Upgrading My Current PC

[HeftyPC]

I'm planning on upgrading my power supply and graphics card, but the most powerful power supply I can get is 500w. Is this enough to power a GTX 970 and will my CPU bottleneck it if is enough to power it. If so what would be the best version of the 970 to buy?

Here is the PC I am planning on upgrading: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8529718

 

[rolli59]

Yes a quality 500watt will run that fine. No bottleneck with that CPU. EVGA, MSI, Asus and Gigabyte have been the most popular cards.

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

As rolli59 said though, we need a quality 500W unit. Which one were you planning to buy?

 

[HeftyPC]

As rolli59 said though, we need a quality 500W unit. Which one were you planning to buy?

FSP Group 500W Server power supply 1U size for rack mount Case (FSP500-80BU) From Amazon, can you take a look and let me know?

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

That's a server PSU. Not only is it not the right format to fit into a standard computer case, it is also much more expensive 😛 It is probably good quality, though, since it's FSP, so if you have a rack-mounted case, it would work.

I'd recommend the XFX 550W PSU otherwise. It's only about $50, and it is a very high quality unit. And it does fit in standard PC cases

 

[MasterDell]

Yes it needs to be a very good 500W unit. Also, I would suggest getting the lowest power consuming GPU and do not overclock it. I had a case when I a guy had to get a different PSU because his 970 couldn't run off of a 550W XFX. I was stunned and I still think he was doing something wrong.. But oh well.

The strix is most likely the least power consuming running off of a single 8 pin.

http://www.ncixus.com/products/?usaffiliateid=1000031504&sku=102345&vpn=STRIX-GTX970-DC2OC-4GD5&manufacture=ASUS&promoid=1088

EDIT: Epsilon there is no way you could fit the XFX in there. They had to of went with a awkward sized PSU. Hefty can you tell us what the model is of the current PSU you have in there right now? This way I can try and find a PSU that will fit your case as well as give you enough quality and wattage to support the 970.

 

[HeftyPC]

That's a server PSU. Not only is it not the right format to fit into a standard computer case, it is also much more expensive 😛 It is probably good quality, though, since it's FSP, so if you have a rack-mounted case, it would work.

I'd recommend the XFX 550W PSU otherwise. It's only about $50, and it is a very high quality unit. And it does fit in standard PC cases

I have the revolt case from ibuypower would the fsp work with that?

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

Oh, right, sorry. I forgot the case we were working on. It seems to only accept 1U PSU's, which is quite limiting and expensive.

It seems like that FSP unit is about as cheap as it gets for a 500W PSU. There's a few more on Newegg you can look at, but I don't know if the length is compatible. You'll have to measure them out to see.

 

[MasterDell]

The FSP will not run the 970.

 

[HeftyPC]

The FSP will not run the 970.

How do you know?

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

I just checked it, and it does not have the required 8-pin connector. That does become an issue. We need to find a 1U 500W PSU with at least one 8-pin PCIe connector.

 

[HeftyPC]

I just checked it, and it does not have the required 8-pin connector. That does become an issue. We need to find a 1U 500W PSU with at least one 8-pin PCIe connector.

I saw the iStarUSA IS 1U 80PLUS 500W Gold from Tigerdirect, how does that look?

 

[MasterDell]

Well you need to measure the length and the room available of the PSU in order to know... We can't help you if you don't measure the PSU you have right now.

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

Exactly; server PSU's are not the same as standard ATX PSU's. You need to verify the length is ok by measuring your PSU first.