Will this PSU power this graphics card?

henry1001

Junior Member
Mar 11, 2012
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Hi, I just built my first computer last week which has:
Intel core i5 2400
As rock h61 motherboard
8gb of Kingston value ram
Samsung 160gb HD ( came out of an old computer will upgrade later)
Thermal take v4 black edition with 500w psu

So the graphics card I'm looking at is the gigabyte gtx 285, I'm on really tight budget for the graphics card and these can be picked up for $50 on eBay australia. So will this computer run with this psu- here are the specs:
http://www.thermaltake.com.au/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001615
3a681166-442f-c2f2.jpg


Thanks

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henry1001

Junior Member
Mar 11, 2012
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Okay cool the PSU calculator said I need 431w so hopefully it will work alright.

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Aug 13, 2008
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"total combined 12v output not exceed 23a" - that's 276 watts on the all important 12v rail. Thats no 500w psu...

I remember the 285 as a power hungry gpu. You need a psu with a bigger 12v and atleast 2x pcie cables. If you use a molex adapter, that psu will be at its absolute limits...
 

henry1001

Junior Member
Mar 11, 2012
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Okay so I can't use this PSU or I could but I might risk breaking something?

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henry1001

Junior Member
Mar 11, 2012
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typical gaming 12v1 draw: 16.1A
Startup 12v1 draw: 4A
Peak CPU 12v2 draw: 6A


3a680254-7da0-e9cf.jpg



Here are some of the other figures I got out of the calculator, don't know whether they are accurate or not though.

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HOOfan 1

Platinum Member
Sep 2, 2007
2,337
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Yeah I can see on the label

Total Power Output 400W

The 500W which they label it as is a Peak output. Some PSUs can only output the Peak power for a few seconds.

Not to mention if they are labeling it by Peak output, I would not put it past them to be rating it at 25C as well. The interior of your case is going to be in the 35C-40C range when you are taxing that GTX 285. There are plenty of PSUs with a derating curve of 10W lost for every 1C increase. That could put you down into the 30oW-350W range if that is the case.

I would say the PSU in your OP is not a safe bet for something like the GTX 285. It will probably run, but when you tax it hard, it might choke out.
 

Charlie98

Diamond Member
Nov 6, 2011
6,292
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"total combined 12v output not exceed 23a" - that's 276 watts on the all important 12v rail. Thats no 500w psu...

That's what I get for not reading the fine print. :$ That's crazy... 500w peak. I'll have to look at the specs on my PSU just to see what I have.
 

TemjinGold

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2006
3,050
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OP: Any PSU that only gives a peak power rating on the label with no temp mentioned is bad news...
 

thelastjuju

Senior member
Nov 6, 2011
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Don't skimp on the PSU.. especially when you remember that unlike the CPU and the GPU, we are talking about an investment really.

I got a nice Antec PSU 9 years ago, and it STILL works, three setup changes later! I cheaped out and went with a discounted, rebated OCZ power supply and it only lasted a little over 3 years..