Power Recommendations by Video Card

[ceewi1]

This list is a consolidation of official, manufacturer supplied power requirements for PCs by video card. It is intended as a first resource when choosing an appropriate PSU for a system or video card upgrade (or choosing a video card that will work with your current PSU).

Keep in mind that these figures are based on a typical gaming system including the specified video card. Users with multiprocessor systems, large RAID arrays, or other power sucking devices will need to use a larger PSU than is specified here.

Figures in blue are those which I have extrapolated, due to manufacturer data being unavailable. If anyone has any additions or corrections please post/PM me. I will endeavour to keep this list updated as new cards are released. Be aware that some manufacturers specify different requirements for the same card. In this case I've taken a little licence when choosing the figure to use.

ATI Multiple Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
HD 4870 Crossfire....................600W .........................44A
HD 4850 Crossfire....................550W .........................42A
HD 3870X2 Crossfire.................750W .........................60A
HD 3870 Crossfire....................550W .........................42A
HD 3850 Crossfire....................550W .........................42A
HD 2900XT Crossfire................750W .........................60A
HD 2900GT Crossfire................550W .........................40A
HD 2600XT Crossfire................550W .........................30A
X1950 - All Models Crossfire......550W .........................38A
X1900GT Crossfire...................550W .........................38A
X1800 - All Models Crossfire......550W .........................38A


ATI Single Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
HD 4870................................500W .........................34A
HD 4850................................450W .........................30A
HD 3870X2.............................550W .........................34A
HD 3870................................450W .........................26A
HD 3850................................450W .........................26A
HD 2900XT............................550W .........................34A
HD 2900GT............................450W .........................30A
HD 2600XT............................400W .........................22A
HD 2600Pro...........................400W .........................20A
HD 2400Pro...........................300W .........................18A
X1950 - All Models..................450W .........................30A
X1900GT...............................400W .........................25A
X1900 CF Edition....................450W .........................30A
AIW X1900............................450W .........................30A
X1800 - All Models..................450W .........................30A
X1650 - All Models..................350W .........................20A
X1300 - All Models..................350W .........................18A


nVidia Multiple Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
7600GS SLI............................400W .........................20A
7600GT SLI............................400W .........................24A
7800GT SLI............................450W .........................26A
7900GS SLI............................500W .........................28A
7950GT SLI............................500W .........................28A
7800GTX SLI..........................500W .........................34A
8500GT SLI............................400W .........................22A
8600GT SLI............................400W .........................22A
8600GTS SLI..........................450W .........................24A
8800GTS SLI..........................650W .........................52A
8800GT SLI............................600W .........................48A
8800GTX SLI..........................700W .........................56A
8800Ultra SLI.........................750W .........................60A
9600GT SLI............................450W .........................28A


nVidia Single Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
6200LE..................................250W .........................18A
7100GS.................................250W .........................18A
7300GS.................................300W .........................18A
7300LE..................................350W .........................18A
7300GT.................................350W .........................18A
7600GS.................................350W .........................18A
7600GT.................................350W .........................18A
7800GS.................................350W .........................20A
7800GT.................................350W .........................20A
7900GS.................................350W .........................20A
7950GT.................................350W .........................22A
7800GTX...............................400W .........................26A
8400GS.................................300W .........................20A
8500GT.................................300W .........................18A
8600GT.................................300W .........................20A
8600GTS...............................350W .........................18A
8800GTS...............................400W .........................28A
8800GS.................................450W .........................30A
8800GT.................................400W .........................26A
8800GTX...............................450W .........................30A
8800Ultra..............................500W .........................34A
9400GT.................................300W .........................18A
9500GT.................................350W .........................20A
9600GSO...............................400W .........................26A
9600GT.................................400W .........................26A
9800GT.................................400W .........................26A
9800GTX...............................450W .........................30A
9800GX2...............................580W .........................40A
GTX 260................................500W .........................36A
GTX 280................................550W .........................40A

Other lowend/Integrated..........250W .........................18A

 

[ceewi1]

Reserved, in case this list grows.

