Powering a GTX 770/760

[zenmore]

Solved: Thanks guys! I think I'm going to bite the bullet and get a better power supply. I don't want this one messing up my system. Probably going to get the Corsair TX850 with a 770 GTX. That way if I ever find money for SLI I should be able to do it.


So here's my problem:

I have one of these:

Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply

and I'd like to buy a GTX 760 or 770 as an upgrade from the Galaxy 460 GTX I currently have installed.

Unfortunately I believe that both of those two cards require a 8 pin pci-e power connector which my power supply doesn't have.

Would it be safe to use a PCIe 6 Pin to 8 Pin Power Adapter Cable like the one linked here to convert one of those pcie 6 pins?

Would I have enough power?

Currently I have a hard drive (WD Green 1TB) and 8GBs of ram in there, along with a i5-2500k.

My motherboard is Sabertooth P67.

Also, could anyone tell me whether my CPU or motherboard (PCI-E 2.0 only) would bottleneck a 760 or 770GTX?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time.

Edit 1: Also. Just wondering if 760 is worthwhile upgrade over the 460.

 

[Seladon-1370374]

I wouldn't trust your PSU for those cards. I don't think that it would be able to provide enough power, and it's not really the most reliable PSU. That's my personal thought here though.
As for your CPU and motherboard, none of those will bottleneck any of those two cards.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I'd get something different; those don't seem very good: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

Tier 5; Replace ASAP. I'd replace it with a decent 500W+ unit from Tiers 1, 2, or 2b.

Everything else is fine though

 

[Zero_]

I wouldn't trust that PSU, although it does have quite a large number of user reviews backing it.

Anyway, take the safer route and get a better PSU.

Eg: XFX 550W - $60 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RJ8EKI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004RJ8EKI&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20

The 760 will be a significant upgrade over a 460. Go for it. Also, WD Green? Put an SSD on that thing.

 

[edogawa]

First off, you do not have enough power for a 770 on the 12v rail. The 770 has a requirement of 42 amps, you have 38 on the power supplies 12v rail.

Second, a GTX 760 would work, it requires only 30 amps on the 12v rail, your power supply has 38. The 760 also requires two 6 pin power cables, which you should have.

Ultra power supplies are not very good, you'd be best to upgrade to a better quality unit as well with the graphics card.

I would suggest this if you want a single 770:

SeaSonic SSR-650RM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151118

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I would have recommended this: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9

Lots cheaper, still a very good SeaSonic-built PSU. Gold isn't worth it currently.

I wouldn't run even a 760 on it.

 

[zenmore]

I wouldn't trust that PSU, although it does have quite a large number of user reviews backing it.

Anyway, take the safer route and get a better PSU.

Eg: XFX 550W - $60 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004RJ8EKI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004RJ8EKI&linkCode=as2&tag=banforbucga08-20

The 760 will be a significant upgrade over a 460. Go for it. Also, WD Green? Put an SSD on that thing.

That's sound advice! I actually did already order a Samsung 840 for it, I just haven't put it in yet. =P

 

[zenmore]

I'd get something different; those don't seem very good: http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/323050.aspx

Tier 5; Replace ASAP. I'd replace it with a decent 500W+ unit from Tiers 1, 2, or 2b.

Everything else is fine though

Thanks! The list is really helpful. =D

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Ultra's PSU quality is all over the place....from a 9 w/ 1st 2 models to a 5 with 2nd

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=29
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=41
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=174

id do some research on your particular model before going further

 

[zenmore]

I wouldn't trust your PSU for those cards. I don't think that it would be able to provide enough power, and it's not really the most reliable PSU. That's my personal thought here though.
As for your CPU and motherboard, none of those will bottleneck any of those two cards.

Thanks! That's reassuring. At least I won't have to overhaul the entire system then. =]

 

[zenmore]

First off, you do not have enough power for a 770 on the 12v rail. The 770 has a requirement of 42 amps, you have 38 on the power supplies 12v rail.

Second, a GTX 760 would work, it requires only 30 amps on the 12v rail, your power supply has 38. The 760 also requires two 6 pin power cables, which you should have.

Ultra power supplies are not very good, you'd be best to upgrade to a better quality unit as well with the graphics card.

I would suggest this if you want a single 770:

SeaSonic SSR-650RM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151118

Thanks for the help! =D Now that I read into it the card I have seems quite sketchy. I will upgrade it per the advice here.

 

[zenmore]

I would have recommended this: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9

Lots cheaper, still a very good SeaSonic-built PSU. Gold isn't worth it currently.

I wouldn't run even a 760 on it.

Ultra's PSU quality is all over the place....from a 9 w/ 1st 2 models to a 5 with 2nd

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=29
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story4&reid=41
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=174

id do some research on your particular model before going further

Thanks for the advice! I think I'll just replace it with a Corsair TX 850W. There's a sale going on at a store near me. It looks like I'll have to bite the bullet on this one.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

There's no need for a 850W PSU. If you want a single GPU, the XFX linked above is fine. If you want a second 770, one of these is enough: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg750m

 

[zenmore]

There's no need for a 850W PSU. If you want a single GPU, the XFX linked above is fine. If you want a second 770, one of these is enough: http://pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-hcg750m

Corsair TX750 V2 Would something like this be good? I don't like dealing with mail in rebates and the antec one is only on sale with a mail in rebate.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Missed the Canada part, but yes, that's good. NCIX has it slightly cheaper: http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=58382&vpn=CP%2D9020042%2DNA&manufacture=Corsair&promoid=1282

 

[zenmore]

Missed the Canada part, but yes, that's good. NCIX has it slightly cheaper: http://www.ncix.ca/products/?affiliateid=7474144&sku=58382&vpn=CP%2D9020042%2DNA&manufacture=Corsair&promoid=1282

Great! Thanks very much. Yeah I did forget to write out the Canada part! D= That one's on me.