Can my PSU run a gtx 750 ti ?

[Mohamed Dhif]

I'm planning to buy an msi gtx 750 ti 2gb tf. Though i am concerned my psu might not be able to run it.
The pc i'm upgrading is my dad's , I opened the case to check the psu and this is what it is labled : http://imgur.com/a/ATgF0 .
I have an i3 540 and 4 gb of ddr3 ram.

 

[HWTactics]

Nice job taking a picture of the label! Most people don't know about looking at that. That makes things easy. Your power supply will work, but it's cutting it close.

Your processor uses up to 73 Watts.
The GTX 750 Ti uses up to 70 Watts.
Everything else we can estimate uses around 50 more Watts.
That's ~200W total at MAX load and you have a 350W power supply. No problem, right?

Here is the breakdown per voltage rail, so you can compare with your power supply sticker.

Here is the reason I say "cutting it close". If this is the original power supply, it has already been running for at least 4-5 years (i3 540 was released in 2010) and this config will run the +12V rail at 90% capacity.

Running a lower wattage PSU near its peak +12V load after all these years of already being used may slowly push it over the edge. It won't be immediate, but it will accelerate the process. Maybe a month, maybe a year.

If we know what kind of PC you have (make and model) and you have another $25-30 to spare we may be able to find you a replacement?

 

[Jetster]

Yes that would be about the highest card you could go with

 

[EarthDog]

Yikes... scary no name 350w with only 216w on the 12v rail...it may, but I sure wouldn't trust it.

Now a MODERN, QUALITY 350w psu with most of its juice on the 12v i would.

Grab a corsair cx430 is what I would do.

 

[Jetster]

You can get a CX430 on sale for $20 when they go on sale. Its a good idea

 

[Mohamed Dhif]

Thank you guys for answering .
So first off HWTactics i did search but couldn't find the model of the pc i own . Its brand is versus which strangely i can't find on google . The thing is the pc was (as far as i know) only used by my father for a little over a year and he's the type of guy who wouldn't do much besides browse internet and his emails ... (I hope that's a good sign ?)
And EarthDog i know this psu looks very sketchy .. I mean it doesn't even have the brand name on it . But i'm really tight on money and i'm not from the us or europe and parts are quite expensive :/ . Do you think i could use it or have to go the extra mile and get a new psu ?

 

[HWTactics]

I'm with EarthDog and Jestster on picking up a CX430.

If you snap a picture of the back of your computer -- where the power cable is plugged in -- so we can get a good look at it back there, we can tell you if the CX430 would fit

This is the area we're interested in.

If your case looks different in the back, you may be looking at some different odd form factors.

 

[Mohamed Dhif]

It looks pretty much exactly like that : http://i.imgur.com/pQYjluo.jpg . I actually removed it today to check if there's any labeling on a hidden side (and there was none)
While we're at it , do you guys think that a second hand psu is worth it or not ?

 

[HWTactics]

Yikes... scary no name 350w with only 216w on the 12v rail...it may, but I sure wouldn't trust it.

Now a MODERN, QUALITY 350w psu with most of its juice on the 12v i would.

Grab a corsair cx430 is what I would do.

You noticed how it just says "350" and not "350W" too?? Reminds me of how Cooler Master pulls those shenanigans with some of their units. "It's the Extreme Power Plus 500! It's just the model name!" when it only puts out 431W.

 

[HWTactics]

It looks pretty much exactly like that : http://i.imgur.com/pQYjluo.jpg . I actually removed it today to check if there's any labeling on a hidden side (and there was none)
While we're at it , do you guys think that a second hand psu is worth it or not ?

Looking good! Standard ATX form factor, so you can install mostly anything including the CX430. I don't know much about ordering parts outside the US though. Which country do you live in? Anyone knowledgeable with buying overseas?

As far as buying a used PSU, I don't have any reservations buying Seasonic units used, otherwise it depends on the user reviews.

 

[Mohamed Dhif]

I'm from tunisia , and my choice is limited by what the resellers chose to include in their lists ... the cheapest psu from a brand that i know is
Corsair VS450 for about 60 usd .
I just checked and there's a used ocz600mxsp for just about as much (looking clean) and there's this one http://www.tunisie-annonce.com/upload2/201505/tunisie-annonce.com/photos/118232_20150522_224530.jpg for half the price.