 

[butter]

this is very helpful and is SO easy to comprehend!! thanks a lot!!

 

[oscaryu1]

Agreed. very good, except that where are the Nvidia LE cards? Maybe you should go back a bit... um... Geforce2 lol jk

 

[ceewi1]

Thanks guys. 7300LE added. Significantly older cards like GeForce 2s typically have very low power consumption by modern standards and would fall into the Other lowend/Integrated category. I haven't gone back as far as most of the 6 series mainly because official figures for them aren't as readily available.

 

[INTELCRAZY]

Could you add the new 2600GT to the list?

 

[ceewi1]

2900GT added. I'm not aware of a 2600GT, though?

 

[oscaryu1]

One question Ceewi1, I had an 250W with 15A running my sig. In the middle of getting into the Warthog in Halo, our power went out. I heard an *sss* in the PSU... power came up 2 seconds later... ?!?! What happened? I don't get it? An few days later with another PSU (low end too) it did the same thing!?

 

[oscaryu1]

2900GT added. I'm not aware of a 2600GT, though?

There isn't one

 

[ceewi1]

One question Ceewi1, I had an 250W with 15A running my sig. In the middle of getting into the Warthog in Halo, our power went out. I heard an *sss* in the PSU... power came up 2 seconds later... ?!?! What happened? I don't get it? An few days later with another PSU (low end too) it did the same thing!?

AC power failure? Did everything else lose power as well? Or did the PC just reset?

HD3870 added
HD3850 added.

 

[Kesava]

im gonna get an 8800 gts or gt.

it says i need 26 amp on the 12v.

would only an expensive psu have that much?

cos i dont think the cheap antecs do...

 

[Kesava]

wait i just read another of your articles

there are two 12V entries each with 18A so we have a sumtotal of 36A available to the 12V rail.

so does that mean i should be fine with an antec earthwatts 500 watt psu?

it has +3.3V@24A,+5V@24A,+12V1@17A,+12V2@17A,[email protected], [email protected]

so i should have more then your reccomended amps right?

 

[ceewi1]

The Earthwatts 500W has a total of +12V@34A. That's sufficient power for either card. Great value as well, with the current rebate

 

[Kesava]

lol not in australia hahaha

thanks very much. i was worried for a bit.

 

[Kornowski]

This should be stickied!

 

[ceewi1]

It's listed in the Useful PSU and Case Guides sticky. I can't stick all the guides individually - it would take up too much room, and I couldn't think of a better way to organise them. Maybe post each guide within that thread? That would make discussing them difficult though. I'm open to any ideas.

 

[oscaryu1]

AC power failure? Did everything else lose power as well? Or did the PC just reset?

HD3870 added
HD3850 added.

Whoopsies. Didn't notice yuo responded. Yes, everything lost power. Ever computer, TV, ect. Now this happened 2 times

 

[ceewi1]

Whoopsies. Didn't notice yuo responded. Yes, everything lost power. Ever computer, TV, ect. Now this happened 2 times

I wouldn't really suspect your PSU, or even your computer to be at fault. More likely a very temporary loss of power to your home. Happens at least a couple of times each year over here

 

[oscaryu1]

Would you happen to have the X1550 power requirements? I'm wondering if this PSU:

Logisys 450W 20A will hold:

Celeron Conroe 420 1.6GHz (@ 2.13 )
Foxconn 946GZ7MA
Corsair Valueselect DDR2-667 2GB
Excelstor PATA100 2MB 80GB 2MB
Sony EIDE DVD Burner Dual Layer
MSI X1550 128MB Onboard 512MB Hypermemory
1x 80mm case fan
1.44MB 3 1/2" Floppy Drive

Personally, I think I'm running on the edge. What your opinion?

 

[ceewi1]

I don't have any official figures, but I suspect that the card would draw around 30-40W. Can't say I think much of those Logisys PSUs, but there's nothing particularly power hungry in your system. If it's claiming 450W, it's probably rated for 300W peak (that might even be on the label). If it can put out anything close to that it should be OK, but without any real upgrade room. Certainly not something I'd buy, though.