460 power reqs

[NC37]

Already have one of those Asus $209 boards on order at Amazon. I know I can handle one right now. But what I plan to do is upgrade to SLI once 6 series hits and the prices get cut more so I can pick up a 2nd 460. I'd have waited till then anyways but with Fable 3 and Cataclysm hitting soon, not gonna stretch this 3870 any further. Plus I got tired of waiting for an ATI price cut. Basically wanted decent performance in that $200 price area and the 5770/5830/5850 just didn't wow me for the prices.

I have an odd PSU setup as you can see. Run an Antec Trio 430W with Thermaltake 250W 5.25 PSU. Originally the Antec was just out of necessity. I had a cheapo PSU die awhile back and I just decided I'd go with a good brand for once. The Trio was all I could afford. Added the 250W PSU later when I caught a clearance sale on it.

So with the added stress of one 460. I'm trying to figure out if it is possible to add a 2nd under this setup or just go buy a new PSU. Likely what I'd be doing is running a line from the Thermaltake into each board. Then the 2nd power connector would be getting fed from the Antec on each board.

The Thermaltake splits the power between both of it's rails to 125W peak on each.

I know from some of the reviews that the power req under SLI with the 460s doesn't skyrocket super high. But still, its enough to make me worry. Even with a good 200W taken out of the problem, I've got other components that need to feed. Board, drives, and a 95W Phenom II come into mind.

I'm already leaning towards the idea of getting a new PSU. From estimates even if it did work, it be on a knife's edge under load. Which is where new options come in. Thermaltake doesn't make these GPU PSUs anymore but it appears Visiontek does. While I don't like the brand too much from past experience, reviews on it have been alright from what I've seen. It would take available power for the GPUs up to 450W. So 430+450.

But I'm still drawing a bit more power through the PCIe with SLI. So would that $$$ be better spent on a new main PSU and what watt am I looking at? Guessing 600+.

 

[Tatty_Two]

In essence yes, i have used dedicated GPU PSU's in the past and they do a job, but in essence they thrawt long term system flexibility/upgradability. I would suggest a decent quality single PSU of around 650-700W to give you a margin for future upgradability.

i like the look of the 460's especially in SLi, however in cost terms, the $30 extra you would have to pay (with rebate at the Egg) for a 5850 is money well spent IMO.

 

[NC37]

Thanks. Thought that might be the best option. Always good to get a 2nd opinion .

Yeah I thought about that 5850 but I'm also thinking about heat levels too. I gotta run with case door cracked open to get enough cooling. 460 for the price was just perfect in terms of heat, power consumption, and performance. Plus I'd get the SLI option which was originally a reason why I bought the board I did. If ATI would have done better on it's prices, that would have changed and I would have gone them again. Kinda was hoping on that when Fermi launched but unfortunately ATI didn't budge.

 

[NC37]

Well Amazon screwed me over. That $209 price on the Asus boards was wrong and Amazon finally caught it before mine shipped. Instead of honoring the price, they canceled the order even after waiting so long for it. Gave a form letter apology which I wasn't going to accept.I fought it by calling them and a supervisor gave me a $15 credit for my trouble. Dropped it down on my #2 pick, the Gigabyte board. Got it for $205. Oh well, I'll keep my eye on that Asus model for when I add a 2nd for SLI.

 

[phobias23]

dude ive got a 700w OCZ and got more or less the same worries before buying my cards, know im running a SLI of two gigabyte gtx460 1gb OC and are nice and smooth in games.
Im bad making calcs but i imagine that a 500w will be enough for one.

 

[NC37]

Yeah from the reviews I figured I can handle 1 with no sweat. Well, got B-day and holidays coming up. Plenty of time to watch for a price break and get ready for the 2nd board.

Happy that my Gigabyte is arriving tomorrow. My last NV board I personally bought was a G70 7800GS, although someone gave me a 8800GTS 640 awhile back. But it wasn't faster than the 3870 in every app so I didn't use it. Wanted to try the Physx stuff in UT3 but then I found out you had to pay for it so that killed that. Had good times with my old G70. Even flashed it to my Mac to keep it in operation. Didn't think I'd go back to NV after the fiasco they've had the last couple years. But the 104 changed that. Sure would like to see more GPUs like the 104. Or an X2 board made with them. Would be sweet.

 

[NC37]

Wee, GTX460 working just fine. Is interesting to see the power indicators on my Thermaltake light up. I plugged both 6 pins into the 460. They become brighter when more power is being drawn. It appears the 460 favors a single connector till it needs more power. Usually 12v1 is lit up with about 50% intensity under normal use. Flickers under idle. Under games it goes to 100% and the 12v2 line kicks on. But I haven't seen it get as bright as 12v1.