Corsair 520HX enough for GTX 280 upgrade?

[gramboh]

Hi guys, I've been happily running a Cosair 520HX with zero problems for the last year and a half. My specs are below in sig.

Will I be ok upgrading my graphics card from 8800GTS 640 to a single GTX 280? I'm also planning on buying my friend Q6700 G0 and running it at 3.4GHz to replace my E6600 at 3.3GHz. He says it is fine on 1.4v (same as I'm running now more or less).

Other stuff in case that uses power: 3x Seagate drives (7200.10 x2 and one 7200.11), DVDRW drive, 3x 120mm case fans, 1x 120mm CPU fan

Thanks for any thoughts

 

[RallyMaster]

A 3.3GHz Q6600 isn't enough?

And my other question is...why pay $650 for a GTX280 when AMD's offering a HD4870 for less than half the price but is only 20% (sometimes even less) away from the GTX280 in a lot of games?

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
A 3.3GHz Q6600 isn't enough?

And my other question is...why pay $650 for a GTX280 when AMD's offering a HD4870 for less than half the price but is only 20% (sometimes even less) away from the GTX280 in a lot of games?

He has a E6600

 

[gramboh]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
A 3.3GHz Q6600 isn't enough?

And my other question is...why pay $650 for a GTX280 when AMD's offering a HD4870 for less than half the price but is only 20% (sometimes even less) away from the GTX280 in a lot of games?

I have an E6600. My friend will sell me the Q6700 for $150, and I can probably get at least $50 for my E6600 so it's a cheap upgrade, and will tide me over until Fall 09 when I get a mature platform/mobo Nehalem box going.

I agree on the video card, except that I can get a GTX 280 for really cheap (as in cheaper than 4870) otherwise I'd get the ATI in a heartbeat.

Re: 520HX threads, I see nothing in those threads about the 520HX, other than your word that it may use similar components and will thus fail? None of those threads are about the 520HX. I've read multiple people running quad cores with 280's and 4870's without issues.

Regardless I'll try it and see, every component in my box has instant warranty at my local shop (cost $80 for 2 years instant swap warranty on $1900 of parts). Worse case I'll get a 620HX in return.

 

[esquared]

Please keep this on topic. I won't clean this up a second time.




esquared
Anandtech Senior Moderator

 

[WaiWai]

Nothing is more accurate than doing the calculation yourself.
Don't be worried that you are novice and don't know how to calculate all those figures (total watt, requirements for +12V/+3.3V/+5V). Here's a site for people like us: http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php
Tell it what your system is. Then he will give you the answer. Recommended!

About HD4870 vs GTX280, it's not really 20%. It's wrong. See below:

http://media.bestofmicro.com/P...inal/avg-framerate.png

http://media.bestofmicro.com/P...nal/avg-framerate2.png

It's only 4-8 FPS difference. The difference is small.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Several things....
There is no such thing as an accurate online PSU calculator...

Also to quote Tom`s Hardware as being an authority on anything is just not fair to the readers of these forums. Those days are long gone for Tom`s Hardware!!!!

http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php -- just like all the rest -- take it with a huge grain of salt!!'

 

[HOOfan 1]

If you were not overclocking so extremely then I would say absolutely. Since you are overclocking so high, you may need more power...but you may not also.

Remember the Corsairs are rated at 50C instead of the 40C others rate at.

I have failed to see anyone who has actually load tested a Corsair power supply say that it isn't excellent.

 

[HOOfan 1]

we've been asked to keep on topic so I will start another thread for this

 

[beray]

@the OP

Sorry, I didn't know you'd no interest in why you should not use the Corsair 520HX.

 

[jonnyGURU]

I think with the HX520 you're riding the edge. You've got it now. Give it a shot. Just make sure you stress test it now to keep it from blowing up later. And I don't mean loop Vantage with Prime95 running either. Get a good DX10 game and play it for a couple hours with the setting cranked up (which you certainly should be able to do with this proposed rig) and see if there are ANY glitches. First sign of a power off I would be concerned. Restarts, on the other hand, could actually be anything (RAM, heat, etc.)

Good luck!

 

[WaiWai]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
Several things....
There is no such thing as an accurate online PSU calculator...

Yes true. But my statement was actually "the most accurate way is to do the math yourself".
Of course many don't have the knowledge to do it, nor do I. An online calculator is really helpful although not 100% accurate.

Also to quote Tom`s Hardware as being an authority on anything is just not fair to the readers of these forums. Those days are long gone for Tom`s Hardware!!!!

Agree. Tom's not an authority nor any other review sites. I just quoted it as one example. You are welcome to quote more in all kinds of review sites. After all the real FPS difference is small. We don't buy graphic cards just for benchmark or FPS races. HD 4850/4870 is enough for high gaming needs with much less money.

http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php -- just like all the rest -- take it with a huge grain of salt!!'

Yes the result is not 100% accurate but I don't see why we have to take it with a huge grain of salt. What's wrong with that site?

It accounts for many factors and is detailed. Of course if it misses the factor that concerns you, you simply add the number to their totals. No big deal.

Unless you are willing to check each individual product and have the knowledge to do all the calculation yourself, it's one of the best way to estimate your usage. Very often buyers are spending too much on a PSU that they don't need. It helps to get one which is close to your need.

If you can come up with a better and easier way to estimate watt & amp requirement of different rails, please introduce.

 

[beray]

Understanding the Corsair 520HX inherent 3.3V and 5V rail weakness to cross-regulation failure is not pertinent?


It's not when the PSU is not going to be subject to such cross loads and the one you suggest doesn't handle crossloads any better. I'm removing all of your off-topic posts as well as responses to them. I realize you don't approve of the Corsair. That's fine. Good to have your own opinion. But if you can not provide helpful information that targets the OP's request, and telling him his PSU may crossload without any evidence of the phenomenon, please do not participate in the thread. Perhaps there's a language barrier, but it seems a majority of your posts are just argumentative.

Thanks!
jonnyGURU
Power Supplies moderator

 

[Qbah]

Running a Q9450 @ 3.2 GHz and a HD4870. Two 500GB drives in RAID0. 4 120mm fans and a control panel on the front. And a DVD drive. Everything powered by a HX520W. Did alot of stresstesting and it's rock stable. Except the GA mobo, which has issues not related to the PSU.

 

[gramboh]

Finally got my 280 installed last week (was out of town for a while). No problems at all. Running it at SSC speeds (FTW seems to cause artifacts). No PSU related issues. Hopefully getting that Q6700 from my friend in a couple weeks.

BTW Corsair sent me the 8-pin PCI-e modular cable for free. In fact they sent two since I made two separate requests (wasn't sure if the first got through, oops). Thanks! Next PSU upgrade will be Corsair.