[Tech] New PSU needed?

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elDiablo

Guest
For graphics cards, yes. 500W is the minimum recommended system power (click spefications, and scroll down to the bottom) for the GTX 260, which draws a maximum of 182W. The Radeon HD 5970 draws a maximum of 294W (scroll down). Obviously you can sit and count the maximum usage of all the components in your case, and make sure you aren't using too much, and then make a call, but if you're lazy like me, a rule of thumb that is you are nearly doubling the power requirement of your graphics card, it's probably a good guess that you need a new PSU.

For the CPU, I'm not too sure as you don't say exactly which Dual Core you have (E7000? E8000? X6800? E4000?), so I'd give rough guidelines from a colourful chart: BING! Let's assume that your dual core is less than the Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4GHz), and say that it's about 80W. The i7 930 is sitting at around 125W. So again, depending on what else is in your case, you might be fine.

The big difference is the graphics cards. Really, that's a big jump in power needs, and I doubt that the 500W PSU will cut it for the 5970. I don't know what you want to get (there is a 750W PSU on Overclockers.co.uk in the this week only for about £50 I think). Look around and find out what is recommended for the 5970. I'd guess it would be more like a 900W recommended, as that overclockers page for your i7 is trying to sell you a 850W PSU and a 5870.

So yeah, hope that helps!
 
PsiSoldier

PsiSoldier

Well-Known Member
I'd say ~700 should be plenty for an i7 and 5870, seeing as it only uses 25W more than my 4890 at full load (apparently)

reference

Also, this might be useful as a guidance tool - PSUEngine (ty bob :))
 
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