GTX580 SLI on 650 watts?

[toyota]

I'm running a tight budget otherwise yeah I'd be all over the seasonic X-850.

if your budget is tight then just wait untill you can afford the psu before getting the other gtx560 3gb card. its not like the gtx580 3gb is on sale or anthing.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

That 650w PSU would pop so fast with a GTX 580 setup.

 

[houe]

That 650w PSU would pop so fast with a GTX 580 setup.

Look at this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA_OYYneNsU

480s are pretty high power too.

 

[lehtv]

I'm running a tight budget otherwise yeah I'd be all over the seasonic X-850.

Pff. You can sell the X-650 for at least $100 on ebay and buy XFX 850W 80+ silver (another Seasonic PSU) for $125 after rebate.

Seriously, even contemplating the possibility of GTX 580 sli on a 650W PSU is just ... dumb.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

Look at this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UA_OYYneNsU

480s are pretty high power too.

They are just as power hungry.

That video shows a PSU that will soon explode.

From the video:

"NOTE: This video just shows the possibility you will have with the unit. We do not recommend to use this power supply with such a setup on a permanent base."

Even they know it is stupid to use a psu rated for such low wattage on a high load system.

 

[houe]

They are just as power hungry.

That video shows a PSU that will soon explode.

From the video:

"NOTE: This video just shows the possibility you will have with the unit. We do not recommend to use this power supply with such a setup on a permanent base."

Even they know it is stupid to use a psu rated for such low wattage on a high load system.

True, but I've got 100 watts more power than they have. Plus remember the Seasonic X series runs at high 80s efficiency. I've seen its 87% to 90% efficient. I think I can make it. Also its not like i'm running 10 hard drives or anything - just and SSD and green 1TB.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

True, but I've got 100 watts more power than they have. Plus remember the Seasonic X series runs at high 80s efficiency. I've seen its 87% to 90% efficient. I think I can make it. Also its not like i'm running 10 hard drives or anything - just and SSD and green 1TB.

It is up to you if you want to do it.

I don't think it is safe and would not recommend it.

 

[toyota]

True, but I've got 100 watts more power than they have. Plus remember the Seasonic X series runs at high 80s efficiency. I've seen its 87% to 90% efficient. I think I can make it. Also its not like i'm running 10 hard drives or anything - just and SSD and green 1TB.

efficiency does not give you more power. you need to use some common sense and get a proper power supply before you get that second gtx580. tight budget should not be an excuse here or you have no business spending 1200 bucks on gpus in the first place IMO.

 

[TakeNoPrisoners]

efficiency does not give you more power. you need to use some common sense and get a proper power supply before you get that second gtx580. tight budget should not be an excuse here or you have no business spending 1200 bucks on gpus in the first place IMO.

Agreed, OP you are trying to build a computer upside-down.

An analogy I would use here would be that you are building a million dollar house on a foundation made of crackers.

 

[houe]

efficiency does not give you more power. you need to use some common sense and get a proper power supply before you get that second gtx580. tight budget should not be an excuse here or you have no business spending 1200 bucks on gpus in the first place IMO.

I've already given up eating out for the foreseeable future to be able to fit these cards into my budget. I'll be eating mac and cheese and ramen noodles for 2-3 months lol.

 

[TemjinGold]

If you are that poor, have you considered 2x 6970 instead? That would be a lot cheaper, a lot less power hungry, AND not much less performance because Crossfire seems to be a tad better than SLI...

 

[Elfear]

My quality 800W PSU was not up to the task of two overclocked 6950's. The 650W will either shut down on you at random times because of drawing too many amps or you'll run the thing very close to capacity. Neither of which sounds like a prudent choice to power $1200 worth of video cards.

Why not grab a pair of 6970's? They'd probably be just as fast at 5760x1200.

 

[lehtv]

I've already given up eating out for the foreseeable future to be able to fit these cards into my budget. I'll be eating mac and cheese and ramen noodles for 2-3 months lol.

Wow, you've certainly got your priorities straight :thumbsup:

6950 2GB crossfire would've been fine for $500. And it wouldn't even require a PSU upgrade!

Seriously, everyone is telling you not to use the 650W with a pair of 580's. If you still do it, you're a troll because you wouldn't have created this thread otherwise

 

[houe]

Wow, you've certainly got your priorities straight :thumbsup:

6950 2GB crossfire would've been fine for $500. And it wouldn't even require a PSU upgrade!

Seriously, everyone is telling you not to use the 650W with a pair of 580's. If you still do it, you're a troll because you wouldn't have created this thread otherwise

Not necessarily. Check out this forum: http://www.overclock.net/power-supplies/1076674-doing-unthinkable-gtx580-sli-650-watt.html
The guy did the exact same thing as I'm thinking and here is the last post he made in the topic:
"Just to update this, the cards are both installed, and I am pulling just under 600 watts under load from the wall, max wattage. Average around 550. This is under gaming, used bad company 2, crysis 2, heaven while measuring. Don't ask for any furmark cause it aint gonna happen! Heaven went from 55 fps to 100 with no tweaks. So for anyone else with a similar setup who is questioning their wattage, hope this helps. Cheers!"