 

[HWTactics]

The FSP 350W would be a good choice if you ask me! FSP is a reliable manufacturer, even buying used. It can put out 300 Watts of power on the +12v1 and +12v2 rails alone, which is where you want most of your power to be. I'd go with that and call it a day.

If you look closely at the bottom of the label, it can do 100W on the +3.3V and +5V rails and 300W on the +12V rails, making it more like a 400W power supply in disguise.

 

[Mohamed Dhif]

The FSP 350W would be a good choice if you ask me! FSP is a reliable manufacturer, even buying used. It can put out 300 Watts of power on the +12v1 and +12v2 rails alone, which is where you want most of your power to be. I'd go with that and call it a day.

If you look closely at the bottom of the label, it can do 100W on the +3.3V and +5V rails and 300W on the +12V rails, making it more like a 400W power supply in disguise.

really ? so i should consider it ?
is it better than the one i have now and how well would it run the msi gtx 750 ti tf ?

 

[HWTactics]

Sorry, I should elaborate.

Your current power supply is a no-name "350" power supply. This one is an FSP (quality) 350W power supply. Here's the difference:

One has 18A on the +12V rail, the other has 25A combined across two +12V rails. (According to the "300W Max" on the label, 12V*26A=300W.)

Even though both are 350W, the FSP gives you more of that power on the 12V rail where you want it. That's a sign of a "quality" power supply.

Now a MODERN, QUALITY 350w psu with most of its juice on the 12v i would.

EarthDog says it well go with the FSP!

 

[EarthDog]

The FSP 350W would be a good choice if you ask me! FSP is a reliable manufacturer, even buying used. It can put out 300 Watts of power on the +12v1 and +12v2 rails alone, which is where you want most of your power to be. I'd go with that and call it a day.

If you look closely at the bottom of the label, it can do 100W on the +3.3V and +5V rails and 300W on the +12V rails, making it more like a 400W power supply in disguise.

Oy...

1. Its not remotely like a 400W PSU in disguise.
2. The more wattage available on the 12v rail is NOT the sign of a quality PSU. Its a sign of a MODERN one. There are plenty of crap PSUs that put out most of its power on the 12v rail(s).

Let's be careful not to mislead people.

 

[OneMoar]

nope I would replace it
1. because its old
2. because I don't trust those no-name psu's as far as I can throw them
3. finally because decent 500W psu can be had for under 60 bucks USD and peace of mind is priceless
and hwtatics you really need to check your posts for accuracy before claiming something is fact I yelled at you once for posting non-sense don't make a habit out of it lately been seeing this a lot from new members while we welcome new members please do fact check before quoting something as fact

 

[HWTactics]

1. Its not remotely like a 400W PSU in disguise.
2. The more wattage available on the 12v rail is NOT the sign of a quality PSU. Its a sign of a MODERN one. There are plenty of crap PSUs that put out most of its power on the 12v rail(s).

1. The max wattage is 403W, so yes it is like a 400W in disguise, because it can send 403W. How else would you interpret that? OP won't be running anywhere near 400W either way.
2. There are plenty more crap PSUs that put most of their power on +3.3V and +5V rails, or don't prioritize the +12v rail as they should, like the one the OP is running right now. It is a sign of a quality power supply. I know that modern PSUs are built to a newer ATX spec with more power on the +12v rails after the transition away from 3.3v/5v processors. Splitting hairs here

 

[OneMoar]

1. The max wattage is 403W, so yes it is like a 400W in disguise, because it can send 403W. How else would you interpret that? OP won't be running anywhere near 400W either way.
2. There are plenty more crap PSUs that put most of their power on +3.3V and +5V rails, or don't prioritize the +12v rail as they should, like the one the OP is running right now. It is a sign of a quality power supply. I know that modern PSUs are built to a newer ATX spec with more power on the +12v rails after the transition away from 3.3v/5v processors. Splitting hairs here

I would't trust that psu to output half of what it says its capable of
there is a lot more to a PSU then just what the numbers on the side claim
it could work for awhile and then go POP and take the entire system out when it blows up
and at the risk of repeating my self
just because you read something on google or from a book does not make it correct nor does knowledge equal wisdom

 

[HWTactics]

Good points! I tried digging up a review that included overload tests but there probably isn't much interest in these lower power models

 

[Jetster]

Those PSUs never output what they claim.

