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How many watts does overclocking add?

S

superfly27

Senior member
I was looking at a PSU calculator and couldn't make the overclock estimator work. How many watts does it typically add when you overclock?
 
Depends on the overclock and processor.

3000+ Venice for example. They are rated at what? 65w? Top of line is 3800+, which is 2.4ghz. A good overclocking 3000+ hits 2.8ghz @ 1.55v from a default 1.4v...

So assuming my guess at their TDP was right...

65*(1.55/1.4)^2*(2.8/2.4)=TDP

So about 25-30watts in this case.
 
Good grief.

Now it makes it kind of hard for me to believe that some people need 500 watts or more.

I have a...
regular PATA hard drive
DVD burner
floppy drive
and I just ordered...
Athlon 3400+
X700 Pro
1x512 MB RAM
three 80 mmLED case fans
one 120 mm fan

I figure who knows? I might be able to overclock my CPU and still have room for a Geforce 8. I only have a 420 watt Enermax noisetaker. But, I think with that new stuff I ordered, I might only hit 300 watts max.

 
No one needs 500watts per se, but rather, they need the 12v rail that comes with those 500w power supplies. Also, it's good practice not to have your PSU running at its max 24/7. About wattage: that depends on BOTH clockspeed and voltage. Voltage bumps tend to increase the power usage significantly but at high clockspeeds A64s leak like an open faucet. The best way to know is to measure it directly using either an ammeter or using one of those kill-a-watt things and extrapolating...
 
So it looks like my 1.35v 4400+ X2 is based at 110watt and oc'd to 156watts....that would be a factor of 1.41...
 
Let me jump into this.....

Albeit I will post as the devil`s advocate...

Before my wifes PSU went out we both were using the OKIA(generic brand) 420......
The 12v rail was rated at 18A!!!

I had been overclcoking for a few years using whatever PSU came with the Case I bought!!
I had my system O/C`d all the way up to 3.8 from 3.0 p4!!
Using the OKIA with no problems whatsoever!!
Memory was also O/C`d I didn`t need to lower anything to make my system stable!!

Well the wifes PSU went out on here system so I swapt hers for mine and I ordered myself a new PSU!!

My point is simple--- At the time I had no clue that I should have a good PSU becuase I was having no issues with the generic brand!!
Do I feel better having a "name brand" PSU?
Well becuase I was having no issues its sort of apples and apples.....
Some people learn the hard way...
Others are just well lets say fortunate they never had any issues!!

The bottom line is.....
People say this and people say that about you need such and such.....or don`t use that brand they have been known....
Well in the end its your decision and I for one don`t believe 1/2 of what I am told by so called people who know!

Yet there are a few who every chance I get I read what they post becuase there is no BS posted in there posts!!
Its all first hand knowledge!!


Anyways good luck!!
 
Here's my first hand knowledge. My brother had a system running 2 hard drives, 2 optical drives and a Geforce4 video card. And he had a 185 watt psu. Then his computer died. We tried everything we knew to fix it but... anyway, he has a new computer now.
 
Originally posted by: monster64
Thats fine. Dual rail psus aren't great for overclocking, but if its nothing extreme (>20%) it should be fine.
Click to expand...



What in the who now? Hmm My two 2.83ghz venices, my 2.85ghz SD, anmy 2.8ghz dothan might take exception to that statement.
 
Thats fine. Dual rail psus aren't great for overclocking, but if its nothing extreme (>20%) it should be fine.
Click to expand...

I prefer a dual rail for overclocking. Splitting the rails can actually be more stable, if they are both powerfull rails, like 18A each.

Dual rail has a bad name because its an easy method for making cheap psus with a higher 12v amp rating, where a single 12v rail will be to weak to support a heavy load.
 
Originally posted by: Vanden
Thats fine. Dual rail psus aren't great for overclocking, but if its nothing extreme (>20%) it should be fine.
Click to expand...

I prefer a dual rail for overclocking. Splitting the rails can actually be more stable, if they are both powerfull rails, like 18A each.

Dual rail has a bad name because its an easy method for making cheap psus with a higher 12v amp rating, where a single 12v rail will be to weak to support a heavy load.
Click to expand...

Actully dual rails don`t have a bad name!!
What I find is there is NO absolute proof to back up the claims of or the supposed advantages of having a dual rail PSU!!!

key words are-- "absolute proof".....

I would bet there are applications where dual rails are advantageous but then there are also applications where dual rails are not even needed.
 
Well, if I ordered a 3400+ 2.4 GHz and get a Geforce 8 later next year and I want to overclock my CPU, how can I tell it's not ideal? Will it start to smoke or something? Or just go Nova on me and burn out my hardware?
Anyway, it's a 420 watt Enermax with dual 18 A 12v rails.
 
I've an Enermax EG465P-VE, rated 430W. I dumped all the numbers and it came up 330+W. My specs are in sig. Prior to the upgrade, I was considering unloading my SCSI optical drives from the setup. Glad I made that decision, as it'd be cutting it close to the 430W. While I haven't the time to research the amperage on every devices I have to determine if it'll work or fry, it ran my previous setup seemingly fine, albeit it was an Athlon XP "2700+". I take no chances since I have already asked around about my PSU and whether or not it'll handle my CPU. If you want to be safe, buy a good quality PSU (brand name if you want). Or take a chance and go with a high-wattage generic. Either way, I think it's best and safe to have decent headroom (say 20-50W) to allow for possible upgrades. But don't take my word for it. I'm not an electrician. 🙂
 
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