Do I have enough power for my machine?

Panda4cash · 30 Jan 2013

Hi everyone! I'm kind of concerned about my PSU and if its supplying enough power to my machine. I currently have a 460Watt PSU. Everything is running stable but I just wanna make sure my system is getting enough power.
Specs:
AMD Phenom ii x4 965 BE 3.4Ghz
12GB RAM
1TB HDD 5400 RPM
RADEON HD 6670 (400watt)
Windows 7 ultimate 64bit

Do I need an upgrade on a power supply or am I good with my 460W? I'm also planning on upgrading my graphics card to a gtx 660 which requires 450W. I don't know if I should stick with mine or get another. How much extra power do you need for your system?

Layback Bear · 30 Jan 2013

I would suggest moving to a better quality power supply like a Corsair or Seasonic. I have also read good things about Antec. Make sure they are 80 + Gold. Something in the 650W range. It gives you a smother current and volt plus room for your computer to grow. If possible a modular makes a very neat install and improves air flow. Once you have used a modular you won't go back to the old style.

kbrady1979 · 30 Jan 2013

Layback Bear said:

I would suggest moving to a better quality power supply like a Corsair or Seasonic. I have also read good things about Antec. Make sure they are 80 + Gold. Something in the 650W range. It gives you a smother current and volt plus room for your computer to grow. If possible a modular makes a very neat install and improves air flow. Once you have used a modular you won't go back to the old style.

100% correct. Here is one on sale with a $30 Promo code through 1/31. Corsair quality, semi-modular, 80+ Gold, 650 Watt.....should last you a long time meaning you can use this in your next build if you want. Best deal I've seen in quite a while. Looks to be about $89.99 with the promo code, and a $10 Corsair mail in rebate. That is a hell of a power supply for $79.99! Corsair HX 650

AddRAM · 31 Jan 2013

Power Supplies at TigerDirect.com

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...Sku=ULT-LSP750

Panda4cash · 31 Jan 2013

I do have a 600W laying around in my house. Is this a decent amount or so I need more? If I upgrade to the gtx 660, will te 600W supply more than enough power?

Erick Aguilar · 31 Jan 2013

It depends on the brand of the PSU. Some claim to have 800Watts, and they explode trying to feed an HD 6670

Dwarf · 31 Jan 2013

Very well said. It all depends on the brand and the quality of build. For example, the one that came with my case is a generic 500W unit that doesn't even have any indication of who the manufacturer is. It is also a very light unit, weighing in at pretty much the same weight as my keyboard. I certainly wouldn't feel happy running a system off that unit (not even one where everything was integrated on the motherboard and no add-on cards were used).

A quick guide to quality of PSUs is their comparative weight. Decent quality units, such as those from PC Power and Cooling, XFX, etc. (that are based on Seasonic), are much heavier than the non-branded generic units of supposedly the same rating. This is because better quality components are used, which will have a better life and are much more capable of sustaining the PSUs rated output. In fact, many cheap units are simply not able to maintain a sustained output of much more than half their rating.

For example, if I had a system that wasn't too power demanding, I would be far happier to run it off a decent quality 350W model than a cheap non-branded 500W model.

Cr00zng · 31 Jan 2013

Use the power supply calculator to find the wattage rating that you'll need:

eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

I find it ironic that the DIY crowed is talking about PSUs that have a rating of close to a thousand Watts and when you buy an OEM desktop, it'll have a 300W PSU. Even, the OEM with i7-3770 CPU and AMD Radeon™ HD 7570 1GB GDDR5 comes with a 460W PSU...

bobkn · 31 Jan 2013

Your Cooler Master PSU is adequate for the Radeon. (If it's the Elite model, it has two 18A +12V rails, and a max. total current at +12V of 27A.) However, it's not intended to drive high-end graphics cards: it has a single 6 pin PCI-E power connector, which means that it'd work with a 660, but not (without Molex-to-PCI-E adapters) with a 660ti.

I dunno about trying for 80+ Gold efficiency ratings. The Corsair PSUs that I'm familiar with are 80+ Bronze, but few would sneer at those.

kbrady1979 · 31 Jan 2013

I linked him to the HX650 by Corsair........semi-modular, 80+ Gold and plenty of PCI-E connector for video cards. All that for less than $100.