What power supply wattage should I get?

[EarthDog]

Is he really correct when the context was talking about the 80+ gold 750w psu he recommended? We can make it correct by thinking he was talking about cheap psus, sure.

Not trying to split hairs, but since you already started...

 

[Liviu Cojocaru]

Is he really correct when the context was talking about the 80+ gold 750w psu he recommended? We can make it correct by thinking he was talking about cheap psus, sure.

Not trying to split hairs, but since you already started...

Please do whatever makes your day happier mate

 

[EarthDog]

I'm just busting bill's chops. I think the point was made. Its all on the OP now.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Is he really correct when the context was talking about the 80+ gold 750w psu he recommended?

As noted, all 80 PLUS certified PSUs are required to have a "flat" efficiency response. So if the computer (motherboard, CPU, graphics, drives, RAM, fans) is pulling 300W that would be 54.5% with a 550W supply, 46% for a 650W supply, 40% for a 750W supply, or 30% for a 1,000W supply. If all four supplies are 80 PLUS "Gold" certified the efficiency will be 90% ±3% regardless the supply. And that mean regardless if using the 550W, 650W, 750W or the 1000W supply, the supply will be pulling from the wall ~333W (333 x .9 = 299.7).

With a cheap, generic, basic supply, it is common to get worse efficiency with lower loads as compared to higher loads. That is, basic supplies tend to be more efficient when pushed near (but don't exceed) capacity than they do when at idle. But again, we are not talking about cheap, generic, basic supplies.

I'm just busting bill's chops.

It was actually a fair question so we're good!

 

[Liviu Cojocaru]

After all these strong arguments I have to admit I was wrong and now you guys made me think if I should go for a better PSU

 

[jsfitz54]

$70 USD after promo $10 and rebate $20: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...01816-Latest-_-PowerSupplies-_-17151102-S2A3D

 

[Bill_Bright]

After all these strong arguments I have to admit I was wrong and now you guys made me think if I should go for a better PSU

It is a tricky topic because there are certainly many millions of computers out there with cheap, generic, basic and barely adequate power supplies in them that have been running just fine for 5, 7, 10 years or even longer. With some of these computers not once ever opened up to clean out all the gunk the fans pulled in.

But I like to say, would you buy a brand new Porsche then fill it up at the corner Tobacco and Bait Shop? A car engine can miss a beat and keep running - not so with high-speed digital electronics. Everything inside the computer depends on good, clean, stable power. So I say, feed it good, clean stable power.

 

[cdawall]

Obviously he needs a 1500w platinum.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

If you are new(er) to this forum, you may want to read this excellent write up by @newtekie1 about PSU's.
How does PSU efficiency affect me and do I really need an 80 Plus Gold Power Supply?

 

[alucasa]

My rig runs on 450w SFX PSU (for the moment), lol. Max power draw is low in 300w range.

Since he's got 1070, he won't use more than 400w. Throw in some OCs for kicks, 650w should be aplenty.

 

[EarthDog]

Since he's got 1070, he won't use more than 400w.

With it overclocked to its limits and the CPU he wont see 400W.

 

[alucasa]

With it overclocked to its limits and the CPU he wont see 400W.

Hence, I said.

Throw in some OCs for kicks, 650w should be aplenty.

 

[EarthDog]

500W is plenty WITH overclocking is my point (throughout this entire thread. ). 650W is enough for two... and overclocking.

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/...ply-wattage-should-i-get.226997/#post-3541708

 

[alucasa]

I will stand by 650w.

You will stand by 500w.

Done deal.

 

[EarthDog]

Indeed..you will spend more of other people's money for literally no good reason.

 

[Jetster]

It will not pull more than 450w with SLI but you don't want to run a PSU at 95%

 

[cdawall]

Why would you recommend a 650w when the unit will never exceed 400w? I'm sitting here thinking he should get a good 450w spend the money saved dropping the wattage on a better grade PSU. Grab a 450 platinum/titanium.

