Do I need a new PSU?

O

Osiris5217

New Member
Well, I plan to swap my current graphics card(a 9800GTX) for a 260 GTX. I want to know if I need a new psu, here's my current system specs.

550W PSU
Core 2 Duo E8400 (Stock clock)
One DVD-Drive
9800 GTX
Two sticks of 1 gb ram.
And an asus MOBO for about $180 (I forget which it is, I'll look it up soon.)
One 10,000 RPM HDD

Thanks.
 
To the OP, what PSU is that exactly. Model/brand etc. :) That's the only way to be sure.
 
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bigfellla said:
To the OP, what PSU is that exactly. Model/brand etc. :) That's the only way to be sure.
Click to expand...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...gle-_-Power+Supplies-_-Thermaltake-_-17153059

Here she blows, it has a combined 12v amperage of 33. The reason I'm worried about it is because I've read various readings on the 260's gtx power requirements, I.E. one website says it has 300W consumption while another says it peaks at 182. So, I'm not really sure what kind of amperage it takes.

Edit: And yeah, it runs my 9800GTX perfectly, I have it overclocked to 824/2000/1204
 
That PSU is not powerful enough. It is a quality unit that is correct, but you cannot simply add the 2 x 12V rails together. The 12V+1 rail here is dedicated to the CPU, isolating it from the rest of the system, leaving only 17A for the system. This is insufficient. You will need to upgrade your PSU regardless, I would suggest the 750W Corsair.
 
bigfellla said:
That PSU is not powerful enough. It is a quality unit that is correct, but you cannot simply add the 2 x 12V rails together. The 12V+1 rail here is dedicated to the CPU, isolating it from the rest of the system, leaving only 17A for the system. This is insufficient. You will need to upgrade your PSU regardless, I would suggest the 750W Corsair.
Click to expand...

How exactly have I been running my 9800gtx oc'd for months straight with just 17A? The 9800GTX has a minimum of 22A at stock clock.
 
You have been lucky because its a quality brand. Had you been running a Rosewill or something, you may have been less lucky. It is probably running at 100% capacity and pumping out a lot of heat.

Under ATX standards what i have described is what happens. You need a PSU with EPS cert, to behave in the manner you were thinking (ie. combined rails).

Either way, you need a better PSU>
 
bigfellla said:
You have been lucky because its a quality brand. Had you been running a Rosewill or something, you may have been less lucky. It is probably running at 100% capacity and pumping out a lot of heat.

Under ATX standards what i have described is what happens. You need a PSU with EPS cert, to behave in the manner you were thinking (ie. combined rails).

Either way, you need a better PSU>
Click to expand...

I've felt for heat out the back of it during load (crysis) and there's no excessive heat to be felt. In fact it stays pretty cool. Before I had my 9800GTX I had a 9600GT which has a minimum of 28A, I kept it for about four months. I haven't had problems for either so idk.

I'm not arguing or anything I'm just telling what I'm experiencing.
 
bigfellla said:
Its your call mate, but if you ask me, based on what the specs are it is insufficient.
Click to expand...

Well, if I were to get a new one would this one be good? My system specs are:
E8400 Stock clock
1 10,000RPM HDD
1 120MM Exhaust fan
2 Sticks of ram 1gb each
1 Disc drive
1 Floppy
And my mobo
Currently a 9800GTX will be updating to a 260gtx soon.
 
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No, definately not. Rosewill are horrible. That PSUs specs are very poor. You need a Corsair 620W or better for that intended system. Either way here are the characteristics of a PSU that will suit your needs:

ATX 2.2 and EPS 2.91 cert.
Active PFC
80+ efficiency
polymer capacitors
ball bearing fans
MTBF rated at 40oC not 25oC
26A on the 12V rail total (if EPS) or minus 12V+1 if not
5 year warranty
preferable single rail 12V.
 
bigfellla said:
No, definately not. Rosewill are horrible. That PSUs specs are very poor. You need a Corsair 620W or better for that intended system. Either way here are the characteristics of a PSU that will suit your needs:

ATX 2.2 and EPS 2.91 cert.
Active PFC
80+ efficiency
polymer capacitors
ball bearing fans
MTBF rated at 40oC not 25oC
26A on the 12V rail total (if EPS) or minus 12V+1 if not
5 year warranty
preferable single rail 12V.
Click to expand...

620W? My system tops out at 300ish watts. And I found out that the 9800GTX's tdp is 140ish Watts which would make my psu compatible. My psu could probably even handle a 260 as it tops out at 182W.
 
Wattage is not important. Its the PSU's ability to deliver the required amperage on the 12V rail, and unfortunately it cannot.
 
bigfellla said:
Wattage is not important. Its the PSU's ability to deliver the required amperage on the 12V rail, and unfortunately it cannot.
Click to expand...

It takes eleven amps to run my 9800GTX and it would take fifteen amps to run the GTX 260.

Edit: I think I've been misinterpreting the requirements on amperage, when it says 22Required I think it means 22A for your whole system on the 12V rails.
 
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A PCIe graphics card requires 26A on the 12V rail for the whole system. You need a new PSU, or risk losing hardware due to damage.

Under ATX 2.2 design standards, 12V2 is dedicated to the CPU, and is isolated meaning it cannot share capacity with the rest of the system. I would strongly recommend a new PSU of quality.
 
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