WOuld i need a PSU upgrdae or can it handle?

[STIHL]

I am looking to get a new GPU. I have a CiT 500W PSU (Not a very good make i know) and want an AMD R9 380 4GB. On PSU calculators it says i have enough watts to handle it but on another website it recommends 550W and i dont have the best of 500W PSUs. Do you think this PSU could handle it or would i need to go for a different GPU?

Also would i lose performance if i only have 500W?

 

[ajpaolello]

It CAN survive on a 500 watt PSU, but it will be running at 90% load most of the time. Since you don't have the best psu, I would suggest upgrading.

 

[Luminary]

Your CiT PSU isn't a reliable enough PSU to handle the power-hungry R9 380, they are very very poor units. You'll need to upgrade your PSU before trying to power a higher-end graphics card.

The CiT ATV500W Active 85 only has one 75-Watt 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector, and any decent 500W PSU will have at least two or more 150-Watt (6+2)-pin PCI Express power connectors. CiT units use wires that are a very small gauge and lack the connectors that a good 500w unit should have.

 

[STIHL]

Your CiT PSU isn't a reliable enough PSU to handle the power-hungry R9 380, they are very very poor units. You'll need to upgrade your PSU before trying to power a higher-end graphics card.

The CiT ATV500W Active 85 only has one 75-Watt 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connector, and any decent 500W PSU will have at least two or more 150-Watt (6+2)-pin PCI Express power connectors. CiT units use wires that are a very small gauge and lack the connectors that a good 500w unit should have.

Should i get the GTX 960 as it uses alot less power?

 

[Luminary]

I wouldn't plug any high-end graphics card into a CiT power supply.

They are VERY poor units and could damage any hardware you plug into them, especially if you put a CiT under stress with a good GPU. If you're looking to invest in a new graphics card it would be a good investment to upgrade the PSU as well.