Need Help Finding the Right PSU

[Koroviev]

This is essentially a follow-up to the previous thread I posted regarding video cards. I followed the advice of the posters and took a serious look at the HD 5/6670 and the HD 5/6750 (unless someone can point me to a deal with no mail-in rebate, the 5/6770 is too costly). Based on what I've read, there isn't much appreciable difference between the 5670 and the 6670, and likewise for the 5750 and the 6750.

However, there is a significant difference between the 6670 and the 6750 in that the minimum power requirement for the 6750 is 450W, while the minimum power requirement for the 6670 is only 400W. Here's some additional info on the system requirements for the 6750:

"PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
450 Watt or greater power supply with one 75W 6-pin PCI Express® power connectors recommended "

And here's the same info for the 6670:

"PCI Express® based PC is required with one X16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard
400 Watt or greater power supply recommended."

So, here's what I need to know:

Assuming I were to go for the 6750, would I need a 450W power supply, or would it be safer to go with a 500W power supply?

Is it worth the extra money for a 6750? Is there a significant performance difference between it and the 6670? (I've read that the 6670 is somewhat of a borderline card, but another poster suggested that the 6670 provides sufficient results.)

Please feel free to share any personal preferences, or even suggest alternative cards. I understand that many people prefer NVIDIA cards, but I haven't really found any with comparable performance levels at this price point.

Here are some actual examples of cards that I am considering:

HD 6750 [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=hd6750&gs_upl=77536l79536l4l80104l6l5l1l0l0l1l748l2242l2-1.5-2.1l5l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&biw=1120&bih=516&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=2303644664283717317&sa=X&ei=dum7Tr3FDoLhiALN3KXpAQ&ved=0CJ4BEPMCMAE]
HD 6670 [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=hd6670&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=15164423507789084361&sa=X&ei=kO27TpS8GaiFiALLv6iMAg&ved=0CLwBEPMCMAI]
HD 5750 [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=hd5750&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=17567602316735274375&sa=X&ei=wu27TqKLArTciQLiue25Bg&ved=0CMQBEPMCMAQ]
HD 5670 [http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=hd5670&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14151073178195217658&sa=X&ei=Ae67TsLBB-KdiALAufiQAg&ved=0CIgBEPMCMAA]

Oh, and here are my system specs again:

Operating system: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 250
RAM: 4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 533MHz
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series (VISIONTEK)

 

[Fayathon]

Anyone worth their salt as a computer builder will tell you that you need to get a PSU that is rated a fair bit higher than what you actually need in terms of power. For instance, I'm running a Radeon HD 5770 graphics card and I've got a 750W PSU. You don't want to be running your power supply at full bore all the time, it's bad for it.

I would suggest something along the lines of this [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7195036&CatId=1483] power supply.

Also, the nicest GPU on the market isn't going to be enough if you're running outdated equipment, you might want to upgrade to a quad core CPU and possibly faster RAM. Other than that a new PSU/GPU should get you on the right track to a nice upgrade.

 

[Koroviev]

Anyone worth their salt as a computer builder will tell you that you need to get a PSU that is rated a fair bit higher than what you actually need in terms of power. For instance, I'm running a Radeon HD 5770 graphics card and I've got a 750W PSU. You don't want to be running your power supply at full bore all the time, it's bad for it.

I would suggest something along the lines of this [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7195036&CatId=1483] power supply.

Also, the nicest GPU on the market isn't going to be enough if you're running outdated equipment, you might want to upgrade to a quad core CPU and possibly faster RAM. Other than that a new PSU/GPU should get you on the right track to a nice upgrade.

Unfortunately I can't afford to upgrade either at the moment. I don't plan on playing the most recent releases. I would actually be happy as a clam if I could simply run Bastion at a consistent 60 fps.

But that is good to know about the PSU. However, is it possible to find one in the $40-50 range? I don't have much beyond that after the card.

 

[Fayathon]

*snip*

I've got another [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435072&CatId=1483] that's a bit cheaper.

Even if you don't have the cash, the beautiful part about computers is that you can upgrade them a little at a time, the only thing you have to make absolutely sure to do is getting a new motherboard and a new CPU at the same time, old motherboards tend to not support new CPUs.

Anyways, that PSU should help you out with your dilemma, if you are thinking about upgrading your computer in the future, the Escapist has more than a few enthusiasts that would be more than happy to help.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

Is it worth the extra money for a 6750? Is there a significant performance difference between it and the 6670? (I've read that the 6670 is somewhat of a borderline card, but another poster suggested that the 6670 provides sufficient results.)

Typically, a jump from a xx70 to the next xx50 isn't really going to require a lot more power. A bit, maybe, but it's really negligible. So, really, the same power supply could be used for either card.