It will not pull more than 450w with SLI but you don't want to run a PSU at 95%

Why it is called a continuous rating for a reason.

 

[Jetster]

,

Why would you recommend a 650w when the unit will never exceed 400w? I'm sitting here thinking he should get a good 450w spend the money saved dropping the wattage on a better grade PSU. Grab a 450 platinum/titanium.



Why it is called a continuous rating for a reason.

I believe is just heat that comes into play that's all. Less efficiency more heat I guess you could compensate for that

That and ratings are not the same accost brands (I know, they are suppose to be)

 

[cdawall]

,
I believe is just heat that comes into play that's all. Less efficiency more heat I guess you could compensate for that

That and ratings are not the same accost brands (I know, they are suppose to be)

450w will produce the same amount of heat at 90% efficiency regardless to who made the powersupply or what it is rated for. The cooling available to the components of a 450w might be lesser than a 1KW, but then again depending on brand they might not be again.

 

[Bill_Bright]

With it overclocked to its limits and the CPU he wont see 400W

True, but the OP added he wanted to be "prepared for the future". Of course, no one, including the OP really knows what that means until the future arrives, but that is why I said 550W as that still gives plenty of room for future expansion too.

 

[cdawall]

True, but the OP added he wanted to be "prepared for the future". Of course, no one, including the OP really knows what that means until the future arrives, but that is why I said 550W as that still gives plenty of room for future expansion too.

Right and the good news is unless his future involves AMD it is very doubtful NV/Intel will have massive tdp increases.

 

[EarthDog]

True, but the OP added he wanted to be "prepared for the future". Of course, no one, including the OP really knows what that means until the future arrives, but that is why I said 550W as that still gives plenty of room for future expansion too.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, power use is, on the whole, going down... 550W is plenty and easily planning for the future. So is 500W honestly.




As far as running a PSU at 100% of its rating... of course, nobody recommends it, but if you have a quality PSU, you should be able to run it there for the warranted life of the PSU. Again, nobody says to do so, but I have done it PLENTY of times with my G2 750 running an overclocked 295x2 and a 5930K.

 

[AvidTechUser]

I have learned a lot after reading the replies in this thread, thanks everyone for your contribution.

Just to note: in terms of a graphics card, I do not pledge allegiance to either nVidia or AMD. I have and will continue to use products from both camps depending on whichever best suits my gaming needs at the time. I just want to be prepared in case the new nVidia/AMD cards are a lot higher in power draw.

I realise that most are being designed with lower power draw in mind, but you never know these days...

 

[Bill_Bright]

As far as running a PSU at 100% of its rating... of course, nobody recommends it, but if you have a quality PSU, you should be able to run it there for the warranted life of the PSU.

I agree completely - and at at least 40°C, if not 50°C too.

But that said, it is very rare for the load of any computer to sit at 100% (or any value) for extended periods of time in "real-world" scenarios. Benchmark and stress test programs do, and perhaps some folding type programs, but even while gaming, the load is always varying.

And yes, a primary goal of the hardware industry is greater efficiency and they are making great strides at that. Let the tree huggers rejoice!

The move is towards SSDs which are more efficient than HDs. DDR4 is more efficient than DDR3. CPUs are more efficient too. Not too sure about graphics cards, however - simply because they tend to be so much more powerful these days. Pound for pound, they may be more efficient. But a 1000lb efficient gorilla still eats more bananas than a 500lb inefficient gorilla.

 

[jboydgolfer]

Thanks for the replies so far...

I do not (currently) intend to go SLI.

What I meant by "for the future" was more directed at a GPU upgrade.

As for the brand: I am leaning toward the EVGA SuperNOVA G2 Gold 650W Power Supply, but for around $10 more I could get the 750W version, so maybe I should go with that?

I have that exact EVGA G2 power supply it's fantastic. The machine I had it in was an I 546 90 K, to SSDs, 240 mm CPU water loop, and SLI GTX 970's

The 650 W rating was plenty for the bill that I mentioned above I'm sure it'll be fine for yours to