HD6990 + Corsair TX550W?

[pazzo]

Would a Corsair TX550W with a 125w cpu work (PH II 965) with a HD 6990 with only basic things like 1 hdd and 1 disk drive?

Thanx.

 

[lehtv]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6990-review
System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 526W (i7-965 @ 3.75)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4209/amds-radeon-hd-6990-the-new-single-card-king/18
Load Power Consumption in Crysis = 491W
Load Power Consumption in Furmark = 550W
(i7 920 @ 3.2)

The answer is that these numbers are cutting it way too close to the rated wattage of your PSU. You'd want a 750W unit.

Another line of reasoning: 6990 consumes more power than 6950 Crossfire. If you ran 6950 Crossfire, you'd need four PCIe connectors - but no 550W power supplies ever comes with four PCIe connectors. Most 650W don't either. But all quality 750W units do.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

No. Get a beefier PSU.

 

[pazzo]

http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-6990-review
System Wattage with GPU in FULL Stress = 526W (i7-965 @ 3.75)

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4209/amds-radeon-hd-6990-the-new-single-card-king/18
Load Power Consumption in Crysis = 491W
Load Power Consumption in Furmark = 550W
(i7 920 @ 3.2)

The answer is that these numbers are cutting it way too close to the rated wattage of your PSU. You'd want a 750W unit.

Another line of reasoning: 6990 consumes more power than 6950 Crossfire. If you ran 6950 Crossfire, you'd need four PCIe connectors - but no 550W power supplies ever comes with four PCIe connectors. Most 650W don't either. But all quality 750W units do.

Not gunna run furmark or overclock, but look at these results:
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...s/41404-amd-radeon-hd-6990-4gb-review-21.html
469 Watts in 1hr 3DMark w/ i7 920 @ 4ghz.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6990-antilles-crossfire,2878-15.html
Max @ ~430W in Metro at stock with a decently OC'ed 130W CPU i7990X@ 4ghz.

 

[lehtv]

Not gunna run furmark or overclock, but look at these results:
http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/foru...s/41404-amd-radeon-hd-6990-4gb-review-21.html
469 Watts in 1hr 3DMark w/ i7 920 @ 4ghz.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-6990-antilles-crossfire,2878-15.html
Max @ ~430W in Metro at stock with a decently OC'ed 130W CPU i7990X@ 4ghz.

So what are you saying? Do you want me to tell you your PSU is enough for 6990, and you won't accept any other answer?

I'm telling you, it's not a good idea to run 6990 off of a 550W unit. You're looking at over 80 percent power consumption in games, and games don't even stress your system to the max. As a rule of thumb you shouldn't cross 80 percent with your system stressed to the max. Running a PSU at such high stress for long periods of time will wear it out faster.

Guru3D recommends 750W, AMD recommends 750W, and that's what makes sense to me as well.

Can I ask you why you're considering a 6990; how much would you be paying for it? What resolution do you game at and what is your current graphics card?

 

[pazzo]

So what are you saying? Do you want me to tell you your PSU is enough for 6990, and you won't accept any other answer?

I'm telling you, it's not a good idea to run 6990 off of a 550W unit. You're looking at over 80 percent power consumption in games, and games don't even stress your system to the max. As a rule of thumb you shouldn't cross 80 percent with your system stressed to the max. Running a PSU at such high stress for long periods of time will wear it out faster.

Guru3D recommends 750W, AMD recommends 750W, and that's what makes sense to me as well.

Can I ask you why you're considering a 6990; how much would you be paying for it? What resolution do you game at and what is your current graphics card?

No, by all means; I just wanted to see wether those numbers would change your conclusion. I know it would be totally on the limit or over. The reason why I'm looking at a 6990 is bcuz I've got an awesome offer on it, like HD7870 price and the performance is insane.

 

[dualsmp]

At 491w (AC) your looking at ~430w (DC) which the TX550 Corsair should handle.

 

[lehtv]

That still only shows you the power consumption in a particular game. If you add to that higher CPU load than what you see in Crysis - for example, 64-player Battlefield 3 at Ultra settings - you'd see even higher power consumption. I don't deny that it would work, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

If you game on 1080p and you can get the 6990 for the same price as 7870, I would honestly prefer 7870. It gives you very good 1080p performance and it will consume a hell of a lot less power and produce a lot less noise and heat. This is pretty telling: http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph4209/35821.png

In addition you're pretty much guaranteed crossfire driver issues at one point or another with the 6990. And you'd get warranty on a new card.

 

[TemjinGold]

I don't deny that it would work, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

As the OP was asking if it would work, that answers the question. At 430w DC for Crysis load, his PSU still has another 120w of DC headroom before getting to rated capacity, which Corsairs are fine at. He's not OCing at all, so I seriously doubt another game will all of a sudden bridge that many watts.

 

[lehtv]

That's where we disagree. I don't think it's fine to run a PSU at rated capacity or near there, even if it would "work" and even if it's a Corsair. It stresses the PSU so much.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

I wouldnt risk it.
Get more watts.

 

[Fire&Blood]

While it's true that recommendations are often slightly exaggerated, in this case, you would either get annoyed with the computer shutting down during games or kill that power supply quickly, maybe even within a week or two. My power supply (520W, 48A on the 12V rail) has two 8 pin connectors yet I would avoid GPU's with that kind of power draw. That being said, you don't absolutely have to get a 750W PS, a Seasonic or Enermax power supply with >50A on the 12V rail will do the job.

 

[BFG10K]

That unit is rated for full power at 50C and has a five year warranty. I think it can handle a 6990. I probably wouldn’t flip the card’s overclocking switch though.

 

[TemjinGold]

OP: I think it comes down to this: That PSU will work and will work fine if you don't OC anything. If you have the money, a bigger PSU isn't a terrible thing but if money is tight, honestly, it should work fine.

 

[Charlie98]

OP: I think it comes down to this: That PSU will work and will work fine if you don't OC anything. If you have the money, a bigger PSU isn't a terrible thing but if money is tight, honestly, it should work fine.

Would it really break the bank to just go to a 650w and be done with it?

 

[airdata]

If it does work, I'd think you may be stressing out the psu. The graphic posted above shows the 6990 using 490w under load.

 

[Stayfr0sty]

Would it really break the bank to just go to a 650w and be done with it?

650 should be fine, in fact thats what I think AMD recommends as min requierment for that card.

Make sure you get something with the right amps on 12v line.

Dual GPU cards need lotsa amps.