PSU Wattage Conundrum...

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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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Hey guys, I'm planning on upgrading my secondary PC, but I need a little help...
What I am planning on upgrading is the GPU, but because I have had this PC for about 3 years now, I can feel it lagging a little behind in the gaming area... My current spec is:
CPU: AMD FX-4100 @ 4GHz
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 6670
PSU: Corsair VS450
RAM: 8GB Kingston HyperX 1333MHz (Wish I could over clock to 1555MHz)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3
HDD: 1TB Western Digital Caviar Blue
SSD: Kingston HyperX 3K 240GB

Now, I am wanting to upgrade the GPU to a EVGA GTX 970 SC W/ ACX 2.0 but that says it needs a 500watt PSU, and I only have a 450. I just want to know if I'll be able to run it... I know I will be upgrading it in the futire, but before I upgrade that, I am wanting to upgrade my CPU to the AMD FX-8350 and the Corsair H80i GT with Arctic Cooling MX-4 Paste.

Will I need to upgrade my PSU first before I can install a more powerful GPU, or will I be able to "just" run it. It's just, it is my birthday in a 12 days, and I should be getting a new GPU.

Many thanks and hope to get a reply soon

- Joe
 
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VedranMik

VedranMik

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Hm, running on a too weak PSU can be dangerous for all your other components.
Corsair VS series are entry level, you should upgrade your PSU to something stronger and of greater quality and higher efficiency.
 
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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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Okay then... Is the Corsair AX760i and the HX750i any good?
I don't really know the difference between them, so... Which one would be better? There is a £40 difference

Or, go to this lin (http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=Corsair+750&rh=n%3A340831031%2Ck%3ACorsair+750), and try and find me the best PSU for the lowest price... I just want to be able to run a 970 and a overclocked 8350 and all that kinda stuff in the future.

 
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sora

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The Corsair Builder series also use poor capacitors. Go with an XFX 650W or Seasonic 620W power supply OP.
 
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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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Okay, so which one would be the most reliable? Knowing that I want a 750watt because of future upgrading such as intake/exhaust fans, and upgrading the CPU to a 8350 and cooled by the Corsair H80i GT. I will also be overclocking my CPU... Most likely to 5GHz (If possible, else 4.5GHz)

I just really want a awesome 750watt PSU (or something close) which will last for a long time and won't break the bank too much. Something around the £75-£100 would be amazing, but if I NEED to go higher for a decent PSU, I will.
 
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PlymouthJoseph

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I would love that, but there is one problem... I live in the UK, so I can't get any of those parts... Hence I was using Amazon.co.uk
 
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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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What I mean by "lagging behind" is not only is it having low FPS in almost any game I play, it is also behind in the tech world too... It can't even run Watch Dogs, and it super struggles to run BF3... But I will live with that, just so I can get a newer PSU which then will have enough juice to run a much higher GPU. And I wasn't upgrading the CPU yet anyway... I was waiting for that because a 4GHz quad core is more then fine for the moment.
 
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Vic 40

Vic 40

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The lagging is because if the current gpu.It's not strange that you can't run those games you mentioned of that gpu very well.

Looked at the parts you were looking at and the FX 8350 would i not choose just because you have that motherboard.Get a decent i5 and loose that very expensive cooler,for the price of that alone can you get a decent new motherboard.Or even a less expensive motherboard with a still decent air cooler.

Well that's advice for later.Now for the psu,take a look at these,
for about 550watt,
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/parts/compare/antec-power-supply-tp550c%2Cbe-quiet-power-supply-bn181%2Cxfx-power-supply-p1550sxxb9%2Czalman-power-supply-zm550xg/
for about 650watt,
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/parts/compare/antec-power-supply-hcg620m%2Cxfx-power-supply-p1650xxxb9/
for a 750watt,
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/parts/compare/xfx-power-supply-p1750snlb9%2Cxfx-power-supply-p1750xxxb9/
you could run sli from these last ones.
the 550watt psu's should already be fine for a system with just one gpu..

 
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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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Vic 40. You've lost me...

I only want to upgrade this set-up so when mates come over, they can play games without it having 25FPS on low with my current GPU (XFX Radeon HD 6670) I've tried Watch Dogs and that doesn't even get 15FPS... The reason I wanna upgrade the PSU is so I can upgrade the GPU in the future. I've currently got a 450watt PSU (Corsair VS450) but I want to upgrade it to a 750watt so I can have a little extra leg room for a GTX 970.

And the reason I want to get a 8350 is because my main work/game station in my office is already a Intel. I i7 5960x to be exact and I don't want another kinda expensive computer if it is only going to be used by my fiancée if she needs a little bit more horsepower when she's working on something, and for mates, for when they come over or something.
Once I get a newer PSU, I will save up and get a GTX 970 to slap in there which will then be able to play all games with decent FPS.

Sorry if I'm coming off a little strong, it's just that I need a new PSU for this PC so I can upgrade the GPU later down the line so it can actually be gamed on. And I am only going to be upgrading the CPU is so games won't be bottlenecked by it. But that wouldn't be for about 6-8 months after I have bought the GPU which may be another 2 months after the PSU.

