[SOLVED] Limited PSU Options, Help!

[Yosef Marcera]

I recently bought a 2nd hand AMD R9 270X graphics card, slowly upgrading from a GT 520 (I know).

I realized it requires two 6 pin PCIE cables which my current PSU doesn't have, and is recommended to be used with atleast a 500w PSU. My current PSU is a 450W Thermaltake TT-450PL1NH-1.

My PC's specs are:
CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 @ 3.6GHz OC
GPU: Sapphire R9 270X 2GB Vapor-X OC
RAM: 8GB DDR3 HyperX KHX16C9X3/8
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H77-DS3H
HDD: 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM
Case: Thermaltake Commander MS-I

Since my options here aren't diverse and my budget is pretty limited, I found a Thermaltake Smart BX1 550W 80+ Br. but apparently it's out of stock. My next options and possibly only options are the Thermaltake LITEPOWER 550W that has no 80+ rating whatsoever, and the Thermaltake Smart RGB 600W 80+ which is a little bit too high for what I am able to afford.

Should I wait for the Thermaltake Smart BX1 550W 80+ Br, go for the LITEPOWER 550W, or save for the Smart RGB 600W 80+? Or can I get away with keeping my current PSU and using a PCIE 6 splitter?

I'm also not a 100% sure if all of these PSUs are compatible with my MOBO, so I might aswell ask for some insights.

 

[Math Geek]

none of those options are worth it!! i understand the problem with supply and price right now but spending a few bucks more for a quality unit is ALWAYS the best way to go. save a bit longer for a better one and let that 270x wait until you have it. it's been this long a little longer won't hurt you

if you can link a few places you can shop and a basic budget we can scan listings and see what decent options are there for you. but settling for what are pretty much junk units is NEVER a good idea.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

PCIe adapters are not safe.

Of the suggested PSUs the Thermaltake BX1 550w is probably the least bad and would certainly be a much better idea than your current PSU and an adapter.

That being said, I wouldn't recommend any of the PSUs you suggested as none are good, the BX550 is just probably the "least bad"

What country are you in?

 

[Yosef Marcera]

none of those options are worth it!! i understand the problem with supply and price right now but spending a few bucks more for a quality unit is ALWAYS the best way to go. save a bit longer for a better one and let that 270x wait until you have it. it's been this long a little longer won't hurt you

if you can link a few places you can shop and a basic budget we can scan listings and see what decent options are there for you. but settling for what are pretty much junk units is NEVER a good idea.

Thanks a lot for the quick response! The shops I look at are usually local PC parts stores here in the country I live in (Oman). Most of them have instagram pages, some have websites. I can't order from Newegg, Amazon, or anything that's not cash on delivery or local.

Here's some of the main sites I look into:
GameHub

Game Hub

The largest game store in Oman with a wide range of gaming products, I.T supplies, computer parts and services. Visit us and grab the exclusive offers!

gamehub.om

Gadgets Oman

Gadgets Oman (@gadgets_om) • Instagram photos and videos

37K Followers, 236 Following, 9,999 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Gadgets Oman (@gadgets_om)

www.instagram.com

Geekay Oman

Oman Geekay Fan club (@geekayomanfc) • Instagram photos and videos

6,264 Followers, 84 Following, 2,724 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Oman Geekay Fan club (@geekayomanfc)

www.instagram.com

ThaherTech

‎ThaherTech الظاهر للتكنولوجيا‎ (@thahertech) • Instagram photos and videos

19K Followers, 25 Following, 1,151 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from ‎ThaherTech الظاهر للتكنولوجيا‎ (@thahertech)

www.instagram.com

Sky Orbits

‎أفلاك السماء‎ (@skyorbits) • Instagram photos and videos

40K Followers, 616 Following, 1,851 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from ‎أفلاك السماء‎ (@skyorbits)

www.instagram.com

My budget is 20-35 OMR (50-90 USD)

Here's some more I found:
(23 OMR) KOLINK Core 80+ 500W
(25 OMR) DeepCool DN500 80+ 500W
(28 OMR) Cougar VTE500 80+ Bronze 500W
(29 OMR) GIGABYTE P550B 80+ Bronze 550W
(30 OMR) Cougar VTE 600 80+ Bronze 600W
(37 OMR) EVGA Br 80+ Bronze 500W

 

[Yosef Marcera]

PCIe adapters are not safe.

Of the suggested PSUs the Thermaltake BX1 550w is probably the least bad and would certainly be a much better idea than your current PSU and an adapter.

That being said, I wouldn't recommend any of the PSUs you suggested as none are good, the BX550 is just probably the "least bad"

What country are you in?

Thanks alot for the response! I live in Muscat, Oman.

 

[Math Geek]

this is about the cheapest i would go from the gamehub website

Corsair CV Series CV550 — 550 Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified PSU - Game Hub

CORSAIR CV power supplies are ideal for powering your new home or office PC, with 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency guaranteed to continuously deliver full wattage to your system.

gamehub.om

for a few bucks more the 650w version would not hurt either.

they are bottom of the line units but they are not really terrible. they've tested fairly well for their design and price. the rest that are cheaper are either no name stuff i've never heard of or they are known junk units.

i do not use instagram so i can't skim those listings without a login which i do not plan on getting.

 

[Yosef Marcera]

this is about the cheapest i would go from the gamehub website

Corsair CV Series CV550 — 550 Watt 80 Plus Bronze Certified PSU - Game Hub

CORSAIR CV power supplies are ideal for powering your new home or office PC, with 80 PLUS Bronze efficiency guaranteed to continuously deliver full wattage to your system.

gamehub.om

for a few bucks more the 650w version would not hurt either.

they are bottom of the line units but they are not really terrible. they've tested fairly well for their design and price. the rest that are cheaper are either no name stuff i've never heard of or they are known junk units.

i do not use instagram so i can't skim those listings without a login which i do not plan on getting.

Alright thanks! By the way, how about these options?
(29 OMR) GIGABYTE P550B 80+ Bronze 550W
(37 OMR) EVGA Br 80+ Bronze 500W

Also, the powersupply will work with my motherboard and components as long as they have the same i/o connectors right?

 

[Math Geek]

right so long as connectors match up, it will work fine. they are standardized to work together easily.

the GB p550b is about the same as the CV550 i suggested while the EVGA br is slightly worse if i recall right. you could go with the P550B and not be really any different than the Corsair CV model. it is a touch cheaper as well so is worth considering.

normally these are psu's to avoid for a high end machine but your specs will be fine with such a psu. it'll not be pushed real hard at all.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I am currently running a 270x and i3 8100 on a far, far worse PSU than the 3 we have narrowed it down to, so I think any of those 3 will work.

My 2600k+2060 machine in my sig ran on a BR500 and never gave me issues even when overclocked, though I didn't own it for long.

https://imgur.com/6WZHzIM

View: https://imgur.com/6WZHzIM


The BR500 is double forward with DC-DC, so just looking at that element it would be better than both the CV550 and P550B given what was said above, however, I don't know how it would compare overall. Its low end, but at least it's not group regulated AND low end.

Honestly, I don't know which would be my pick. Probably whichever is the cheapest.