Question of Wattage!

awppsu

Member
May 29, 2011
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I am building a new PC now and I just got to the powersupply. I was going to go with a Thermaltake but after reading reviews I decided to steer clear.

I had someone who seemed to really know their stuff tell me to try out Antec.

I'm currently looking at a...

Antec EarthWatts 650w Extra Quiet ATX Power Supply SLI & X-fire ready

One question I have though is that in the description listed here: http://www.magicmicro.com/description.asp?iid=2038

It says it has

"Two PCI-E connectors for PCI-Express video cards on 550W and 650W models, one connector on 430W model"

My current card is a GTX 560 Ti which says it needs a minimum of 500W, should I be worried about what the Power Supply itself said about the connectors?

Also if I could get general opinions on that power supply Id appreciate it!
 

theAnimal

Diamond Member
Mar 18, 2003
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The Earthwatts is a good quality PSU. 650W is probably a bit of overkill unless you're going for extreme overclocking.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,261
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The video card itself isn't going to draw 500 watts. That's just a recommendation for the entire system. They ARE a bit power hungry, so I'd stick with at least a 600 watt unit.

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awppsu

Member
May 29, 2011
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So since its "overkill" should I downgrade to the 500W version?

I do want to leave the option open to do SLI, shouldn't I get a higher wattage to leave that option open.
 

stahlhart

Super Moderator Graphics Cards
Dec 21, 2010
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I'd go with the 550W unit -- it will have the necessary PCIe power connectors for the 560Ti, and you more than likely won't exceed that rating in normal usage.

I've got 560s in SLI, and the most I've managed to pull at the wall in a stress test (measured with a Kill-A-Watt) is about 600W.

It doesn't look like these Antecs actually support SLI or Crossfire, though, in spite of the product description, as there doesn't appear to be enough PCIe plugs for more than one GPU (at least GPUs that require two), even with the 650W unit. But if you're just going to run one you should be all set.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
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just think ur psu is prob going to last longer and save power with around 50-60% watt.. Some are diff earthwatts is def not my fav brand of psu tho id get seasonic or corsair anyday and antec if i was poor with no options.
 
Nov 26, 2005
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What is your budget?
What part of the efficiency curve do you want to hit?
Are you ok with running your system at over 50% or > load while gaming?
Consider regulation and great ripple suppression (clean power)

The trend I am seeing with GPUs is that they are requiring more and more juice, to loosely state. Keep that in mind for the future. You mention dual GPUs but what GPUs will you have in the future while you still have a 500w PSU. Let me just make a small point, you can run 2 5770s and game Crysis (similar GPU power drawl as Furmark) with a 5-600w PSU, but you can't run dual GTX 480s and play Crysis. But you probably could run solitaire and I'm not being funny. Running dual 6950s (1Gb cards) and Crysis will max out a 600w rated PSU. My point with Solitaire is not all games draw that much GPU power and Crysis is most power hungry of them all. You can get a good idea just by reading Furmark power drawl card benches. The only thing you loose by going with a big PSU is the low-load or idle efficiency but at the same time you loose the overhead clearance to opt for dual GPU by going with a lower max PSU like a 500w.
 
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dma0991

Platinum Member
Mar 17, 2011
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500W for a single GTX560 Ti and 600-650W for a dual SLI GTX560 Ti configuration. If you're just using a single GTX560 Ti don't worry too much as a 500W PSU would have 2 PCIE power connector to support the card. Only get something that is higher than 500W if you intend to do a SLI in the future with the same card.
 

awppsu

Member
May 29, 2011
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Thanks a lot for all the help guys.

Pretty much what I'm getting is that when deciding on my PSU I should base it on my GPU?

My GPU + the rest of my computer won't overwhelm the 500W?
 

awppsu

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May 29, 2011
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Do you want to leave the option open to do SLI or X-Fire in the future?

I do, but the site I use magicmicro.com seems to hate having power supplies that actually support SLI/X-Fire when their name says they do. The next 'price range' of Power Supplies that actually have enough connectors for SLI/X-Fire are ThermalTake and from what I hear that aren't as good as Antec. So personally I think I am going to stick with the 500W with a single 560 ti and if I ever decide I really want to upgrade to SLI/X-Fire I'll buy a new PSU to support it.

Or is ThermalTake not that bad?
 

awppsu

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May 29, 2011
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Do not get a ThermalTake PSU

Just curious, what is your price-range?


Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz Quad Core 6000K
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 Vertical, 3 Copper Heat Pipes, Extra Quiet CPU fan
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3- B3, P67, Cross Fire, SATA3, USB3.0, GB LAN
4GB (2x2GB) PC12800 DDR3 1600 Dual Channel
500.0GB Western Digital 7200RPM SATA3 6GB/s 16m cache
Realtek HD digital audio (onboard)
Wireless 802.11 N 150MBs Network Card PCI
Antec Three Hundred Black Case, front USB
Antec EarthWatts 500w Extra Quiet ATX Power Supply SLI & X-fire ready
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit DVD

That is my current build, running me at 873 dollars. With shipping it will kick me up to 900 or so, which is pretty much my price cap.
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,181
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A single card solution is a better way to go. Just get a PSU that is capable of running a GTX 580 and you'll have no worries
 

awppsu

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May 29, 2011
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A single card solution is a better way to go. Just get a PSU that is capable of running a GTX 580 and you'll have no worries

580 the one that is pretty much two cards in one right? or am I thinking of the 590?

