Two 5850s

[portal]

Hey guys it's that time of year again! My question stems on the fact I have a 550w power supply and would like to throw two 5850s in my system. I know the ATI website recommends a 600w, but from everything I have seen in the past my computer pushes nowhere near the 550w with a single card. Think I could do it?

 

[mactronix]

Very doubtfull, but just for the hell of it what PSU is it ? That config will need 4 PCIE connectors for a start. Or a really overpowered PSU with only 2 and a truck load of spare Molex connections.

Mactronix

 

[basket687]

what is the brand of the your PSU and what is the model? What are the rest of your system specifications? I think that a top quality 550w PSU can handle them.

 

[portal]

Corsair 550w
E8400
4x1gb crucial memory
gigabyte x38 motherboard
1tb hd WD black

nothing overclocked

thanks guys

 

[mactronix]

Still wouldnt want to try it Corsair themselves recomend a 620 minimum for your set up, they have a psu finder here http://www.corsair.com/products/hx/default.aspx just follow the link in top right hand corner. I used 4890's as they dont have the 5850 listed yet obviously.

Mactronix

 

[basket687]

Corsair produces excellect PSUs, I think it should be able to handle them

 

[portal]

Still wouldnt want to try it Corsair themselves recomend a 620 minimum for your set up, they have a psu finder here http://www.corsair.com/products/hx/default.aspx just follow the link in top right hand corner. I used 4890's as they dont have the 5850 listed yet obviously.

Mactronix

Ya but aren't the 5850s rated lower in power consumption?

 

[mactronix]

Reports vary and i wanted to be sure you were covered but to be sure i just re checked the PSU finder and it still says the 620 is teh minimum even with 2 4870's entered instead of the 4890's
The 5850 definatly uses more than the 4870, i couldnt say for sure if it uses more than or equal to the 4890 but either way Corsair say no

Its up to you at the end of the day but my advice is not to do it.

Mactronix

 

[Rustyy117]

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but that E8400 is going to bottleneck those 5850's ALOT!
I have a E8400 and i did have crossfire 4870's and my E8400 OC'd to 4ghz couldnt keep up

So unless you plan on gaming at 2560x1600 that E8400 just wont cut it.

 

[portal]

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but that E8400 is going to bottleneck those 5850's ALOT!
I have a E8400 and i did have crossfire 4870's and my E8400 OC'd to 4ghz couldnt keep up

So unless you plan on gaming at 2560x1600 that E8400 just wont cut it.

Well the plan was 5850 -> case + motherboard + i7 cpu + memory -> 5850 when things get more demanding

Now it's probably going to be 5850 -> case + mobo + cpu + memory + psu (ouch) -> wait awhile then 5850 again

I'm gaming at 1920x1080

Anyone hear anything good/bad about the corsair 850w? Like corsair a lot and would like to stick with them.

 

[mactronix]

Well the plan was 5850 -> case + motherboard + i7 cpu + memory -> 5850 when things get more demanding

Now it's probably going to be 5850 -> case + mobo + cpu + memory + psu (ouch) -> wait awhile then 5850 again

I'm gaming at 1920x1080

Anyone hear anything good/bad about the corsair 850w? Like corsair a lot and would like to stick with them.

Could well be overkill they have a 750 on Newegg for about $119 i think

Mactronix