Phenom II X4 925 + Sapphire R9 270X + CX430 Corsair PSU

[Primordial Genesis]

Will the Phenom II X4 925 Bottleneck the R9 270X?

Will the CX430 be able to handle the R9 270X? (theoretically going off the max Power consumption of the R9 270X off of Hexus' Tests (185W) it should be enough)

Does the CX 430 have the necessary connectors for the R9 270X? I've read somewhere it does not, however that may just be pub talk.

 

[clutchc]

The CX 430 only has 1 x 6/8 pin connector. The card will require 2. You could always use an adapter from a Molex, but I wouldn't advise it. The 270X is a 180W card: http://www.hwcompare.com/15657/radeon-r9-270x/ more at peak moments. That relates to 15A required at the +12V rail just for the card alone. I would go with a good quality PSU that is at least 500W and has 2 x 6/8 pin connectors.

 

[Primordial Genesis]

The CX 430 only has 1 x 6/8 pin connector. The card will require 2. You could always use an adapter from a Molex, but I wouldn't advise it. The 270X is a 180W card: http://www.hwcompare.com/15657/radeon-r9-270x/ more at peak moments. That relates to 15A required at the +12V rail just for the card alone. I would go with a good quality PSU that is at least 500W and has 2 x 6/8 pin connectors.

Here's the thing...I already have the PSU, so.....What is the R9 270 like?

and will 430W be enough for that?

 

[clutchc]

You're only losing 30W with the R9-270: http://www.hwcompare.com/16547/radeon-r9-270/ And it still requires 2 x 6/8 pin connections. The 270X is simply the factory OC'd version of the R9-270.
I would not use that PSU with any card that requires more than 1 x 6/8 pin connection.

Now, having said that, you will probably be able to use a Molex to PCie adapter for the other connection and the card will work fine at normal usage. But when you load it up near it's max capability, it may cause your system to shutdown or re-boot. Luckily, your Phenom II X4 is one of the 95W CPUs. It may allow a bit more capacity for the gfx card. But personally, I wouldn't do it.

 

[Primordial Genesis]

You're only losing 30W with the R9-270: http://www.hwcompare.com/16547/radeon-r9-270/ And it still requires 2 x 6/8 pin connections. The 270X is simply the factory OC'd version of the R9-270.
I would not use that PSU with any card that requires more than 1 x 6/8 pin connection.

Now, having said that, you will probably be able to use a Molex to PCie adapter for the other connection and the card will work fine at normal usage. But when you load it up near it's max capability, it may cause your system to shutdown or re-boot. Luckily, your Phenom II X4 is one of the 95W CPUs. It may allow a bit more capacity for the gfx card. But personally, I wouldn't do it.

Why won't 430W be good enough? 430 - 95 - 150 = 185W Surely the rest of my system can't use more than 185W?

Furthermore I think you were mistaken Sir: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/product_index.aspx?pid=2089&lid=1

Sapphire R9 270 only uses 1 6 PIN to 4 PIN Power Cable, does that change your view on it?

 

[clutchc]

You're only losing 30W with the R9-270: http://www.hwcompare.com/16547/radeon-r9-270/ And it still requires 2 x 6/8 pin connections. The 270X is simply the factory OC'd version of the R9-270.
I would not use that PSU with any card that requires more than 1 x 6/8 pin connection.

Now, having said that, you will probably be able to use a Molex to PCie adapter for the other connection and the card will work fine at normal usage. But when you load it up near it's max capability, it may cause your system to shutdown or re-boot. Luckily, your Phenom II X4 is one of the 95W CPUs. It may allow a bit more capacity for the gfx card. But personally, I wouldn't do it.

Why won't 430W be good enough? 430 - 95 - 150 = 185W Surely the rest of my system can't use more than 185W?

Furthermore I think you were mistaken Sir: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/product_index.aspx?pid=2089&lid=1

Sapphire R9 270 only uses 1 6 PIN to 4 PIN Power Cable, does that change your view on it?

They are referring to the adapter that comes with the card. That gfx card has 2 x 6 pin headers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202063
Click on the pic of the card and then on the one showing the rear of the card.

