Is a 550W 80+ Gold PSU Enough?

Rain08 · 17 Nov 2015

I'm currently planning to get a Seasonic G-550 550W 80+ Gold Modular PSU. Together with that, I'm planning to throw a Palit GTX 950 StormX Dual. If you're asking why, in my place, this is a way better deal than a GTX 750 Ti or a GTX 960. Another reason is that once the Pascal GPU's comes out, I'll upgrade and gift the 950 to someone.

The bottom line is, is that PSU enough for a i5-4690K (with OC that IDK what yet, prolly around 4.2~4.4) and a Pascal GPU?

unrealRage · 17 Nov 2015

It'll handle GTX 950 for sure with +12V rail 45 Amps (I think 950 requires less than 25 Amps) but for Pascal I don't know how much Amps will it require/it's power consumption; but this for sure is a good power supply,I think it'll handle it.

ICIT2LOL · 18 Nov 2015

Yep mate you could use this too it will give you some idea of what you need eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

But I think unrealRage is rigth and I do like Seasonic stuff too.

Rain08 · 19 Nov 2015

ICIT2LOL said:

Yep mate you could use this too it will give you some idea of what you need eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

But I think unrealRage is rigth and I do like Seasonic stuff too.

Using that website you gave me, it told that I will need around 370 watts for 4690K and a GTX 950.

I actually thought of having EVGA PSU's before but the store then removed it for some reason. My original plan is actually to have Seasonic M12II-620 EVO 620W 80+ Bronze Modula PSU, but then they had the G-550 which I then thought of buying.

ThrashZone · 19 Nov 2015

Hi,
Not sure why you would downgrade to a 550w from a 600w you currently have :/
Most people interested in upgrades would up the wattage
I believe 750w would be a minimum evga 750 G2 would be nice upgrade.

ICIT2LOL · 19 Nov 2015

Hum well my favourite brand is the Corsairs they are made by the same people that make Seasonic - it varies from model to model of course but to me they present a benchmark for quality.
Now depending on the budget of course the AX and HX models of Corsair around 750W which would give you soem leeway for any further upgrades.

unrealRage · 19 Nov 2015

ThrashZone said:

Hi,
Not sure why you would downgrade to a 550w from a 600w you currently have :/
Most people interested in upgrades would up the wattage

Maybe because his power supply isn't delivering much Amps to +12V rail (600 Watts may not be it's real power) and and who knows how it works under load.

ThrashZone · 19 Nov 2015

Yep I wasn't really looking or comparing the existing brand but he did mention the evga and so posted that the 750 G2 is a nice upgrade :)
Too bad they must be out of stock that is about the only reason I can see of not being offered anymore ?
For the money I'd pick evga's over Corsairs any day except I would go either G2 or P2 series to any Corsairs equivalent

ICIT2LOL · 19 Nov 2015

Maybe because his power supply isn't delivering much Amps to +12V rail

Well I have always had a theory/hypothesis/whatever that volts ok doesn't necessarily mean the amps (current) is ok.

For a crude analogy take a car and the battery may well read correct voltage but not have enough charge to produce the current needed to turn the engine. Therefore a PSU may well read ok at the volts but not have enough in current output. But that is just a theory I have and I stand to be corrected.

To be honest it doesn't matter what components one discusses on the forum there will never be a consensus of opinion that agree to any particular brand being the best and PSU's are a prime example of that. Everyone has their own particular likes and I think one can advise but never stipulate that any brand is better than another to members who are asking.

unrealRage · 19 Nov 2015

ICIT2LOL said:

Well I have always had a theory/hypothesis/whatever that volts ok doesn't necessarily mean the amps (current) is ok.

If voltage is fine,current should be fine also,If voltage is not fine higher,or lower than nominal than current is not fine also,power supply will take as much current it needs to power it's system.It is because if we lower voltage,more current will be drawn so we would have nominal power/drawn power (P=U·I).But on power supplies max current is written for each rail (for ex. +12V 10 Amps >10 Amps is max that +12V rail can support ,of course it can exceeds that value but it will eventually break.Isolation,conductors are made to fit that nominal current (that means if current exceeds it's nominal value just by a little isolation may heat up and melt and two cables may connect >short circuit >basically when two points of different potential touch.

In short ,equipment is based on it's nominal value and should not exceed them.