I'm told I need to upgrade my PSU

[Kevie]

Please read the entire post.


A few months ago? I got a GTX 460 SE video card. Not knowing that I should have upgraded my PSU if I was going to get something like that. My PSU is several years old. As far as I know it's only 300w. Recently I found out that there's a chance it could blow. So I feel I need a new PSU, probably around 500w.

Here is the catch. I'm currently saving my money for a new system probably in the $1000-1200 range and planned to purchase later in the year once I know more about the BF3 specs. So it would set me back if I were to buy a lower watt PSU and then have to upgrade it in a few months.

Would it be possible for me to buy a higher watt PSU now so I don't have to later when I upgrade? If so I'm looking for something that will last me for a while, and maybe allow me to sli/crossfire higher end cards down the road. Something future proof.

What I have my eye on now is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-139-011&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=4#scrollFullInfo

Sure it may be overkill for a GTX 460se but I'll probably be upgrading to something higher especially if I want to run higher/max settings on BF3, and possibly using dual cards if I choose to go that route in the future.

Any suggestions? Is there a problem using a 850w PSU with a single GTX 460se?

My PSU is only a AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+ 2.01Ghz

Thanks!

[naadra]

Well 850 watts is a lot, unless the new system you are going to be getting later is going to have two powerful GPUs, I would suggest getting a quality 500-650 watt power supply for a single GPU I5 setup depending on if you are keeping the 460 or upgrading to a more powerful graphics card. Do you plan on building the new system with the 460 or something else?

[taekvideo]

I doubt you need to upgrade your psu for your current computer... but doesn't really matter, having too high of a wattage psu doesn't hurt.

[naadra]

Minimum PSU Wattage: 329 W Recommended PSU Wattage: *

This is the typical power usage at 90 percent load with a I5 system with a GTX 460 video card. This is the power usage is for the entire system under load. SO if you are going to be keeping the same card I would buy a quality 450-500 watt psu. If you are going to be getting a more powerful GPU like a 560ti for example with a I5 processor

Minimum PSU Wattage: 346 W Recommended PSU Wattage: *

So I would probably get a nice quality 500 watt 80+certified power supply, corsair, seasonic, antec etc

[Kevie]

Well 850 watts is a lot, unless the new system you are going to be getting later is going to have two powerful GPUs, I would suggest getting a quality 500-650 watt power supply for a single GPU I5 setup depending on if you are keeping the 460 or upgrading to a more powerful graphics card. Do you plan on building the new system with the 460 or something else?

I will probably be upgrading the graphic card. Not sure as to what but probably what ever gets the most bang for my buck and fits in with my prices range for my new system. My reason for wanting a higher watt PSU for something like the following..

Say I find that a GTX 570 or 580 (I'm not an expert on AMD) is the best bang for my buck. So I go with that, a year down the road games now require a even higher video card to max. So now I just can SLI my old card with a second card, rather then needing to buy a new video card and a higher wattage PSU.

Is this not a good idea? Am I missing something?


Edit: As far as processor goes when I upgrade I'm thinking about the i5-2500k. Also my monitor is only 1280 x 1024 maximum resolution, not sure when/if I'll upgrade that.

[Musta Kyy]

There is no problem using a PSU that can deliver more than you need, because your system will take the amount it needs, nothing more, even if the PSU could give a lot more.
And another point, usually PSUs are most efficient around 60-70% load, so it is good that there is some headroom.

If you are going for SLI in your future build, you could take the 850W, but if not, you should take 500-600W, I prefer corsair ^^

[naadra]

Well if you did SLI with the 460s it would be

Minimum PSU Wattage: 437 W Recommended PSU Wattage: *

If you went with a 580 and a I5 I would go with at least 650 watt, but you would need to look at the individual card itself for recommended wattage.

About the SLI thing that is not a bad idea at all. considering most 580s cost around 500 or so dollars SLI on the 460s may be a good way to go, esp with a max budget of 1200 dollars. buying another 460 would leave you a lot of room for some very nice quality components. Remember you can always upgrade video cards anytime you want, but having a nice quality base system is a good thing too.

Edit: just to make sure you know in order to SLI with nvidia cards you have to have the same model cards cant mix them like AMD cards so have to have two 460s cant do a 570 and a 460 for example, where with ATI you can use the same series so any 69xx card will work with the other one in crossfire

[Kevie]

Edit: just to make sure you know in order to SLI with nvidia cards you have to have the same model cards cant mix them like AMD cards so have to have two 460s cant do a 570 and a 460 for example, where with ATI you can use the same series so any 69xx card will work with the other one in crossfire

I think my GTX 460 is a GTX 460 SE. Which is worse then the regular one I've read. So I'm thinking of replacing just not sure with what. Been waiting for more info about Battlefield 3 specs. I don't think 2x GTX 460 SE's are better than a 580.

How long do you think a 650w would last me? By that I mean through graphical upgrades over the year(s). My main reason for going with a 850w is because I figured I would get more life out of it, able to sli/crossfire higher end cards when the one I get is out of date, not having to upgrade nearly as quick, etc. Thus saving more money in the long run.