I stand by my above statements. Run your system thru a PSU calculator if you'd like: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp (as old as your system might be, use at least 30% for capacitor aging)
But even if your system consists of the bare minimum equipment, it will need more than a 430W PSU for necessary headroom.

 

[Primordial Genesis]

You're only losing 30W with the R9-270: http://www.hwcompare.com/16547/radeon-r9-270/ And it still requires 2 x 6/8 pin connections. The 270X is simply the factory OC'd version of the R9-270.
I would not use that PSU with any card that requires more than 1 x 6/8 pin connection.

Now, having said that, you will probably be able to use a Molex to PCie adapter for the other connection and the card will work fine at normal usage. But when you load it up near it's max capability, it may cause your system to shutdown or re-boot. Luckily, your Phenom II X4 is one of the 95W CPUs. It may allow a bit more capacity for the gfx card. But personally, I wouldn't do it.

Why won't 430W be good enough? 430 - 95 - 150 = 185W Surely the rest of my system can't use more than 185W?

Furthermore I think you were mistaken Sir: http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/product_index.aspx?pid=2089&lid=1

Sapphire R9 270 only uses 1 6 PIN to 4 PIN Power Cable, does that change your view on it?

They are referring to the adapter that comes with the card. That gfx card has 2 x 6 pin headers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202063
Click on the pic of the card and then on the one showing the rear of the card.

I stand by my above statements. Run your system thru a PSU calculator if you'd like: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp (as old as your system might be, use at least 30% for capacitor aging)
But even if your system consists of the bare minimum equipment, it will need more than a 430W PSU for necessary headroom.

Again with the R9 270 you are mistaken, you've shown me an R9 270X on newegg and I can clearly see it has 2 connectors.

heres an R9 270: http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202062&cm_re=sapphire_r9_270-_-14-202-062-_-Product

Clearly has 1 connector....

Furthermore that PSU Calculator does not work for me, it won't allow me to select my socket.

 

[clutchc]

On that one, I was mistaken. My apologies. I accidentally clicked on the 270X link by mistake. You may squeeze by with that particular 270. Give it a try, since you already have the PSU. If you experience shutdowns, re-boots, or poor performance, then you can upgrade the PSU. If not, you are home free. The Corsair CX line has some light duty capacitors however. Not designed to be pushed.

 

[Primordial Genesis]

On that one, I was mistaken. My apologies. I accidentally clicked on the 270X link by mistake. You may squeeze by with that particular 270. Give it a try, since you already have the PSU. If you experience shutdowns, re-boots, or poor performance, then you can upgrade the PSU. If not, you are home free. The Corsair CX line has some light duty capacitors however. Not designed to be pushed.

Ah but here's the real kick in the teeth, the difference in price between the R9 270X and R9 270 is about £5.

I was also considering the R7 265, buit the difference in price between the R7 265 and R9 270X is £13.

Not a big difference, so if I buy any of those over an R9 270X I won't be able to forgive myself...

I really don't know what to do, what would you do in my situation?

(I plan to get a XFX 550W PSU in about 3 -4 months anyway, however I can't wait on buying the GPU since my 7770 Ghz Edition broke)

 

[clutchc]

As long as you see a new PSU in your near future, pick up the 270X. Use the Molex adapter and keep your fingers crossed. Hope that if the PSU craps out, it doesn't take anything else with it... it just dies peacefully. You could plug the PC into a Kill-a-watt meter and watch how close the system is getting to 430W on the primary side. The secondary side will be a bit less.

 

[Primordial Genesis]

As long as you see a new PSU in your near future, pick up the 270X. Use the Molex adapter and keep your fingers crossed. Hope that if the PSU craps out, it doesn't take anything else with it... it just dies peacefully. You could plug the PC into a Kill-a-watt meter and watch how close the system is getting to 430W on the primary side. The secondary side will be a bit less.

I've heard of people using the 430W PSU on an R9 270X and not really have a problem, If it takes my CPU and Mobo out with it? not a problem, I'll be getting an i3/i5 and Z97 Chipset when I get my XFX anyway.