Power Supply Question

[Tomato-Rifle]

Hey Guru's

I am soon going to buying my first big budget video card, around $450-$500.

I have my eyes on the GeForce GTX 780 Superclocked 3GB 384-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 SLI Support Video Card

Now i know that this thing is probably really power hungry. I have a 3-4 year old OCZ GameXStream 600W power supply that I've been using and its never let me down.

My question is whether there is any danger in using this PS. Is it too old? Would it have enough juice for the GTX 780? Would it be wise to upgrade to something more powerful like 750w?

If it should be enough to power my rig with the new card, should i just continue to use it and see? Whats the worst that can happen, the PS just dies? Thanks.

[ComradeHX]

Try something like this:
eXtreme Power Supply Calculator

I have seen a review in which a cheap psu blew up when drawing at the maximum amount rated.
Not sure if relevant.

[Domfan94]

It's recommended that you swap out your PSU. Though the 780 should be pretty efficient, I would recommend that you grab something like 700-750 w unit to be sure and give headroom for future upgrades

[PLODDITHANLEY]

I've HEARD a PSU dieing can blow components on a mobo, God knows if it's true though.

[LITOralis.nMd]

EVGA GeForce GTX 780 3GB SuperClocked Video Cards in SLI - Power Consumption Test

A review of your card,...
IN SLI, with two cards, 750W max draw under stress testing:

Single card configuration is around 500 watts,

I'd expect you'll have more components in your system so expect 550Watts when benchmarking 3DMark06.

So I'd say if you believe the 5% degradation per year for PSU capacitors, it would be time for you to buy a new PSU. (I personally don't believe in it)

If you expect to SLI the GTX 780 in the future, do your self a favor and bump up to a PSU that is 900W or larger now.

If you don't think you'll go SLI, buy the 780 and install it with your current PSU, if it doesn't have juice you'll know after stress tests. Then go buy a new PSU.

boring reading:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/300 ... itor-aging

[Tomato-Rifle]

Thanks for all the answer fella's!

I didn't have the patience to fill out the power supply calculator, and decided i wanted a new one. So i took LITO's and Domfans advice. At first i was buying a 750w but then cancelled that when i found a 850w for a few dollars less, overall like 94 dollars.

Now I'll have a modular power supply that will be ready to meet the demands of future upgrades.

If anyone is curious which PSU i bought:

EVGA 850W SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Power Supply

And Graphics card :
ASUS GeForce GTX 780 3GB ($440 dollars! $420 with rebate, very good deal!!!)

I just hope the card fits inside my case

Again thanks guys.

[Domfan94]

Clad to be help. Also I'm envious about your card.
If only I had money to spare,sigh.

[LITOralis.nMd]

Cool, the 780 is going to last you a good 5 to 7 years I think. enjoy.

remember that 2 GTX 780s and a overclocked CPU combined might stress that PSU.
but first get to having 2 GTX 780s, and a aftermarket CPU cooler and the time to overclock the CPU before you ever worry about it.

[Tomato-Rifle]

Yeah you're right but i dont think i will be SLI-ing anything for a while.

I checked out some games like BF4 on the highest setting available. Didn't have the fps counter on but it was smooth as fuck. No drops. I had to mingle it into the case carefully, if the card was even a quarter inch longer i would have to remove some bays to get it in.

Thanks again guys, very happy with my purchases, also upgraded from a 19" screen to a 24" and its a world of a difference!