 

[toyota]

that guy is full of it or is not checking very well. he claimed to only hit a max of 375 watts at the wall with a gtx580 and 2600k oced to 4.5. I have hit peaks close to that at times with my stock gtx570 and stock 2500k. you factor in the oc on the 2600k and gtx580 and he would most certainly hit peaks of at least 425-450 watts. another stock gtx580 could easily consume 250 watts or more so that alone is 675-700 watts with an oced 2600k. oc those cards even a little and you are well over 700 watts.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Just my $.02. You asked and people have told you their opinions based on conventional wisdom. Yet, you refuse to listen and keep debating them all. If you were convinced you were OK, then why ask and argue with people that reply?

Conventional wisdom says that running a PSU at 85% + of its rated capacity is not a good idea. I rate 85% based on your statement of 550w to 600w usage.

Good PSUs should handle it and handle it for a longer time than a cheap PSU. But, "poop" happens. A PSU loaded like what you could potentially see can fail catastrophically and kill other gear. If you are spending $1200 on GPUs IMO, it's foolish to risk them and running them on a 650w PSU.

Also, based on what I have seen in some PSU forums, I'm betting that you will see some shutdowns under heavy loads.

 

[heynow85]

I've already given up eating out for the foreseeable future to be able to fit these cards into my budget. I'll be eating mac and cheese and ramen noodles for 2-3 months lol.

What in the hell? Your GTX 580 is for hobby purposes, that's it. Ever heard of a financial buffer or cushion? I don't know what the rest of your living budget looks like, but usually when people cut into food, you're basically at Compton ghetto levels.

 

[BFG10K]

that guy is full of it or is not checking very well. he claimed to only hit a max of 375 watts at the wall with a gtx580 and 2600k oced to 4.5. I have hit peaks close to that at times with my stock gtx570 and stock 2500k. you factor in the oc on the 2600k and gtx580 and he would most certainly hit peaks of at least 425-450 watts. another stock gtx580 could easily consume 250 watts or more so that alone is 675-700 watts with an oced 2600k. oc those cards even a little and you are well over 700 watts.

What are you using to measure power consumption? Also he explicitly said he’s not overclocking his GPUs.

Even if his numbers are wrong, he’s saying his games are working. I’m inclined to believe him with this particular PSU.

Also the OP here will shave off 56 watts with his GTX580s.

 

[VI3L]

I've got 2 gtx 480s in SLI and I have the APC XS 1300 battery backup which has the LCD screen.

When im playing crysis or other demanding games I have seen it read up to 800+ watts. I'm running a Corsair HX 1000 PSU

What you're trying to do is like building a Ferrari with no engine lol... Better to build a "complete" Z06 that still runs fast

 

[toyota]

What are you using to measure power consumption? Also he explicitly said he’s not overclocking his GPUs.

Even if his numbers are wrong, he’s saying his games are working. I’m inclined to believe him with this particular PSU.

Also the OP here will shave off 56 watts with his GTX580s.

the OP said he was going to do a mild oc though. also you know that there is no way that he is for certain going to get models that use exactly 28 watts or less a piece. he could end up gpus that use way more than that. the issue here is why risk anything when he can use some common sense and get a proper psu BEFORE buying $1200 worth of video cards? again his tight budget excuse dose not fly when you are talking about that kind of money for graphics cards. he seems pretty bent on doing it no matter what so let him risk damaging his components I guess.

 

[TemjinGold]

the OP said he was going to do a mild oc though. also you know that there is no way that he is for certain going to get models that use exactly 28 watts or less a piece. he could end up gpus that use way more than that. the issue here is why risk anything when he can use some common sense and get a proper psu BEFORE buying $1200 worth of video cards? again his tight budget excuse dose not fly when you are talking about that kind of money for graphics cards. he seems pretty bent on doing it no matter what so let him risk damaging his components I guess.

Calm down. Don't blow a gasket. The OP asked for advice, we all gave it so let the guy make his own decision. If he wants to build a bomb over ramen, let him.

 

[TemjinGold]

I've got 2 gtx 480s in SLI and I have the APC XS 1300 battery backup which has the LCD screen.

When im playing crysis or other demanding games I have seen it read up to 800+ watts. I'm running a Corsair HX 1000 PSU

What you're trying to do is like building a Ferrari with no engine lol... Better to build a "complete" Z06 that still runs fast

Just to play devil's advocate here, is your monitor(s) plugged into that APC? Because if it is, don't forget to remove that from the calculation. 580s are also a good deal less power hungry than 480s.

Not arguing the OP's idea is a good one. Just saying...

 

[Rifter]

I would not risk it.

But i feel it doesnt matter anyways as you seem set on doing it anyways. Just dont come crying here when your PSU blows up.

 

[VI3L]

Just to play devil's advocate here, is your monitor(s) plugged into that APC? Because if it is, don't forget to remove that from the calculation. 580s are also a good deal less power hungry than 480s.

Not arguing the OP's idea is a good one. Just saying...

Yes it is, but I have checked while my monitor was turned off. The 480s are power hungry bastards lol, not to mention my system is ocd and i have lots of high end parts.

 

[rolodomo]

I've got 2 gtx 480s in SLI and I have the APC XS 1300 battery backup which has the LCD screen.

When im playing crysis or other demanding games I have seen it read up to 800+ watts. I'm running a Corsair HX 1000 PSU

What you're trying to do is like building a Ferrari with no engine lol... Better to build a "complete" Z06 that still runs fast

I felt comfortable with my setup until I read this. I'm running gtx 480 x 2 and an i7 at 4.2 Hz on a Seasonic 850 W M12D (2 rails rated 40 amps each). It just cracks 600 W in Crysis DX11 on my UPS LCD screen, but the 480(s) are at stock clock and voltage. Are you overclocking your GPUs?