A quick question about computers.

[TMAN10112]

I know there isn't much of a discussion with this thread, but for the past month I've been cyked about the phenom 2 processor which released today. I was just about to order one but I noticed that it requires 125 watts, and just befor I order it I need an answer to a question that just started bothering me; I have a 600 watt power supply, and a graphics card that requires 500 watts, so if the phenom 2 processor requires 125 watts, then do I need a power supply that is at least 625 watts, or is my current one enough?

p.s. What if I was to get a cooling system, or a heatsink? would it make much of a difference?

 

[TMAN10112]

anyone.....please?

 

[samsprinkle]

I'd say it'd be a good idea to get more watts(don't ask me how) but my friend had a complaint when he got his new computer that it required too many watts and it kept crashing...I don't really know much about the technical aspect of electricity...but I'd say find out how to get more watts quickly! That new processor looks B.A.!

 

[TMAN10112]

My main problem is that after I buy the processor with all my extra cash, I won't be able to afford any more upgrades for quite a while, and if I upgrade my power supply I won't have enough left for the processor itself.

 

[TMAN10112]

If your power supply is rated at 600W and your graphics card is consuming 500W (though at 500W you must be running multiple high-end cards in SLI/Crossfire), you are already power-starving your system. Power supplies are not 100% efficient, and while yours consumes 600W, if it's rated at 80% efficient it delivers 480W max to the computer. A full explaination of this can be found <a target=_blank href=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-power-supplies,1664.html>here, or skip to the <a target=_blank href=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-power-supplies,1664-9.html>summary and conclusion page for a quick rundown of how to estimate how big a power supply you need.

 

[51gunner]

Your graphics card requires five hundred watts? I find this doubtful.

 

[[Gavo]]

Whoa. what GPU do you have?

Anyways, you SHOULD be fine, my old computer had a 170 or 270 Watt power supply, and my GPU said the "recommended" amount was 350W.

You should be fine in the short run.

I think.

Get an new power supply soon, if you can.

 

[TMAN10112]

If your power supply is rated at 600W and your graphics card is consuming 500W (though at 500W you must be running multiple high-end cards in SLI/Crossfire), you are already power-starving your system. Power supplies are not 100% efficient, and while yours consumes 600W, if it's rated at 80% efficient it delivers 480W max to the computer. A full explaination of this can be found <a target=_blank href=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-power-supplies,1664.html>here, or skip to the <a target=_blank href=http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/pc-power-supplies,1664-9.html>summary and conclusion page for a quick rundown of how to estimate how big a power supply you need.

I'm using a Radeon HD 4870 graphics card, I only think it requires 500w because thats what it said on the box.

p.s. thanks for the links

 

[cainx10a]

my HD 4870 card didn't even work with a 650 W PSU. But it sure did with a 850 W which I just picked up today.

 

[TMAN10112]

A high quality 600W power supply is more than enough to run a Phenom II and an HD4870.

But you haven't told us if your PSU is high quality.

this is the power supply I got: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182032

 

[TMAN10112]

If he's got an overclocked 4870, at max load it'll easily consume upwards of 200W on it's own (can't find the charts, but I remember a Sapphire brand one at around 203W, not far under some of the crossfired pairs at 235 and up). The box may be stating a minimum recommended for the system to run it and all the usual components, plus factoring in the inherent inefficiency of power supplies to arrive at the 500W number. Also, if you've got an older PSU, the max load isn't going to be as high as it used to, especially if you've been running it at over 80-90% capacity (depends on the PSU) for a long time.

edit: 72% efficiency on that one. The max you'll pull is 432W, and you really don't want to run at max capacity.