GPU Power Requirements

[kiph]

OK, so I recently purchased a brand new GTX 670. Before purchasing the video card, I checked the power requirements for it here which says that it only requires a 500W power supply. So I was like, great, I've got a 500W power supply, I should be fine and dandy.

Fast forward to today where I've just purchased my new Gigabyte GTX 670, and on the box it says that requires a minimum 550W power supply for it to work. So I'm like WTF, why does it say on the nvidia website that it only needs 500W, yet on the Gigabyte box it says that it needs 550W?

Anyway, my question is, can I go ahead and try to install the 670 in my PC which only has a 500W power supply, even though the box says that it needs 550W? Is there any chance that I might damage components if theres insufficient power? Or should I not take the risk, and fork out the extra cash for a new PSU instead?

 

[Jaydip]

OK, so I recently purchased a brand new GTX 670. Before purchasing the video card, I checked the power requirements for it here which says that it only requires a 500W power supply. So I was like, great, I've got a 500W power supply, I should be fine and dandy.

Fast forward to today where I've just purchased my new Gigabyte GTX 670, and on the box it says that requires a minimum 550W power supply for it to work. So I'm like WTF, why does it say on the nvidia website that it only needs 500W, yet on the Gigabyte box it says that it needs 550W?

Anyway, my question is, can I go ahead and try to install the 670 in my PC which only has a 500W power supply, even though the box says that it needs 550W? Is there any chance that I might damage components if theres insufficient power? Or should I not take the risk, and fork out the extra cash for a new PSU instead?

List your complete specs, which PSU you are using? if you are using a good quality 500W psu it would be enough.

 

[kiph]

My finished build will look like the following:

Gigabyte Z87M-D3H mobo
Intel Core i5 4670K
8GB RAM
Gigabyte GTX 670
Samsung 250GB SSD
Western Digital 500GB HDD
Silverstone Strider Essentials ST50F-ES 500W PSU

 

[Jaydip]

It is good enough for your build.

 

[JimmiG]

The total wattage doesn't mean much. However since many <500W PSUs are really low quality, they put 500W or 550W as a requirement.

You want to look at the rating of the 12V rail of your PSU. For my GTX670, the minimum requirement is listed as 30A. My 450W (which is actually a re-branded Seasonic 500W with better capacitors) delivers 33A where as your PSU delivers 34A. Lesser quality 500W or even 550W PSUs might deliver less than this on the 12V rail.

 

[toyota]

yeah that psu only makes 408 watts on the 12v line but you are still fine for that build. that system will only pull about 275 watts or so in demanding games so you have some headroom for a little ocing.