Please feel free to share any personal preferences, or even suggest alternative cards. I understand that many people prefer NVIDIA cards, but I haven't really found any with comparable performance levels at this price point.

NVIDIA cards

Blegh. Disgusting, but that's just my opinion. If you're more of an AMD guy for processors, go with ATI/AMD for the video card. The synergy makes up for the slight lack of performance in comparison to Intel/nVidia setups.

I am on a pretty tight budget. I'd really like to spend around $30 for the PSU, so any suggestions in that price range would be much appreciated. If I spend less on the card, then I can spend more on the PSU.

Trust me, bro, you're not gonna get something good for $30. Reliable equipment is going to cost you, and the last thing you want to skimp on is the PSU.

Oh, and here are my system specs again:

Operating system: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 250
RAM: 4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 533MHz
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series (VISIONTEK)

I would suggest something along the lines of this [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7195036&CatId=1483] power supply.

Also, the nicest GPU on the market isn't going to be enough if you're running outdated equipment, you might want to upgrade to a quad core CPU and possibly faster RAM. Other than that a new PSU/GPU should get you on the right track to a nice upgrade.

Basically, this. The RAM is decent, but it's not really too fast by today's standards. It's probably not worth it to just scrap it all and upgrade the speed, though. If your motherboard has a built-in overclocking utility, use that to bump the MHz up a bit. The CPU on the other hand is woefully underpowered. For gaming, you're gonna want a quad core. Otherwise, you're going to get some lag when you try to perform CPU intensive actions, and trust me, games tend to do that a lot nowadays.

/wall of text

 

[Koroviev]

*snip*

I've got another [http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4435072&CatId=1483] that's a bit cheaper.

Even if you don't have the cash, the beautiful part about computers is that you can upgrade them a little at a time, the only thing you have to make absolutely sure to do is getting a new motherboard and a new CPU at the same time, old motherboards tend to not support new CPUs.

Anyways, that PSU should help you out with your dilemma, if you are thinking about upgrading your computer in the future, the Escapist has more than a few enthusiasts that would be more than happy to help.

Okay, that is definitely more along the lines of what I can afford. Are there any other brands that you would recommend? And, based on your suggestions, I'm assuming that I should look for a 600W.

Edit: And the power supply you suggested will work with the cards I'm looking at?

 

[Koroviev]

Typically, a jump from a xx70 to the next xx50 isn't really going to require a lot more power. A bit, maybe, but it's really negligible. So, really, the same power supply could be used for either card.

I was actually asking about the in-game performance of the respective cards, but it's true, the power requirements are fairly similar.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

Typically, a jump from a xx70 to the next xx50 isn't really going to require a lot more power. A bit, maybe, but it's really negligible. So, really, the same power supply could be used for either card.

I was actually asking about the in-game performance of the respective cards, but it's true, the power requirements are fairly similar.

Here [http://www.hwcompare.com/109/radeon-hd-5670-vs-radeon-hd-5750-1gb/] is a benchmark of the 5750 and the 5670, showing that the 5750 is somewhat faster than the 5670.

 

[Koroviev]

Typically, a jump from a xx70 to the next xx50 isn't really going to require a lot more power. A bit, maybe, but it's really negligible. So, really, the same power supply could be used for either card.

I was actually asking about the in-game performance of the respective cards, but it's true, the power requirements are fairly similar.

Here [http://www.hwcompare.com/109/radeon-hd-5670-vs-radeon-hd-5750-1gb/] is a benchmark of the 5750 and the 5670, showing that the 5750 is somewhat faster than the 5670.

There is certainly a noticeable difference. Where might I find the best deal on a 5/6750? It seems as though the 5750 runs a little higher, if only because it was released more than two years ago.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

There is certainly a noticeable difference. Where might I find the best deal on a 5/6750? It seems as though the 5750 runs a little higher, if only because it was released more than two years ago.

You'll want to go with Newegg [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161379]. There weren't any 5750s there, and this was the cheapest 6750 that I could find which had Crossfire, in case you'd ever want that.

All in all, $100 isn't bad for a card of its performance.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

A 700 Watt PSU is good to run most cards, and it is pretty cheap.

 

[Koroviev]

There is certainly a noticeable difference. Where might I find the best deal on a 5/6750? It seems as though the 5750 runs a little higher, if only because it was released more than two years ago.

You'll want to go with Newegg [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161379]. There weren't any 5750s there, and this was the cheapest 6750 that I could find which had Crossfire, in case you'd ever want that.

All in all, $100 isn't bad for a card of its performance.

Amazon has it for a few dollars less when you account for free shipping and no tax. How does a card manufactured by HIS compare to one manufactured by Sapphire? Is it a bad idea to consider refurbished cards?

