What power supply to run GTX 295?

[garritynet]

Ok, so I am in the middle of my trade up from a BFG 9800GTX to a GTX 295. I am using a Antec Neo Power 550 at the moment and I have no doubt that this PSU will be insufficient for the new video card.

I also plan to up grade to a PhII 940 in the next few weeks. I use a SFF case so I would prefer a modular cabling system because there are no places to put the extra cables.

What PSU for under $150 should I run my system off of?

 

[theAnimal]

Silverstone ST60F

 

[yh125d]

Why shouldn't the neopower be enough?

 

[garritynet]

Well Nvidia suggest a minimum 680 watt PSU and according the the benchmarks the 295 draws just under 500 watts full load.

 

[yh125d]

Originally posted by: garritynet
Well Nvidia suggest a minimum 680 watt PSU and according the the benchmarks the 295 draws just under 500 watts full load.

GTX295 doesn't pull anywhere near 500w.

Here's a review where a GTX295, matched with a QX9650/790i rig pulling 429w full load

 

[yh125d]

And another GTX295 review pulling under 450w, this ones with an i7 even

An i7/GTX295 review pulling 329w load although that seems low. They may have measured poorly, or not been under full load

 

[garritynet]

dude! your totally right! I don't know what I thought I saw when I looked at some of those charts but I guess my Antec 550 will be fine?

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: garritynet
I guess my Antec 550 will be fine?

Maybe. You'll need to use two adaptors to power a GTX 295, a two 6 pin to one 8 pin PCIe adapter and a two molex to one 6 pin PCIe adapter.

The Phenom II 940... that a 125W chip?

I'd say hope for the best (that it works) and prepare for the worst (set aside a couple bucks for a new PSU but don't buy it unless you have to).

 

[garritynet]

Well I could always just disable one of the GPUs until I get the money for a replacement PSU if it doesn't have enough juice.

 

[yh125d]

Considering overclocked i7/GTX295 rigs are pulling under 450w full load, you're not going to get near 550w. You will have to use the adapters though.

 

[garritynet]

Well I just ordered an additional 6-pin PCI-E adapter from Antec so that should keep my case a little cleaner.