What PSU should I get?

[WutdaHug3]

My specs:
MB: Asus M5A97
CPU: 3,3GHz AMD FX-6100 (OCed to 3,9Ghz)
RAM: 8GB Kingston 1600MHz CL7 Lim. Ed.
GPU: 1GB GDDR5 ATI/AMD RADEON HD 7770 OC Ed.
PSU: 600W LC POWER 2.3 Ed.
HDD: WD 500GB
FANS: 2x120mm standard, 1x120mm high efficiency

As I expected the current PSU is sh*t and it was a temporary solution. I was thinking about buying Corsair PSU, but I am not sure, what wattage and series( AX, TX, etc.) should I get. Also I am considering to buy new GPU: HD 7870 and better HDD: 1TB + SSD: 128GB, so keep in mind it must be able to power all of them in future.

Cheers W.ut!

 

[timarp000]

My specs:
MB: Asus M5A97
CPU: 3,3GHz AMD FX-6100 (OCed to 3,9Ghz)
RAM: 8GB Kingston 1600MHz CL7 Lim. Ed.
GPU: 1GB GDDR5 ATI/AMD RADEON HD 7770 OC Ed.
PSU: 600W LC POWER 2.3 Ed.
HDD: WD 500GB
FANS: 2x120mm standard, 1x120mm high efficiency

As I expected the current PSU is sh*t and it was a temporary solution. I was thinking about buying Corsair PSU, but I am not sure, what wattage and series( AX, TX, etc.) should I get. Also I am considering to buy new GPU: HD 7870 and better HDD: 1TB + SSD: 128GB, so keep in mind it must be able to power all of them in future.

Cheers W.ut!

I would highly recommend the Corsair HX-650. its 80+Gold and is modular. It has 2 pcie power connectors so you can do a 7770 crossfire in the future.

 

[Brett928S2]

ANY decent make 500 would do...

 

[timarp000]

And if you buy a 7870 and plan to crossfire then look for the old HX650 you may get it at some retail stores. Its 80+ bronze has 4 pcie power connectors and is modular. I couldnt find a 650W with all these features except this one so even i bought it!.

 

[WutdaHug3]

Well, 7770 crossfire isn't worth it on my mobo (only one 16x and one 4x) and what's the difference between AX and HX series?

Cheers W.ut

 

[timarp000]

Well, 7770 crossfire isn't worth it on my mobo (only one 16x and one 4x) and what's the difference between AX and HX series?

Cheers W.ut

i thought youd ask that question!
ok, they are both 80+Gold the only difference is that AX power supplies are fully modular. meaning all cables are removable. including main 24pin motherboard power etc.

On HX power supplies the 24pin motherboard power and the 8pin cpu power are non-modular. it doesnt matter anyway! you NEED the 24pin and the 8pin no matter what to run the system so just go for the HX and save cash.

 

[WutdaHug3]

Well my favourite retailer doesn't even sell the AX650, so I would consider this solved problem. Still wondering, if someone uses the fully modular cables for their actual purpose.

 

[WutdaHug3]

And one last question, am I going to have room for overclocking? (consider CrossfireX)

 

[timarp000]

And one last question, am I going to have room for overclocking? (consider CrossfireX)

You will have room to OC. your PSU is sufficient for Radeon 7870 Crossfire but your motherboard is not. R7870 cards are pcie 3.0 card and need a minimum of pcie 3.0 8x or pcie 2.0 16x. you have only 1 pcie 2.0 16x slot on your motherboard and no pcie 3.0. You can try but even if it works it would not be a large performance increase.

Although i wouldnt try something that *may* work when that much money is on the line.

 

[WutdaHug3]

On the ASUS website it is said, that it has 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (blue), 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black) but I am not sure what it means. Like I have 2xPCIe x16 and one of them can run as 4x?

 

[timarp000]

On the ASUS website it is said, that it has 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (blue), 1 x PCIe 2.0 x16 (x4 mode, black) but I am not sure what it means. Like I have 2xPCIe x16 and one of them can run as 4x?

The blue slot is full 16x pcie 2.0
the other one is physically 16x but only 4x is wired. So the black on the motherboard is mostly just plastic. See an image of the back of the motherboard. left most part has a long line of solder points
while the other pcie has less solder points. (4th)
see image here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

That 4x bandwidth will limit the performance of the 2nd R7870 hence wont be 'bang for your buck'
.
And also, if you can spend i bit more cash buy the GTX 660Ti or Radeon 7950. I have a 660 Ti and i can run crysis 2 all settings on ultra. a 7950 would be about the same but it needs more power. so id recommend the 660 ti. buy EVGA they make very good, cheaper nvidia cards.

 

[ko888]

For a system using a single reference clocked Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition graphics card AMD specifies a minimum of a 500 Watt or greater power supply. The power supply should also have a maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 28 Amps or greater and have at least two 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors.

Total Power Supply Wattage is NOT the crucial factor in power supply selection!!! Sufficient Total Combined Continuous Power/Current Available on the +12V Rail(s) rated at 45°C - 50°C ambient temperature, is the most critical factor.

You may find power supplies on the market that supply more than enough Wattage to run the system. However, some of them lack Sufficient Amperage capacity on the critical +12 Volt rail, which is necessary to properly power the critical components in the system (i.e. CPU and GPUs). This is the reason why graphics card manufacturers may overstate the power supply wattage, usually by at least 50 Watts, in an attempt to take into account some of those power supplies that have the weaker +12 Volt rail(s).

The Corsair Enthusiast Series Modular TX550M (CMPSU-550TXM), with its maximum combined +12 Volt continuous current rating of 45 Amps and with two (6+2)-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors, is way more than sufficient to power your system configuration with a single Radeon HD 7870 graphics card.

 

[WutdaHug3]

I was looking for 2 HD7770 Crossfire alternative and OCed HD7870 seems sufficient for smooth 1920x1080 Ultra gameplay. However I am going to buy new GPU, when the 7770 won't be enough. For now I'll just replace my PSU and HDD.

Thanks for helping me out,
Cheers W.ut!

 

[WutdaHug3]

Best answer selected by WutdaHug3.