 

[Me55enger]

Whether or not someone above has mentioned this,I dont know. I am on a tight time limit as I want to play some APB before my girlfriend needs me to check out her ann summers stuff on Skype.

Although I appreciate that you are building on a budget, you should consider spending more on the PSU, for this one reason:

Cheap PSU's dont have a power surge protection: meaning in the event you get a surge, it will fry everything. I have read this about cheap PSU's. It happens.

I would personally Recommend the Corsiar range of modular PSUs. Theyre overkill, all things considered, and slightly more pricey, but they will do the job and more until the end.

And yes, you'll need more wattage than what the GPU says you'll need, you are, after all, running a whole PC in there.

I am by no means a professional, therefore if anyone with more knowledge can either agree, expand, or set me straight, please do.

 

[TheLastSamurai14]

Amazon has it for a few dollars less when you account for free shipping and no tax. How does a card manufactured by HIS compare to one manufactured by Sapphire? Is it a bad idea to consider refurbished cards?

I've personally owned both an Sapphire 4890 card, which I've since updated to an HIS 5770 card. I've not noted any major differences between the two in terms of life expectancy or hardware problems.

As for refurbished cards, I don't have any experience on them, but if they're still fairly new, and thus not prone to failure, go for it.

 

[Koroviev]

Anyone worth their salt as a computer builder will tell you that you need to get a PSU that is rated a fair bit higher than what you actually need in terms of power. For instance, I'm running a Radeon HD 5770 graphics card and I've got a 750W PSU. You don't want to be running your power supply at full bore all the time, it's bad for it.

Is it not the opposite?

GPU manufacturers overestimate the requirements due to the amount of shit PSUs out there.

I'm running a 6670 on a 300W PSU despite the minimum being 400W.

So it might be all right if I went with a higher end PSU with lower wattage (still meeting or slightly exceeding the requirements of the card)?

 

[Fayathon]

*sinp*

The PSUs should be compatible, but even if they are not there are converters to get the right connections that run $5-10. As for brands the only one I have personal experience with is Corsair, and they tend to be a bit more pricy, but it does a wonderful job with my computer so I don't really care.

 

[Fayathon]

Is it not the opposite?

GPU manufacturers overestimate the requirements due to the amount of shit PSUs out there.

I'm running a 6670 on a 300W PSU despite the minimum being 400W.

Actually getting certified for my A+ right now man, you want extra power. You technically can run on less, but it's not healthy for the hardware. The best example I have is my current setup used to be ran on a 350W PSU, and it ran around 45-50C when I was gaming, and more when I did anything more intense. High heat is bad for your system, though up to 60C is in the acceptable range of heat before you really start damaging things. I replaced my PSU with a new 750W PSU and the temperature of my system under heavy load (read running harder than I had ever ran it before the upgrade) is 43C.

If your power supply is running too hard it loses a lot of power as heat loss, and it makes your system less efficient.

 

[Koroviev]

Anyone worth their salt as a computer builder will tell you that you need to get a PSU that is rated a fair bit higher than what you actually need in terms of power. For instance, I'm running a Radeon HD 5770 graphics card and I've got a 750W PSU. You don't want to be running your power supply at full bore all the time, it's bad for it.

Is it not the opposite?

GPU manufacturers overestimate the requirements due to the amount of shit PSUs out there.

I'm running a 6670 on a 300W PSU despite the minimum being 400W.

So it might be all right if I went with a higher end PSU with lower wattage (still meeting or slightly exceeding the requirements of the card)?

The most important thing is how the watts are spread among the rails on a PSU. It's essentail to have lots on the 12v rail or you won't be able to handle a GPU with your CPU.

I had a 300w psu but it wouldn't have ran the gpu as it only has 8A on the 12v rzil byt my new 300w after-market psu has near 25-30A on the 2 12v rails.

So yes, you could get a higher end psu that has less watts, learn about amps as they are very important.

Also unlike the above poster I have ran a 5770 with an overclocked i5 750 for 2 years on a 650w psu without incident.

Do you have any recommendations for a 500W PSU under $40 that would work with an HD 6750?

 

[Wolfram23]

snip

Operating system: MS Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 250
RAM: 4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 533MHz
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3600 Series (VISIONTEK)

Corsair 450W will be more than enough with a new GPU. Even this will be plenty:
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171042

Your total system TDP will probably be 250W at the most.

And yeah, I'm a system builder in my spare time.

 

[ElPatron]

I would actually be happy as a clam if I could simply run Bastion at a consistent 60 fps.

You can force V-sync in your card definitions, me thinks.

That way you never go above the screen's refresh rate and you don't have to be running your card full power to render frames you can't see that well.