[SOLVED] Power limit RTX 3080 in a PC with 550W PSU

[Hard_ware]

I intend to buy an RTX 3080 for 4 K and VR Gaming (e.g. MSFS) and to put it in my current system which I will upgrade in around 9 months to 12700K with 1000W PSU:

CPU: 6600K - slightly overlcocked to 4 GHz
RAM: 24 GB 2400 Mhz
NVME 1 TB Samsung Evo 970 plus, 4 GB HDD
PSU 550W silent up to 300W
Windows 10

I know the RTX 3080 already neesds up to 450W and an RTX 3060ti/3070 should be the limit for my 550W PSU.
But, because I want to immediately buy a more future proof GPU in order to have an immersive VR experience
I am wondering if I could power limit the RTX 3080 to a strict e.g. 300W ceiling for a stable ( of course less FPS) system?
In 9 months this RTX 3080 will be switched to a new PC with 1000W PSU.
Any ideas if this is a reasonable idea and how to I can realize a strict power limit to the RTX 3080?

Thanks

 

[DSzymborski]

What is the exact PSU?

 

[DRagor]

Even if you somehow make it work I really doubt 550W PSU will survive 9 months. Not too mention most 550W PSU have only 2 PCIe cables and some 3080 need 3.

 

[Hard_ware]

What is the exact PSU?

TS-550k14XE

 

[Hard_ware]

Even if you somehow make it work I really doubt 550W PSU will survive 9 months. Not too mention most 550W PSU have only 2 PCIe cables and some 3080 need 3.

Thanks for the hint. I should buy a GPU which needs only 2 PCIe cables

 

[XxDarkMario20xX]

With 3080 should be atleast an 750W to 1000W PSU because your currunt PSU wont last with this GPU and worst case it blows up taking comp parts with it, What About saving abit more and get new PSU and 3080 at same time?

 

[Hard_ware]

With 3080 should be atleast an 750W to 1000W PSU because your currunt PSU wont last with this GPU and worst case it blows up taking comp parts with it, What About saving abit more and get new PSU and 3080 at same time?

Thanks, it is not the money, but the limited time I have at the moment to set up a new system with windows 11 - all the software licenses and settings etc.
Maybe I could give it a try to clone my NVME (Win 10) to new NVME and directly boot it in new 12700k PC from a Win 11 USB stick to see if it upgrades smoothly? Any chances this might work?

 

[--SID--]

TS-550k14XE

13 years old. Time to replace it anyway.

 

[DRagor]

TS-550k14XE

Quite solid piece of hardware. But there is one problem for your use case - it has no OTP. Running it all time at 100% load (and you can't really expect to go lower with 3080) will almost surely overheat, and with no OTP it is guaranteed disaster.

 

[Hard_ware]

13 years old. Time to replace it anyway.

6 years old, and had to deliver only 150W in this PC, 3 days a week

 

[Hard_ware]

Quite solid piece of hardware. But there is one problem for your use case - it has no OTP. Running it all time at 100% load (and you can't really expect to go lower with 3080) will almost surely overheat, and with no OTP it is guaranteed disaster.

Thanks for fast reply.
Can´t imagine it does not have OTP - are you sure?

My calculation for my idea: CPU up to max. 100W, GPU limited to 300W (if that limit makes sense - but should be possible), rest 60W = 460W
Therefore safety margin 90W for 550W PSU running at around 80-85% for 2 hours / twice per week (9months)

Other idea: Because of the limited time I have at the moment to set up a new system with windows 11 - all the software licenses and settings etc.
Maybe I could give it a try to clone my NVME (Win 10) to new NVME and directly boot it in new 12700k PC from a Win 11 USB stick to see if it upgrades smoothly? Any chances this might work?

 

[DSzymborski]

There is absolutely no realistic scenario in which I would run a 3080 on that PSU. This is an incredibly spiky GPU and I'm not trusting a PSU this old and underspecced for it.

If you have the money to buy an RTX 3080, you have the money to buy a new PSU.

It's your money and parts to burn, but this is a terrible idea.

 

[Hard_ware]

There is absolutely no realistic scenario in which I would run a 3080 on that PSU. This is an incredibly spiky GPU and I'm not trusting a PSU this old and underspecced for it.

If you have the money to buy an RTX 3080, you have the money to buy a new PSU.

It's your money and parts to burn, but this is a terrible idea.

Thank you for your advice: I will not pursue my idea anyfurther if there is too much risk.
I will clone my NVME (Win 10) buy a new PC CPU 12700 (K), 1000W PSU and give it a try if cloned NVME will upgrade to Win 11 from USB Stick booting (inplace upgrade) in order keep programms and settings.

 

[--SID--]

Can´t imagine it does not have OTP - are you sure?

Silentmaxx Eco-Silent Pro 550W im Test: Semi-passive, 80Plus-Gold

Auch der deutsche Hersteller Silentmaxx bietet unter eigenem Namen Netzteile an. Wir testen das Silentmaxx Eco-Silent 550 Watt Start-Stop mit 80Plus-Gold-Zertifikat.

www.computerbase.de

No OTP and no OCP.

 

[Krotow]

Your current PSU with 3080 will poof in any moment when you will put 3080 under load. Do not risk with that. At least purchase proper PSU too.

 

[TradeJack01]

I added an RTX Super 2060 to a 550W tier B/C/D PSU system and it would not even boot up. I replaced the PSU with a better one at 650W Tier A and it booted.

You may want to consider what to do if your system will not boot at all, regardless of power-limits.