Smart SE 530w for GTX 980?

[breaker9320]

Hello everyone.
So I was thinking of adding an GTX 980 to my computer ( Currently running a 750Ti GTX ) and I don't know if I should also buy a new PSU
My config is :
MB : Gigabyte 970A-UD3P
AMD FX 8350 8-cores
16 GB DDr3 Ram
2 TB SSHD
1 DVD-RW
Normal keyboard+mouse ( not gaming )
and a 120mm cooler for the CPU
The PSU is a Thermaltake Smart SE 530W

I Did a few test on different websites and the required voltage is roughly 440W with the 980GTX installed, but then I read that it requires a minimum of 600W PSU so I got a lilttle bit worried.

 

[Karsten75]

That PSU falls into a category that is described as follows:

Tier Four

Built down to a low price. Not exactly the most stable units ever created. Very basic safety circuitry or even thin gauge wiring used. Not for gaming rigs or overclocking systems of any kind. Avoid unless your budget dictates your choice.

Do you really want to trust a $600 graphics card to that? Does it even have the right connectors to connect the GPU or did you plan to (shudder) use adapters to the Molex connectors?

 

[basroil]

You don't need a 600W in some cases, but in yours you absolutely need a better PSU. Most of thermaltake's stuff is absolute garbage after all.

Consider an EVGA G2 650W or 750W if you can't afford something higher up like the Seasonic Snow Silent 750W or the 660/760XP2.

 

[breaker9320]

Well tbh it performed really well so far, I'm not overclocking anything though , and never will.
But I got it for free when I bought my CPU si I thought why not , as my other PSU was quite old, swapped them and have no problem really. I wouldn't change it unless I had no option I guess , what would you recommend tho.

 

[basroil]

Well tbh it performed really well so far, I'm not overclocking anything though , and never will.
But I got it for free when I bought my CPU si I thought why not , as my other PSU was quite old, swapped them and have no problem really. I wouldn't change it unless I had no option I guess , what would you recommend tho.

That PSU will either cause your system to be unstable or suddenly die and potentially kill your $650 graphics card with it. REPLACE THAT PSU BEFORE GETTING A NEW GRAPHICS CARD! If you have enough money to blow on a 980, you have enough to spend on a tier one PSU and a 970 instead

 

[sizzling]

Quality is more important than wattage especially in a gaming build and unfortunately your PSU is very low quality. Gaming PC's spend long periods of time at high load, don't risk your whole PC on a low quality unit. Going from a 750Ti to 980 you have at least doubled your maximum load so the fact it has worked to date tells you nothing

 

[joshyboy82]

lol, I'm still running a Black Widow from 2011. I love these PSU posts. Did you know your PSU is melting Greenland? Dude, you're killing New York and Hong Kong.

For real though. I bought my PSU before I even knew this site existed. I plan on buying a better one in the future, but lets not get all Fire and Brimstone on it. I seriously have the same ThermalTake Blackwidow 850w I bought in 2011. It's run a 4ghz CPU and originally a 580, but then a 760 and finally this 970. Same PSU, same overclock, still hasn't lit my cats on fire. Drama queens.

 

[breaker9320]

Ok I will go with EVGA G2 650W , that ok with the GTX 980 ? Also as far as the quality goes?

 

[Karsten75]

lol, I'm still running a Black Widow from 2011. I love these PSU posts. Did you know your PSU is melting Greenland? Dude, you're killing New York and Hong Kong.

For real though. I bought my PSU before I even knew this site existed. I plan on buying a better one in the future, but lets not get all Fire and Brimstone on it. I seriously have the same ThermalTake Blackwidow 850w I bought in 2011. It's run a 4ghz CPU and originally a 580, but then a 760 and finally this 970. Same PSU, same overclock, still hasn't lit my cats on fire. Drama queens.

It's not really a matter of individual PSUs, it's more a statistical thing. You may be OK with yours for now until eternity, others may not be so lucky. I can speak persoannly to the pain of a PSU taking out so many components that just building a new PC is more effective than trying to figure out what was still salvageable - and that was with an Antec PSU some years ago. That taught me a lesson. The PSU is the primary cause for failing components downstream. It never costs more than about $100 to make sure a $1,500 computer is safe and protected from voltage and power issues - so why not do it?

 

[basroil]

Ok I will go with EVGA G2 650W , that ok with the GTX 980 ? Also as far as the quality goes?

If it's the G2 and not crap like the G1, GQ, and NEX, then yes, it'll last you forever. Just remember, G2 version only

 

[breaker9320]

Oh well, I ordered the G2 as well as the GPU. Thank you for your help. Have a nice day.