But thank's for the PSU suggestion. I'll be getting the 750watt semi-modular one. Hopefully I can get it on Amazon.co.uk

- Joe
 
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sora

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Try and search that power supply up on Amazon.co.uk.
 
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Vic 40

Vic 40

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I know i read this not the right way,but i know what you meant and try to give a decent answer otherwise would i have not linked the psu's first.You still were asking about this,



Which involves enough money to go to intel,that's why i recommended it.I did not know what your fiancée would do with it.For gaming is intel just the better choice,amd will do fine,but that´s it.Also don´t know what you fiancée does with the pc so intel could still be fine.I still don't think you have the motherboard for that cpu although it does support it.
If you want to go for amd is that fine with me,but you asked for advice,that's what i gave.

The 750watt XFX seems like a good choice for the price and yes that is from amazon.

 
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PlymouthJoseph

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The reason I said that I wanting to upgrade my CPU, is because I do, but much further in the future... And by then, I may have already bought another secondhand Intel based PC, which then I would use and sell this one. But for now, I am wanting to upgrade this one. I am planning on upgrading the motherboard also but that is the last thing I will be upgrading.

And when you say "Also dont know what you fiancée does with the PC so Intel could still be fine.I still don't think you have the motherboard for that CPU although it does support it."

That kinda makes no sense... You are saying the CPU will not fit in my motherboard, although it supports it? I've already looked that one up, and the socket on this motherboard is a AM3+ and it supports a TDP of 125watt, so it fits a FX-8350.

Anyway, back to PSUs... I am hopefully getting this PSU: http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-Bronze-Semi-Modular-Power-Supply/dp/B008O50WGA/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1429552275&sr=1-3&keywords=xfx+psu but would this one be any better? Remembering that I want one that is the most efficient and will last the longest for the least amount of money. No more than £80: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Corsair-Builder-Modular-Bronze-Certified/dp/B00ALK3QRS/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1429552400&sr=1-1&keywords=750watt+psu

Someone said that the Builder Series uses poor capacitors... I don't know if this is true, but what I do know is, that PSU has 4.5/5 stars from 1,254 people and the XFX PSU has 3.4/5 Stars from 10 people...

I just need a 750watt PSU that will last me and that is efficient and isn't over £80... I know it is a push... But still... Surely you can help?
 
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Vic 40

Vic 40

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The motherboard does indeed support the cpu,it is more about the chipset/vrm which are on that board.I'd like to see it on a 990FX or high end 970 chipset motherboard with a decent vrm that's all.

I would pick the XFX psu from these two choices,it just is the better psu made with better components by a good oem=seasonic.It's the cheaper one as well.I have a non modular XFX 750watt in my game rig right now.
For an efficient psu should you look for something with less wattage and preferably gold rated when using just one gpu.
Options,
non modular (all good),
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/antec-power-supply-tp650c
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/super-flower-power-supply-sf650p14xehx
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650gts3x
(semi) modular,
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/zalman-power-supply-zm650xg (an odd one,no reviews,but it seems decent to me,is a gamble)
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/super-flower-power-supply-sf650f14mg (preferred choice,very good,but to tease you a little over budget)
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/part/xfx-power-supply-p1650bbefx (very good,also over budget at Amazon,for a few pounds more would i pick the super flower)

Chose some still higher wattage psu's with more than enough wattage to feed a one gpu system.The 550watt versions should already be fine,but you seem to feel the need to have more.

A video,
http://www.google.nl/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCQQtwIwAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DajiN9aVOv4A&ei=HlE1VezjEYnAPLbfgdgC&usg=AFQjCNEqRGpTXgYga0fdj7uuRFBJqWEnQA&bvm=bv.91071109,d.ZWU&cad=rja
 
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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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Well... after much thought, I have chosen to go with a 750 watt PSU. The only thing is, I cannot choose between these 2. As far as I can tell, they are the same PSU, just one is semi-modular. The reason I'm buying a 750watt is because I did a wattage calculator (www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp) and it says the recommended PSU is a 655 Watt, and so I am going for a 750 watt because then I know I have more than enough leg room for future upgrades. Could you please tell me if they are the same, and if so, which one would be better or is there literally no difference, excluding that one is semi-modular.
1. http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-PRO750W-Edition-Bronze-Certified/dp/B0045L4BJ6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1429619817&sr=8-3&keywords=xfx+750w
2. http://www.amazon.co.uk/XFX-Edition-Bronze-Semi-Modular-Supply/dp/B008O50WGA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1429619817&sr=8-1&keywords=xfx+750w

Using that wattage website, it also says I could have a secondary GPU and I would need a minimum of 739 watt. So, I "could" upgrade to a secondary GPU, although it would be VERY close...

So, once again, which one should I choose?

- Joe
 
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sora

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These power supplies are pretty much both the same.
 
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PlymouthJoseph

PlymouthJoseph

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Oh, and I think I forgot to mention... This is more aimed at Vic 40... I am going to be upgrading my motherboard to a higher end gaming motherboard before I upgrade my CPU... The one I am going to be choosing is the MSI 970 Gaming Motherboard. But if someone could recommend one a different one, with overclocking capabilities for less money, I will gladly have a look.

- Joe
 
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Tayonas

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850 watt gold ...

All it is that someone returned it.

Or new for £13 more.
 
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