Couple of questions regarding a GTX 480 SLI set up

[themasterpiece1]

The set up will not be watercooled. My case is the HAF 912 so airflow should be pretty good.

The components are:
- 2 x 120mm fans and 2 x 200 mm fans
- 1 HDD and will get a second HDD soon
- 2 sticks of 4GB RAM
- Intel i5 2500k (not overclocked)
- ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3
- I do not have a cd/dvd drive

I need to get my PSU from Amazon. I was thinking of the Corsair HX 850 or Cooler Master 1000w. I read the HX 850 is a quality power supply and it is modular so that is a big plus. How does the Cooler Master 1000w. I would not want to spend much more than $175.

This is the link to the PSU I was thinking of:
HX 850
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Profe...21LA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331849874&sr=8-1

Cooler Master 1000w
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master...ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1331850756&sr=1-1

By the way, will my motherboard support GTX 480 SLI. The motherboard says it is SLI compatible but I am just making sure. Does it have the right PCI slots? I have never done SLI so I am new to this.

EDIT: Should I go with the HX850 or the Cooler Master 1000w? The Cooler Master is only $10 more but how is the quality of it?

 

[BallaTheFeared]

I can't really stay anything for the CM 1000, I'd suggest visiting Johnny Guru for a review.

My HX850 isn't fully modular though, the 4+4 pin cpu plug, 20+4 pin mobo plug, and 2 PCIe 6+2 pin cables are pre sleeved and do not disconnect.

It does handle two water cooled GTX 470s with decent overclocks and an i5-2500k @ 5+. I actually did a 15 minute furmark run at 850 core on the gpus with prime95 running on the other 3 threads with my i5-2500k @ 5GHz and my PSU handled it without a problem, plus I had a 9800GT running another screen in there as well. Power wise you should be fine with the HX850.

 

[notty22]

I would go with the Corsair. They offer very good warranty service also.
You might consider this model.
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Profes.../ref=pd_cp_e_0

Your motherboard should run fine. You have a extra slot/space , between 2 dual slot height video cards. Which helps greatly with heat. The top card always runs hotter, but with a extra space/slot in between it should be manageable.
Get the newest bios for your motherboard after your system is setup. That usually helps fix any bugs that might have been found.

 

[themasterpiece1]

If I plan to OC the 480s and the CPU should I just go with the Cooler Master M1000? Or can the HX850 handle Overclocking 2 GTX 480s plus the i5 2500k? Only reason I ask is because with the M1000 I would be getting 200w more for only $10 more. Not sure how the M1000 stacks up against the HX850.

I read the reviews for both and it seems like they are close in performance. But it's not like I know much about PSUs.

 

[Grooveriding]

480s already use a lot of power, but once you overclock them, the power consumption shoots way up. Think 100W per card. 850W is fine to run two and may be okay for 2 oveclocked if you are doing mild OCs. If you are talking adding voltage I wouldn't use an 850W, but I think temps would be too out of hand with extra voltage on stock cooling regardless.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

This was with a i7-920 which draws more power than your chip. It was also done at launch, the cards seem to have gotten better since then.

Keep in mind that's all the wall, so it's actually drawing probably less then 550 watts total.

You'd be fine overclocking them with voltage. (edit: with a 850 watt PSU)

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

850w sounds like a good minumum wattage for two GTX 480s overclocked.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

HX has 7 years, CM has 5 years (warranty).

I would double check Johnny Guru, see how clean the power supplied is, such as ripple.

I think 850 is enough, but 1000 would give you a decent headroom. I think the HX850 is a higher quality part, with a superior warranty, through a company with great customer service. While the other PSU obviously is offering more wattage.

 

[themasterpiece1]

I got a discount on the HX1050 so ended up going with that. I prefer the longer warranty and the HX series seems to have better reviews. The HX1050 ended up being 30 more than the M1000, which I think is worth it based on the reviews. Thanks for all the help!

I already have one GTX 480 updated to the latest driver. Tomorrow the second GTX 480 comes in. Do I have to update it to the latest driver before putting on the SLI bridge? So would I have to unplug the first one or do I plug both in and update the second one before putting the SLI bridge? I have never done this before.

 

[BallaTheFeared]

Nice

Nope, just power down, install it, add the bridge, power on, enable SLI in the NVCP when you reach the desktop.

If you have any problems let us know we'll be sure to help

 

[T101]

Running two 470 in SLI, can only give one advice, getting airflow in between the cards is vital to keep the top one running cooler.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Running two 470 in SLI, can only give one advice, getting airflow in between the cards is vital to keep the top one running cooler.

That is pretty much standard for high end multi-gpu.

 

[BD231]

If you're getting basic run of the mill 480's don't bother with a high OC, they're from the very early era of Fermi which wasn't doing so hot at the time on a process level. If you want the low leakage chips you have to go with OC models that have higher binned chips. You might luck out and get a high quality chip in both parts but you'll probably be stuck around 800 to 850 with stock cooling. A good way to find out your chips max potential is by using GPU-Z's ASIC quality feature. Any Fermi chip with an ASIC quality in the 70% range will be happy within 700-800, and anything 80% or above will do 800-900 with relative ease.

I don't think you'll find a 480 with much better than 70% range quality level, just my 2 cents though, I've played with non ti fermi's for a long enough to know getting a 70% range sample over 800 isn't worth it the added volts you'll have to feed it.

 

[George English]

Hi, I know this thread is old. However I have done some surfing and this seems to be the place for me, I also see some knowlegable posts Please see below and help where possible please

I am hoping someone may have an answer to a problem that has been bugging me for some time hence tail between legs and asking for help

I recently bought a second GTX480 to run in sli meaning a PSU, Motherboard and RAM upgrade to go with it.

I am pretty sure that I have everything at the correct settings. Motherboard is set to XMP meaning my i7 2700k is @ 3.9ghz, Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 @ 1600mhz. Both cards are at stock speeds I am running 306.97 drivers I am at a loose end as to what the solution to my problem is. Mobo is ASUS P8Z68-V GEN3 and PSU is a Corsair HX1050.

All temps are fine, custom water cooling and the second GTX480 is a Gigabyte with a custom 3 fan cooler strapped to it.

Ok, here is my problem that gives me several different error messages with different software. I have expirienced black screens using furmark completely locking up my computer needing a hard reset. In fact more like a power down and then power back on again. Reset hangs.......................

In Heaven 3.0 I get a message telling me that a device has been removed suggesting loss of connection with GPU or GPU's. In Dirt3 very rarely I get a display driver stopped responding issue ( not needing to reset my system ) In Crysis Warhead I suffered black screen crashes all over the place so un-installed. In Max Payne 3 I got black screen crashes back to desktop so un installed.

The only benchmark software which appears to be ' stable ' for my system is 3dmark11 which is great but doesn't help me much.

Maybe somebody has had similar issues?? I have run mem tests, prime and windows memtest to rule out a duff RAM stick. Positive results everytime!!! Scratching head is getting boring.......

Suggestions I have looked into on other internet posts are lack of power going to my card or cards which seems to me the most likely cause to my problem. I have therefor increased the voltage on both cards, still I have the same issues.

I also read a post somewhere saying that my PSU might not be up to the job yet I read elsewhere that it should be ample.

Every now and then I get a great gaming expirience or pass a benchmark with good scores giving me a little fake hope that everything will be fine from now on....like a boy whistleing in the wind until BAM CRASH CRASH CRASH.

Would somebody with some expirience or expertise surrounding this issue please bless me with a solution!!!!????

Many Thanks in advance

George