NSK3480 PSU replacement

[er1cha]

Hey all,

I have just built a NSK3480 build, which I love. However, i plan on upgrading the video card to a ATI 5870. I know that the PSU requirements specify at least a 500w power supply, but i am unsure which PSU to pick due to the small space in the top compartment of the NSK3480 case.
Has anyone here replaced their PSU in this case? any recommendations? I have looked around the internet and it seems like the Antec ea500 is the best option due to similar layout to the ea380.

here are my specs:

i5-750
p55m-ud2
4gb g.skill eco ddr3 1333
WD caviar black 500gb (x2 soon)
LG dvd rw burner

Thanks!
er1cha

 

[antec_rep]

Hey all,

I have just built a NSK3480 build, which I love. However, i plan on upgrading the video card to a ATI 5870. I know that the PSU requirements specify at least a 500w power supply, but i am unsure which PSU to pick due to the small space in the top compartment of the NSK3480 case.
Has anyone here replaced their PSU in this case? any recommendations? I have looked around the internet and it seems like the Antec ea500 is the best option due to similar layout to the ea380.

here are my specs:

i5-750
p55m-ud2
4gb g.skill eco ddr3 1333
WD caviar black 500gb (x2 soon)
LG dvd rw burner

Thanks!
er1cha

Hi er1cha,

I don't think a 5870 can fit in a NSK3480 without any modifications. I think the maximum length of the video card the NSK3480 can support is probably 9-10 inches.

Regards,
Antec

 

[er1cha]

Hi er1cha,

I don't think a 5870 can fit in a NSK3480 without any modifications. I think the maximum length of the video card the NSK3480 can support is probably 9-10 inches.

Regards,
Antec

How are you sure of this information? a quick google found this image, which looks to be a stock NSK3480 and 5870...
http://gallery.me.com/dfrankle#100024/IMG_0720&bgcolor=black

Back to the original question, what would be a good replacement power supply for this specific case?

Thanks,
er1cha

 

[antec_rep]

How are you sure of this information? a quick google found this image, which looks to be a stock NSK3480 and 5870...
http://gallery.me.com/dfrankle#100024/IMG_0720&bgcolor=black

Back to the original question, what would be a good replacement power supply for this specific case?

Thanks,
er1cha

Hi er1cha,

It really depends where the (2) 6-pin connectors are. In the picture the (2) 6-pin connectors are on top while most of the 5870 video cards have the (2) 6-pin connectors on the side.

Here is a 500w PSU that could possibility fit in a NSK3480
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007&Tpk=ea500

I spoke with customer support (CS) regarding this issue and they do NOT recommend you to run a 5870 with the 500w PSU that I have mentioned. The reason being is that the amperage to both the EA380 and the EA500 (above) is too low to run a high end video card like the 5870. CS also told me that the PSU and video card might seem to run smoothly in the short run but in the long run, you might damage your system or have stability issues.

Regards,
Antec

 

[er1cha]

Thanks for the response.
Was CS able to offer any insight as to a higher powered psu that would fit in the nsk3480?

 

[antec_rep]

Thanks for the response.
Was CS able to offer any insight as to a higher powered psu that would fit in the nsk3480?

Hi er1cha,

The CS recommends either getting a new case or have some big modifications done to the NSK3480. There are only a few PSU that could fit in the NSK3480 and the amperage to those PSUs are too low to run a 5870.

Regards,
Antec

 

[delluser1]

I spoke with customer support (CS) regarding this issue and they do NOT recommend you to run a 5870 with the 500w PSU that I have mentioned. The reason being is that the amperage to both the EA380 and the EA500 (above) is too low to run a high end video card like the 5870.

You guys should show more faith in your products.
The EA500 will have no problem running an HD5870 in the OP's specified system

 

[antec_rep]

You guys should show more faith in your products.
The EA500 will have no problem running an HD5870 in the OP's specified system

Hi Delluser1,

As I've previously stated, the system will run but we do NOT recommend it in the long run.

Regards,
Antec

 

[delluser1]

Hi Antec_Rep,
ATI reccomends a 500 watt or greater power supply with 2 x 6 pin PCIE power connectors for the HD5870.
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-5000/hd-5870/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-5870-system-requirements.aspx
The EA500 fits that reccomendation.

 

[er1cha]

Best answer selected by er1cha.

 

[er1cha]

Hi Antec_Rep,
ATI reccomends a 500 watt or greater power supply with 2 x 6 pin PCIE power connectors for the HD5870.
http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/ati-radeon-hd-5000/hd-5870/Pages/ati-radeon-hd-5870-system-requirements.aspx
The EA500 fits that reccomendation.

Thanks for your help DellUser1. I decided to upgrade to a 550w power supply from a company that has faith in their products. Happy to report that it works just fine.
I suppose 500w would have worked, but i wasn't going to buy the earthwatts one from Antec, as i dont feel they deserved my money for suggesting i get a new case and different psu when i needed neither.

 

[shovenose]

what brand did u decide to use? corsair, seasonic, deer? DEER $uck$ LOL its like the worst brand!!!

 

[Proximon]

I don't want to step on any toes here, DellUser is knowledgeable. However, I would like to provide a bit more hard evidence to clear up what everyone is talking about.

Let's start with the actual draw of a 5870:
http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264

As we can see, a 5870 overclocked and running a single monitor is going to need around 200W MAX, and usually less than that.

This translates to about 17 amps, but of course you need to cover longevity of the PSU and such, as well as efficiency. So let's just say 20A.

Depending on the system and overclocking, it's not unreasonable to want another 20 amps 12V for the rest of the hardware.

The max 12V load for the EA500 is 408W, or 34amps. This is why the engineers at Antec have said what they did, I'm guessing.

A more modern "500W" PSU will deliver 40 amps 12V. Such as the Seasonic S12II Bronze 520W.

And this is why the Ranked PSU list is sorted by amps not watts
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/278567-28-ranked-list-guide#t2081246

 

[delluser1]

Hey watch out for my corns :lol:

I can understand where they're coming from , and longevity of the psu is certainly a factor that needs to be considered.

Toms own review of the 5870 paired with an I7-975 overclocked to 4.0 showed a 354 watt draw on the AC side when stressed with Furmark.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-5870,2422-20.html

The UCP 1100 that they used is around 88% efficient at that load, so roughly 312 watts DC , or just over a 60% load on a 500 watt psu, when stressing with a power virus .

The OP's system won't draw that much, unless doing some serious overclocking ( wasn't mentioned ) and then it would be a bit lower during gaming and general use.

Back to the longevity, we have a forum member ( invisik ) running dual overclocked GTX 260's and an overclocked Q6600 on his EA500D for close to 2 years now as far as I can tell ( he still post's and his configuration hasn't changed ).
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/252190-28-antec-review

By the way, you missed at least one that I know of " PUK "

 

[Proximon]

Hmmm ya, and I was going to say that the EA-500D delivers 37A, closer to my purely speculative 40A.

I like the atomicpc forum post because he compiles many examples. Given the 315W I calculated based on the efficiency of the PSU they used, I suppose that's not far out of the range though.... but if furmark isn't stressing the CPU much it's likely not pulling much of it's potential load. Guess it depends on how it's OC'ed, but that may be moot given the i5-750 in the OPs build.

 

[Proximon]

Oh and thanks for another Acronym I'm in a "I NEED ANSWERS" kinda day.