 

[Pill Monster]

Sorry, I should elaborate.

Your current power supply is a no-name "350" power supply. This one is an FSP (quality) 350W power supply. Here's the difference:

One has 18A on the +12V rail, the other has 25A combined across two +12V rails. (According to the "300W Max" on the label, 12V*26A=300W.)

Even though both are 350W, the FSP gives you more of that power on the 12V rail where you want it. That's a sign of a "quality" power supply.


EarthDog says it well go with the FSP!

There's no way to tell what the 12v output is without knowing wattage. The amps printed for each rail is OCP limit, not power.

To work out amps at maximum draw take the 12v wattage divide by 12 then again by # rails. Which in your case = 12A @300w.

We don't know what the OP has, but I imagine its more than 12 amps......

1. The max wattage is 403W, so yes it is like a 400W in disguise, because it can send 403W. How else would you interpret that? OP won't be running anywhere near 400W either way.

5v & 3.3v doesn't mean a thing these days because everything runs of the 12v. So basically you have 300W PSU with 100W wasted.

2. There are plenty more crap PSUs that put most of their power on +3.3V and +5V rails, or don't prioritize the +12v rail as they should, like the one the OP is running right now. It is a sign of a quality power supply. I know that modern PSUs are built to a newer ATX spec with more power on the +12v rails after the transition away from 3.3v/5v processors. Splitting hairs here

It's one aspect, there's a lot more to it such as voltage ripple, rated caps, efficiency....all adds up.

f I was the OP I'd grab the 750 and take my chance with the PSU he has now, only one way to find out for sure.... my 2c anyway.

 

[EarthDog]

1. The max wattage is 403W, so yes it is like a 400W in disguise, because it can send 403W. How else would you interpret that? OP won't be running anywhere near 400W either way.
2. There are plenty more crap PSUs that put most of their power on +3.3V and +5V rails, or don't prioritize the +12v rail as they should, like the one the OP is running right now. It is a sign of a quality power supply. I know that modern PSUs are built to a newer ATX spec with more power on the +12v rails after the transition away from 3.3v/5v processors. Splitting hairs here

1. Because the other rails are really never a worry in modern pcs. Yes, they are used by peripherals and such, however, it's not "like" a 400 psu because of that. E ERY SINGLE PSU would be woefully underrated by the label if we followed your logic.
2. Again, not remotely a sign of quality man. It's not splitting hairs. Your statement that a quality psu has more wattage on the q2v rails is simply false. Again there are modern crappy psus that have nearly all it's rating on the 12v. You may mean something different than what you have posted...

The amps printed for each rail is OCP limit, not power.

To work out amps at maximum draw take the 12v wattage divide by 12 then again by # rails. Which in your case = 12A @300w.

MAYBE it's the ocp limit. On a single rail that is likely true. On a multi rail it can go either way. It depends on if it was a true multi rail or just labeled as such. Sometimes, even though a label says it's a multi it's not as there is no ocp on the rails and each could output the full rating on one rail. PLENTY of examples of that around.

 

[Pill Monster]

1. Because the other rails are really never a worry in modern pcs. Yes, they are used by peripherals and such, however, it's not "like" a 400 psu because of that. E ERY SINGLE PSU would be woefully underrated by the label if we followed your logic.
2. Again, not remotely a sign of quality man. It's not splitting hairs. Your statement that a quality psu has more wattage on the q2v rails is simply false. Again there are modern crappy psus that have nearly all it's rating on the 12v. You may mean something different than what you have posted...


MAYBE it's the ocp limit. On a single rail that is likely true. On a multi rail it can go either way. It depends on if it was a true multi rail or just labeled as such. Sometimes, even though a label says it's a multi it's not as there is no ocp on the rails and each could output the full rating on one rail. PLENTY of examples of that around.

You're talking about PSU's advertised as multi rail which are actually single rail with an OCP limit, not the same thing. Any decent PSU has some sort of OCP built in.