Full system before buying GPU

[JunkBear]

Hi.

I have a Lenovo M73 with the followings:

CPU i5-4430 skt 1150 84 watts
Memory 2 sticks of 4gigs DDR3-1600 PC3-12800
HDD Sata 500 gigs
LG DVD/RW Sata
2 X 80mm Fans

Power supply specs

Lite-On PS-4241-01
240 watts Total

230 watts max
+12v1 12 Amps
+12Vcpu 16 Amps

15 watts max
+5.08Vsb 2.5 Amps
-12V 0.2A

So base on the 84 watts of the cpu , the memory, Optical drive, the HDD what wattage left for the gpu?

Thank you.

 

[hertz9753]

What are planning to use the GPU for? Even with a power sipper like an NVIDIA 750 Ti that PSU might shut down.

 

[JunkBear]

I was thinking maybe the GeForce GT 740 which draw 49 watts at the maximum.

 

[Jetster]

80w left for GPU I would think. I have a similar system and it has 3 drives and pulls 107w running Linpack

 

[EdInk]

As a guide
RAM 6W (2x 3W)
HDD - 15W
LG - 20W
4W (2x 2W)

This figures are the maximum each component will typically draw. Let's assume the power supply is 80% efficient so it can deliver 190W of real power.

You'll be left with say 60W (for motherboard, GPU and other peripherals that might be added)

You'd probably need a low profile card for it.

 

[JunkBear]

As a guide
RAM 6W (2x 3W)
HDD - 15W
LG - 20W
4W (2x 2W)

This figures are the maximum each component will typically draw. Let's assume the power supply is 80% efficient so it can deliver 190W of real power.

You'll be left with say 60W (for motherboard, GPU and other peripherals that might be added)

You'd probably need a low profile card for it.

Thank you but what it the last 4W ?

 

[EdInk]

Thank you but what it the last 4W ?

2 X 80mm fans

 

[m&m's]

what wattage left for the gpu?

I would say between ~6W and ~41W ~36W and ~101W.

You have a 240W PSU that has most than likely an efficiency of less than 80%. 75% wouldn't surprise me.
240*0.75= 180W

We don't know if the PSU can actually output it's rated 240W, cheap PSUs are often rated higher than what they can actually output, 210W should be a safe number, I think.

Worst case scenario
CPU = 84W
Motherboard = ~40W
RAM = ~6W
HDD = ~10W
Optical drive = ~25W
Fans = ~3W each

84+40+6+10+25+3+3+3= 174W

Best case scenario
CPU = 84W
Motherboard = ~25W
RAM = ~6W
HDD = ~6W
Optical drive = ~15W
Fans = ~1W each

84+25+6+6+15+1+1+1= 139W

 

[hertz9753]

Even pre built computers can be upgraded with a new PSU.

 

[JunkBear]

So I better not use too much the ODD. It will be only to install games once installed no need of the dvd so I guess ill be alright when it comes to older games.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

I would say between ~6W and ~41W.

You have a 240W PSU that has most than likely an efficiency of less than 80%. 75% wouldn't surprise me.
240*0.75= 180W

Worst case scenario
CPU = 84W
Motherboard = ~40W
RAM = ~6W
HDD = ~10W
Optical drive = ~25W
Fans = ~3W each

84+40+6+10+25+3+3+3= 174W

Best case scenario
CPU = 84W
Motherboard = ~25W
RAM = ~6W
HDD = ~6W
Optical drive = ~15W
Fans = ~1W each

84+25+6+6+15+1+1+1= 139W

Let's assume the power supply is 80% efficient so it can deliver 190W of real power.

Balderdash! EFFICIENCY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CAPACITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what wattage left for the gpu?

Plenty. You can EASILY install any GPU that does not require a PCI-e power connection, up to and including GTX 750 Ti's.

 

[EdInk]

You probably won't use much of the ODD and HDD whilst gaming anyways.

@thebluebumblebee - efficiency always has to be considered. It's a more realistic approach than "plenty"

 

[thebluebumblebee]

@thebluebumblebee - efficiency always has to be considered. It's a more realistic approach than "plenty"

No it doesn't. A PSU's capacity rating is its output rating, not what it draws from the outlet.

 

[m&m's]

Balderdash! EFFICIENCY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CAPACITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A PSU's capacity rating is its output rating, not what it draws from the outlet.

You are right, I will edit my post accordingly.

 

[SnakeDoctor]

GTX 750 - 55 watt no 6pin needed

 

[EdInk]

Has anyone considered the case form factor?...my guess is it'll need a low profile card.

