6950 1GB or GTX 560 Ti for a mini-itx build

[Chinoman]

Hey guys, I'm planning a Sandy Bridge build using the Silverstone SG05 450w case. Due to size limitations, most cards that could fit into the case were relatively underwhelming. Now that these two new cards are out, though, I'm definitely going to use one of them in the build. I need helping deciding which would be better for a mini-itx environment with a 450w psu.

 

[Castiel]

I'm not sure a 560 would work with a 450w psu

 

[Red Storm]

Going by the Anandtech review, it seems they are about equal when it comes to idle power usage, while at load the 560 uses a bit more power.

For temperatures, the 560 has lower figures, but it dumps some of the heat into the case, unlike the 6950 which is a blower design. That may be an issue for a mini-itx build.

 

[DaveSimmons]

In theory either one should work for normal gaming:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4135/nvidias-geforce-gtx-560-ti-upsetting-the-250-market/16

The load power for the 6950 1 GB model is 22W lower in Crysis and 44W lower in Furmark so it seems like a better choice for that PSU.

 

[Zebo]

I'd say the PALIT GTX 560 because it's fits in small good itx cases Such as LL PC-Q11A & PC-Q07 with it's custom PCB

I would not use Silverstone & it's PSU. Get a real PSU and LL.

 

[Chinoman]

I'd say the PALIT GTX 560 because it's fits in small good itx cases Such as LL PC-Q11A & PC-Q07 with it's custom PCB

I would not use Silverstone & it's PSU. Get a real PSU and LL.

What would you recommend in the PSU department?

 

[Zebo]

Corsair or Seasonic and above 40A on 12V rail. So like 500's+ Watters.

Are you overclocking?

 

[mnewsham]

Corsair or Seasonic and above 40A on 12V rail. So like 500's+ Watters.

Are you overclocking?

Something like this.

 

[happy medium]

I'd say the PALIT GTX 560 because it's fits in small good itx cases Such as LL PC-Q11A & PC-Q07 with it's custom PCB

I would not use Silverstone & it's PSU. Get a real PSU and LL.

Thats what I would do.

 

[Zap]

I'm not sure a 560 would work with a 450w psu

It will work just fine with the Silverstone 450W ST45SF PSU.

I would not use Silverstone & it's PSU. Get a real PSU and LL.

What's wrong with the Silverstone PSU? Both 300W and 450W versions are made by FSP, can do rated power, have nearly all rated power on +12v and are reasonable quality.

I do like the Lian Li cases, but part of the reason for ITX is "small" and some of the Lian Li cases are pushing it, especially the PC-Q08. The PC-Q07 does not accommodate dual slot graphics cards. This leaves the PC-Q11 as the only reasonably small Lian Li case that can take decent graphics cards.

The Lian Li PC-Q11 is about 60% larger than the Silverstone SG05 based on volume.

Silverstone SUGO SG05
(W) 222mm x (H) 176mm x (D) 276mm = 10.78L

Lian-LI PC-Q11
(W) 200mm x (H) 326mm x (D) 260mm = 16.95L

source

 

[Castiel]

It will work just fine with the Silverstone 450W ST45SF PSU.

Really? Sweet. Thanks Zap

 

[Zebo]

It'll work, sure but i would not do it. Too close to edge with those kind of components, too loud fan when running 89-90% power, too hard to source sfx power supply in quality.

Dual cards work fine on Q07 with small mod.

 

[dualsmp]

Estimating the PSU is 85% efficient for Anandtech's test the power consumption would be ~270 watts (DC) with the GTX 560 -- and this is with an overclocked i7 which isn't exactly a power miser. 270 watts is 60% load on a 450w PSU. The Furmark figures are a bit higher but unlikely to be reached in real world. 450 watts should be fine.

 

[tviceman]

For what you want, I'd opt for whichever card is smaller in size between the two.

 

[Chinoman]

Thanks Zap, I was wondering how the power supply would hold up with those components. Does anyone happen to know if the 6950 1GB has a bios switch like its 2GB part?

 

[badb0y]

Go for the cheapest one. I don't know if 1 GB unlocks but I would say no.

 

[Chinoman]

Go for the cheapest one. I don't know if 1 GB unlocks but I would say no.

Does it make a noticeable difference to overclock a 6950 to 900 MHZ?

 

[badb0y]

The extra shaders add what like 6% more performance? If you overclock it to 900 it will be pretty damn fast I can tell you that.

 

[Zap]

It'll work, sure but i would not do it. Too close to edge with those kind of components, too loud fan when running 89-90% power, too hard to source sfx power supply in quality.

It'll be just fine. :whiste:

Most power hungry is the graphics card followed by the CPU.

GTX 560 TI 170W
Sandy Bridge 95W

Probably be using a bit over 300W with the rest of the components (HDD peaks at 15W, SSD at 3W, fans are usually single digit W).

 

[AtenRa]

Estimating the PSU is 85% efficient for Anandtech's test the power consumption would be ~270 watts (DC) with the GTX 560 -- and this is with an overclocked i7 which isn't exactly a power miser. 270 watts is 60% load on a 450w PSU. The Furmark figures are a bit higher but unlikely to be reached in real world. 450 watts should be fine.

If you took the measurement from the graph to get the 85% = ~270W then your conclusion is wrong.

85% efficient means that if the PC needs 300W the PSU will draw from the wall plug ~353W

Since the Silverstone SG-05 can only get 9” cards the HD6950 at 10,5” will not fit so you have to go with GTX560 or any other 9" card.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_spec.php?pno=SG05-450&area=usa

 

[Spike]

If you took the measurement from the graph to get the 85% = ~270W then your conclusion is wrong.

85% efficient means that if the PC needs 300W the PSU will draw from the wall plug ~353W

Since the Silverstone SG-05 can only get 9” cards the HD6950 at 10,5” will not fit so you have to go with GTX560 or any other 9" card.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_spec.php?pno=SG05-450&area=usa

What are you saying with the PSU comment? 300/.85 = 353w like you posted. Going the other way 353 (total wall draw for your hypothetical system) * .85 = 300w, or actual system power needs. So his 317 (power from wall) * .85 = 270w works to find the actual system power need.

In any case a 450w psu, assuming it's of any decent quality, is more than enough for this setup. I've heard pretty good things about silverstone and Zap knows his PSU's so if he says it's fine it probably is.

 

[Keysplayr]

Either should be fine with that PSU.

 

[cusideabelincoln]

If you took the measurement from the graph to get the 85% = ~270W then your conclusion is wrong.

85% efficient means that if the PC needs 300W the PSU will draw from the wall plug ~353W

You are right, but Anandtech's numbers are from at the wall. So in a sense, you went backwards on your calculation. 270W is about right.

 

[AtenRa]

ahh got it now, hes conclusion is right.

317W at wall with a 85% efficient PSU is indeed ~270W for the system.

 

[ArchAngel777]

ahh got it now, hes conclusion is right.

317W at wall with a 85% efficient PSU is indeed ~270W for the system.

Efficiency is not a constant, depending on the load it can vary quite a bit. The real question for me is: Does AT measure power consumption from the wall (A/C) or do they measure the power consumption from the PSU (D/C)?