GTX 470 & 680 watt PSU

[whiplash]

so i'm going to be upgrading my GPU soon. do you guys think that my PSU, 680 watt, can handle a GTX 470?

 

[Mashed1316]

Depends on how many Amps your PSU delivers into the +12V Rail, could you tell me the model of the PSU, please?

But most likely, it will handle it, i just want to be sure...

 

[whiplash]

its an Echo Star brand, i bought it a long time ago and don't remember anything else about it aside from the brand and it's wattage.

also, the GPU i'm looking at requires a minimum of a 550 watt PSU so i should be good. Right?

 

[sygnus21]

You should be good to go.

BTW you can get the information off your power supply and google it.

Good luck.

 

[Mashed1316]

OK, let me check the manufacturer's website to see if i can find any documentation for the PSU, but most likely it's not the wattage of the psu that matters, sometimes you could have a poor 3000w PSU, but a GOOD 550w PSU will outperform...

Sygnus could you help me out here?

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Specifications: [/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]

• Model: Echo Star 680W Dual Fan ATX Power Supply
• Item No: C0843
• General Features:
  • 680 watts total power
  • Dual fans
  • High efficiency
  • Short circuit protection
  • Over current protection
  • Over power protection
  • 100% full load burn in
• Connectors:
  • 1 x 14-inch 20/24 pin ATX power connector
  • 1 x 14-inch 4-pin ATX 12V power connector
  • 4 x Large 4-pin Molex power connectors
  • 1 x Small 4-pin power connector
  • 1 x SATA connector
• Power Specifications:
  • 115V, 230V switchable power supply
  • +3.3V,45A
  • +5V, 50A
  • +12V, 22A
  • -12V, 0.8A
  • -5V, 0.5A
  • +5Vsb, 2.A
• Unit Dimensions:
  • 3.25" x 6" x 5.5" (H x W x D)
• Retail Package Includes:
  • Echo Star 680-Watt ATX Power Supply
  • Power Cord

[/FONT]

Do you think 22amps on the +12v rail is enough to handle a GTX 470? personally, i don't think it could... what do you think?

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

its an Echo Star brand, i bought it a long time ago and don't remember anything else about it aside from the brand and it's wattage.

also, the GPU i'm looking at requires a minimum of a 550 watt PSU so i should be good. Right?

Power supplies output drops about 10% per year of age....also is the rating based on peak output or constant?

 

[Mashed1316]

Here! it won't be enough power for a GTX 470

[FONT=verdana,geneva]Recommended Power Supply

[/FONT][FONT=verdana,geneva]Here is Guru3D's power supply recommendation:
[FONT=verdana,geneva]
GeForce GTX 470[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]
[/FONT]

• On your average system the card requires you to have a 550 Watt power supply unit. We recommend at least 35 Amps in total available on the +12 volts rails (accumulated).

I'd recommend you this PSU:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Or this one for even more room to add more stuff, and it's only 10$ extra..

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

How about something like this Newegg.com - Rosewill RV2-700 700W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V SLI Ready Power Supply

 

[Mashed1316]

Hmm, personally i don't like Rosewill PSU, they're cheap and everything but i don't know, i've heard bad reviews (never tried one personally) and the other thing is: i like single +12v rail PSU! the Rosewill has 2 +12v and you have to balance them.. with the Corsair you don't have that issue.. one single +12V rail with 60A on it, throw it anything you like of course it's a little bit more expensive than the Rosewill.. that's the only downside

 

[whiplash]

Here! it won't be enough power for a GTX 470

[FONT=verdana,geneva]Recommended Power Supply

[/FONT][FONT=verdana,geneva]Here is Guru3D's power supply recommendation:
[FONT=verdana,geneva]
GeForce GTX 470[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana,geneva]
[/FONT]

• On your average system the card requires you to have a 550 Watt power supply unit. We recommend at least 35 Amps in total available on the +12 volts rails (accumulated).

hmmm, so i need a better PSU. my wattage is good so i don't NEED to upgrade that. i just need to upgrade my amperage on the +12.

 

[Mashed1316]

Yeah but you can't upgrade that, the only way would be upgrading your complete PSU...

Here:

I'd recommend you these PSUs:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Or this one for even more room to add more stuff, and it's only 10$ extra..

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

 

[whiplash]

how about this one

Ultra LSP650 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, 135mm Fan, Lifetime Warranty w/ Registration at TigerDirect.com

 

[Mashed1316]

Hmm, it only has 38A on the +12v rail, so a card needing 35A on the +12v rail, that would be way too tight for my taste, i wouldn't recommend it..

EDIT: Plus, i'd choose a better brand, not saying that Ultra is a bad brand (never heard it before) but, it's power that we're talking about, buy a cheap one and you might end toasting your video card, hard drive, motherboard and who knows what else? i wouldn't play with getting a cheap PSU, i'd rather buy a known brand.. better be safe than sorry

 

[whiplash]

Yeah but you can't upgrade that, the only way would be upgrading your complete PSU...

Here:

I'd recommend you these PSUs:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

Or this one for even more room to add more stuff, and it's only 10$ extra..

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

yeah understood, i didn't mean upgrade a single part of my PSU. i ment, when looking for a new one that an increased wattage isn't the focus.

 

[whiplash]

Hmm, it only has 38A on the +12v rail, so a card needing 35A on the +12v rail, that would be way too tight for my taste, i wouldn't recommend it..

ok, so something with a little more room on the +12.

 

[whiplash]

Hmm, it only has 38A on the +12v rail, so a card needing 35A on the +12v rail, that would be way too tight for my taste, i wouldn't recommend it..

EDIT: Plus, i'd choose a better brand, not saying that Ultra is a bad brand (never heard it before) but, it's power that we're talking about, buy a cheap one and you might end toasting your video card, hard drive, motherboard and who knows what else? i wouldn't play with getting a cheap PSU, i'd rather buy a known brand.. better be safe than sorry

Ultra is a pretty big brand. i have a CPU cooler by them and haven't been disappointed.

 

[Mashed1316]

Yep, i'd go with the Corsair 750TX i left you in the links above.. i mean it's a 110$ BUT, you're buying a 280$ video card... it's a no brainer for me... i wouldn't like to buy a 60$ PSU to (God forbids it) see a 280$ paperweight

 

[Mashed1316]

Take a look at this:

Ultra X4 750-Watt Modular Power Supply - 135mm Fan, ATX, Lifetime Warranty w Registration, 80+ Bronze, NVIDIA SLI & ATI Crossfire Certifications, Vibration Dampener Included U12-40504 at UltraProducts.com

The Ultra X4 750w is 150$ (Retail Price) and although it has nice specs (54A on the +12v) i'd still prefer the Corsair 750TX, it's 40$ cheaper and it has nicer specs.

But that depends on you.. i'd PERSONALLY choose the Corsair 750TX (in fact, i ordered one of those and it should me making its way to my home in about 2 weeks)

 

[whiplash]

i understand what you're saying. but i had no intention on having to buy a new PSU, so this is a new expence that's a bit out of reach for me. so what do you think about this one. it similar to the other one i posted but it has more amps on the +12.

Ultra LSP750 750-Watt Power Supply - ATX, SATA-Ready, SLI-Ready, 135mm Fan, Lifetime Warranty w/ Registration at TigerDirect.com

 

[Mashed1316]

I totally understand what you're saying, you thought that your current PSU could handle the newer Video Card so you didn't think about upgrading it! Well... that PSU seems OK, at least it has 45A on the +12V Rail..

If you have bought Ultra products before and you feel confident about them, go ahead, follow your heart it's an "OK" PSU that'll handle your new Video Card.