@JunkBear - what slot size do yo have, is it a full one?

 

[Hugis]

A quick google brings up 3 different form factor M73 lenovos a tiny, SFF and a mini tower( lets hope its this one)


Edit: judging by the PSU its the SFF case so LP card is needed.

tiny

SFF

mini tower

 

[Ferrum Master]

He needs to change the PSU and that is it. The special ATX supply connector can be adapted. Just write to guys that make sleeved atx cables(even on fleabay), they will ask for a drawing, picture for pinouts and adapt a normal ATX connector to that pinout.

Seconds. The crap wont handle a full power PCI-E card. As simply the board has a gimped atx connector. It needs 6pin for safety reasons.

 

[JunkBear]

I have the SFF

 

[Folterknecht]

Let's assume the power supply is 80% efficient so it can deliver 190W of real power.

wrong - if the manufacturer doesn't screw up, the PSU will deliver 230W continues power. The watt rating of a psu always reflects the amount of power it is/should be able to deliver to the components. That's why it is possible to measure a higher power draw at the wall (efficency losses) without the PSU really running out of spec. A good PSU will shut off, if components draw too much power.

 

[EdInk]

reflects the amount of power it is/should be able to deliver to the components.

You seem to be accounting for losses with that statement.

It's not a matter of screwing up, its power conversion... there are always losses

 

[Folterknecht]

You still don't get it.

The power rating (e.g. 500W) of a PSU refers to the value after conversion losses. Everything else would be total nonsense.

 

[alucasa]

There is 750 ti low profile if I recall correctly.

Let me see... Here a link. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SOXMPJY/?tag=tec06d-20

You could probably find a better deal elsewhere. You will need to change your PSU though. Or you could go for lower end of 750. The options are out there. You just need to research.

 

[silentbogo]

There are many more low-profile videocard options today, which OP should remember from his older thread on this topic, so you can choose anything from GT730 to GTX750Ti range. R7 240 also became much cheaper.
Safest bet: 64-bit version of GT 730 (approx. ~28W Max TDP), but GTX 750Ti won't be a problem either.

As I said many weeks ago - Lenovo offers a Radeon HD8570 as an upgrade for this platform. This card has a 60W max TDP, and this means that anything below that is theoretically safe.

The only thing that bothers me is the quality of PSUs Lenovo installs in their systems.
LiteOn used to be the best sh%t for budget builds while I was still in college, but today I would not recommend using even their laptop chargers. On the product page they list 3 power supply options with questionable descriptions like:

• 85 Plus 92% Pentium 240W PSU
• 85% 240W PSU
• 240W Standard PSU

Which basically means that none of them are 80+ certified. Dunno what 85 Plus 92% Pentium PSU means, but it sounds very scary.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Balderdash! EFFICIENCY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CAPACITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The watt rating of a psu always reflects the amount of power it is/should be able to deliver to the components. That's why it is possible to measure a higher power draw at the wall (efficency losses) without the PSU really running out of spec.

thebluebumblebee and Folterknecht are exactly correct!

Using a power supply rated and marketed by the maker as a 300W supply and assuming the PSU is working correctly, that supply will be able to deliver 300W to the computer, regardless its efficiency. The efficiency of the supply has nothing to do with the output "rating". And the power output rating has nothing to do with how much power is pulled from the wall. That is where the efficiency of the supply comes in.

Assume the computer (motherboard, RAM, drives, CPU, GPU) are demanding 300W. That is what the computer will pull from the supply.

Now assume the 300W (or 500, 600, or 750 - it does not matter as long as it is at least 300) supply is 70% efficient with a 300W load. That supply will pull from the wall 428.6W (428.6 x .7 = 300.02W) with the extra 128.6W being wasted (pumped into the room) in the form of heat.

An 80% efficient 300W supply will pull from the wall 375W (375 x .8 = 300W).

A 600W 80 PLUS Certified "Gold" power supply rated at 90% efficiency at 50% load (300W in this example) will pull from the wall just 333.33W (333.33 x .9 = 299.997W). So clearly, getting a more efficient supply pays off in the long run in terms of energy costs for the computer, and facility cooling costs in the summer months.

Note the power drawn from the wall is the same regardless the capacity of the power supply. That is, a 600W supply rated at 70% efficiency at 50% load value will pull from the wall the exact same 428.6W as the 300W supply rated at 70% efficiency at 100% load, which is the same as a 1200W supply rated at 70% efficiency at 25% load will pull that same 428.6W from the wall.