Anyways, what kinda Wattage does a 580 need?
 

fffblackmage

Platinum Member
Dec 28, 2007
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I believe you're thinking of the GTX 590.

A good 500W PSU is enough for the GTX 580, but anything in the range of 500-600W would be fine.
 
Nov 26, 2005
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The 590 has dual GPUs on a single card slot.

Judging from what the graph says, a GTX 580 is pulling 490w (probably total system power from wall) so a 500w psu running something like Crysis would be pushing the max for the PSU. I'm not trying to tell you to get a larger PSU, I am just trying to make you understand how your system would possibly be loaded under a systems config with a GTX 580. If I build a gaming machine, I leave all options open so I'll get the components that will offer multiple GPUs support. For something like a 580 and a game like Crysis and sticking with a single GPU solution a 650 would be a smarter route to go. But again this is ensuring something that may never happen. I tried Crysis and didn't like it. All I play is Unreal Tournament III and I draw anywhere from 250-375w I use a wattage reader sorta like Kill-A-Watt. And this is going by rig 2 in sig. So my Enermax Revo 950 is way overkill but if I ever want dual GPUs i won't be pushing the PSU at close to full load.
 

awppsu

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May 29, 2011
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The 590 has dual GPUs on a single card slot.

Judging from what the graph says, a GTX 580 is pulling 490w (probably total system power from wall) so a 500w psu running something like Crysis would be pushing the max for the PSU. I'm not trying to tell you to get a larger PSU, I am just trying to make you understand how your system would possibly be loaded under a systems config with a GTX 580. If I build a gaming machine, I leave all options open so I'll get the components that will offer multiple GPUs support. For something like a 580 and a game like Crysis and sticking with a single GPU solution a 650 would be a smarter route to go. But again this is ensuring something that may never happen. I tried Crysis and didn't like it. All I play is Unreal Tournament III and I draw anywhere from 250-375w I use a wattage reader sorta like Kill-A-Watt. And this is going by rig 2 in sig. So my Enermax Revo 950 is way overkill but if I ever want dual GPUs i won't be pushing the PSU at close to full load.

The game I'm really enjoying now is Witcher 2, which is pretty heavy on the graphics and I wouldn't be surprised if it drew as much power as Crysis.
 

TemjinGold

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2006
3,050
65
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Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz Quad Core 6000K
Coolermaster Hyper TX3 Vertical, 3 Copper Heat Pipes, Extra Quiet CPU fan
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3- B3, P67, Cross Fire, SATA3, USB3.0, GB LAN
4GB (2x2GB) PC12800 DDR3 1600 Dual Channel
500.0GB Western Digital 7200RPM SATA3 6GB/s 16m cache
Realtek HD digital audio (onboard)
Wireless 802.11 N 150MBs Network Card PCI
Antec Three Hundred Black Case, front USB
Antec EarthWatts 500w Extra Quiet ATX Power Supply SLI & X-fire ready
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit DVD

That is my current build, running me at 873 dollars. With shipping it will kick me up to 900 or so, which is pretty much my price cap.

Are you planning some extreme OCing? If not and your budget is an issue, I would honestly nix that aftermarket CPU cooler because the stock cooler isn't bad at all. Your money would be better spent on either a bigger HD (they will be faster) or a higher quality PSU (though there's nothing terrible about the Antec.)
 

awppsu

Member
May 29, 2011
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Are you planning some extreme OCing? If not and your budget is an issue, I would honestly nix that aftermarket CPU cooler because the stock cooler isn't bad at all. Your money would be better spent on either a bigger HD (they will be faster) or a higher quality PSU (though there's nothing terrible about the Antec.)

I do plan to OC which is why I bought the aftermarket CPU cooler. From the reviews I've read of the K series i5s it didn't seem like you need an intense cooler for Overclocking but I want to get more then the default.

As for higher quality my options are really Antec, ThermalTake, or Ultra. (Thats what the website I'm building this on offers.)

I actually freed up about 119 dollars by dropping the OS, as I'm getting for free from a friend, so I jumped the Antec up to a 650W version, and changed the case to a HAF-912.
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,261
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Not sure why you use that site...it sucks.

Anyway, if I was putting together your build from that site, these are the PSUs I'd choose from:

http://magicmicro.com/pmoreinfo.asp?iid=3503

http://magicmicro.com/pmoreinfo.asp?iid=3506

FWIW, Newegg has the Antec for $89:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

They have a good 650 watt Corsair for $79 (after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139020

Here's a 650 watt XFX unit for $89:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207014

and a 620 watt Seasonic unit for $86:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151096

(Seasonic is the manufacturer of all or nearly all of the above power supplies before they're rebranded)
 

awppsu

Member
May 29, 2011
58
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Not sure why you use that site...it sucks.

Anyway, if I was putting together your build from that site, these are the PSUs I'd choose from:

http://magicmicro.com/pmoreinfo.asp?iid=3503

http://magicmicro.com/pmoreinfo.asp?iid=3506

FWIW, Newegg has the Antec for $89:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371015

They have a good 650 watt Corsair for $79 (after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139020

Here's a 650 watt XFX unit for $89:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817207014

and a 620 watt Seasonic unit for $86:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151096

(Seasonic is the manufacturer of all or nearly all of the above power supplies before they're rebranded)

Does the website itself suck or the company? ;P

Personally I'm using the site because I don't feel experienced enough to reliably install a Motherboard, power supply and CPU and I know if you install those wrong it can horribly mess everything up.