[naadra]

Na they are not better then a GTX 580, but they are a lot cheaper then a 580 lol. With BF3 no one is sure of course but I am sure that any mid-high range card is going to run it without issue. So if you have something around a 560ti I do not think you are going to have any problems really.

[Kevie]

Na they are not better then a GTX 580, but they are a lot cheaper then a 580 lol. With BF3 no one is sure of course but I am sure that any mid-high range card is going to run it without issue. So if you have something around a 560ti I do not think you are going to have any problems really.

Not sure if you posted before you read what I edited onto the last part onto my post. Any suggestions? I feel I need to get the PSU soon so that my computer doesnt malfunction or blow. But torn if I should get the 850 or the 650 because I'd rather not have to buy another one by the end of the year.

Also I'm looking to run BF3 on high/max settings.

[naadra]

well a 1.5 gig GTX 580 under load is about 363 watts itself, if it were me personally, I would get 750 watt psu for a GTX 580 and system, You can go overkill if you like and get a 850 watt at the same price because of the rebate. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139022 $120 with rebate where the 750 watt version is $129. It also depends on everything else you are going to get with your new system too. If it was my system and I had a simple setup with a overclocked I5 and the GTX 580 I would go with a 750 myself but would end up buying the 850 because its cheaper. If you feel you wont be getting a 580 and more like a mid-highrange card I would get something like a 650. Just my opinion though ultimately it is up to you and what else you are going to be putting in your system down the road.

[Uggorthaholy]

If you plan SLi with higher GPUs than 460s (maybe 580s, or some future gen card, I would honestly recommend

this PSU

Modular is nice for cable management, and it has more than enough juice to keep you mentally confident that your PSU can handle what you are throwing at it.

[Kevie]

I see that card has some neg reviews on it (@naadra). Why is it so much cheaper then the one I linked earlier?

[naadra]

I dont think there is an item on newegg that doesnt have a negative review on it lol. have to remember people usually do not leave comments unless they are mad. I would say a good majority of people do not leave feedback when they are happy lol. The negative reviews are from people who got one DOA. The one i linked is cheaper because the one you had linked is a modular one.


EDIT: its a power supply I linked not a card

---------- Post added 2011-07-27 at 01:08 AM ----------

That power supply he linked above is a nice modular one, but if you are even thinking about sli 580s you need more then the 750 watt one just fyi.

[Uggorthaholy]

I see that card has some neg reviews on it (@naadra). Why is it so much cheaper then the one I linked earlier?

The one you linked is modular, Naadra's is not.
The one you linked has MORE negative reviews than the one Naadra linked.

---------- Post added 2011-07-27 at 01:09 AM ----------

That power supply he linked above is a nice modular one, but if you are even thinking about sli 580s you need more then the 750 watt one just fyi.

Indeed - the 750 will do nice for everything up to a single 590 as far as I recall reading watt recommendations. If you plan on going SLi 580s you should probably be looking at 900-1000 watt.

[Kevie]

Sorry didn't mean to say card.


Appreciate your guys help. I'm looking at either 750 or 850 right now. I don't think I'd sli 580's anytime in the forseeable future because I doubt I can justify spending $1000 on video cards alone. Is it worth it to just get the 850 since it's cheaper even if I don't ever fully use it? Not sure how much better modular are.

Also naadra I see you have the same exact 850w PSU that your recommending. How long have you had it and how has your experience been with it?

[naadra]

What I would do in your position would be just purchase a 750 watt ( well 850 if its cheaper or same price ) and be done with it. That is a good enough power supply that will handle most avg crossire sli cards and you need a power supply now. So get a good 750 with at least 4 6+2 pin PCIe power lines and a single 12v rail just in case you decide to run two graphics cards later when you upgrade. most people do not go as far as sli 580s because of the cost and with your budget there is no way you could anyways. Two 580s will run over $1000 alone. So get the 750 that is enough to sli 560tis or 6950s etc. If you decide you are not going to, no biggie you will need at least 500-600 watts normally for most I5 setups anyways.

[Uggorthaholy]

Modular is very nice for cable management. Better cable management means better air flow, and a much nicer looking interior of your case. I wish I had gone modular, to be completely honest.

[Kevie]

@naadra Sorry a little thrown because you keep saying 750w. But at the beginning you said get the 850 if its cheaper/
@ugg I doubt anyone's going to see my interior and even if they did it doesn't matter to me that much. Not sure if how important the airflow is or if its a significant difference.

Are we agreed http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139022 is best? or should I go with a modular 750?

[naadra]

750 watts is what would be ideal for your future upgrade if you had two midrange cards you were going to be crossfiring or using SLI with. Purchase a 850 watt one if you can get it at the same price or for less the the 750 watt one. If a more powerful psu is cheaper or same price it would make sense just to buy it. Nothing wrong with getting more power for free heh.