker claims is the wattage. That's the underlying reason for the bigger recommendations. Your whole pc will draw @ 300w gaming, that's all. To keep roughly good with efficiency and thermal loads on the psu, (50-70% loads is best performance) a good quality 550w is ideal. Which means a ok good 600w. Borderline psu 700w. Complete piece of junk (shouldn't even be used as a doorstop) 800w+.

A Corsair Builder 600w lands somewhere between OK-good and borderline quality, so the pc as is is ok for it, but I'd not really recommend pushing any real OC limits with it.

There aren't any really good quality 500/600/700w psus, and that Builder was not really good when it was new, 10 years ago. The original CX (what you have, blocky colored letters) was designed as a OEM replacement, not a gaming demand psu. Corsair even printed as such on its website, the RM series or better is designed for that. Corsair retracted that with updated designs on the CX which are far superior to what they used to be.

If that psu is over @ 3 years old, it's time to start saving for a replacement. Average lifespan of the CX was 18months in a gaming pc.

 

[Troubled PC User]

What most sites won't explain is the reason 'why' a certain psu recommended size is given. Whomever recommended the 700w psu was an idiot.
Psus range greatly in quality and output, regardless of what the sticker claims is the wattage. That's the underlying reason for the bigger recommendations. Your whole pc will draw @ 300w gaming, that's all. To keep roughly good with efficiency and thermal loads on the psu, (50-70% loads is best performance) a good quality 550w is ideal. Which means a ok good 600w. Borderline psu 700w. Complete piece of junk (shouldn't even be used as a doorstop) 800w+.

A Corsair Builder 600w lands somewhere between OK-good and borderline quality, so the pc as is is ok for it, but I'd not really recommend pushing any real OC limits with it.

There aren't any really good quality 500/600/700w psus, and that Builder was not really good when it was new, 10 years ago. The original CX (what you have, blocky colored letters) was designed as a OEM replacement, not a gaming demand psu. Corsair even printed as such on its website, the RM series or better is designed for that. Corsair retracted that with updated designs on the CX which are far superior to what they used to be.

If that psu is over @ 3 years old, it's time to start saving for a replacement. Average lifespan of the CX was 18months in a gaming pc.

Good to know. I had comparatively no idea what I was doing when I originally built my PC. This PSU has actually lasted me about 3.5 years. Definitely time to save for a new one.

 

[Karadjgne]

Power Supply: BitFenix - Formula Gold 550 W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($69.00 @ Amazon)

Power Supply: Antec - Earthwatts Gold Pro 550 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($74.99 @ Amazon)

These are the 2 currently cheapest psus in the 550w - 650w range that I'd recommend. You can go slightly cheaper with a Corsair CX-M or a Corsair CX (2015+), but you are still looking at $60+. Sometimes you can catch sales, especially on Seasonic Focus or the CX-M or TX-M, I've seen them for $40 at newegg, so you should have a minute to save up.

The psu is the heart of your pc, the single most important piece there is. If a surgeon said he'd replace your bad heart with a new one, and offered you a 18yr old athletic non-smoker for $100k or a 70yr old obese chainsmoker for $75k, you'd not even blink at the difference. Same goes for a psu. That $15 difference between mediocre and very good quality is seriously cheap insurance.