Figuring out what GPU will work with 220W PSU

[Cloudy White]

Hi everybody, and thanks for reading. I'll try keep this concise. I have a pre-built mini-itx computer with a non-removable 220W PSU.

>CPU i5-9400 - 65W

>Mobo Mini-ITX Aspire XC-885 (same as computer model, proprietary bullshit?) - ??? W

>Toshiba HDD - 3.7/6.4 idle/peak W

>No case fans

>Barely any ports for stuff
>No disc drives
 

I'm utterly confused looking at low power GPU review sites, this is from the same page...
>Gigabyte Radeon 550 uses 50W but needs 400W PSU

>Zotac GTX 1050 uses 75W but needs 300W PSU

 

Do I just get the Zotac GTX 1030 at its 30W usage, or can I get something a bit beefier?

[Mateyyy]

Either a GT 1030 GDDR5/750Ti or a GTX 1650 with some prayers.

[Chris Pratt]

10 minutes ago, Cloudy White said:

Hi everybody, and thanks for reading. I'll try keep this concise. I have a pre-built mini-itx computer with a non-removable 220W PSU.

>CPU i5-9400 - 65W

>Mobo Mini-ITX Aspire XC-885 (same as computer model, proprietary bullshit?) - ??? W

>Toshiba HDD - 3.7/6.4 idle/peak W

>No case fans

>Barely any ports for stuff
>No disc drives
 

I'm utterly confused looking at low power GPU review sites, this is from the same page...
>Gigabyte Radeon 550 uses 50W but needs 400W PSU

>Zotac GTX 1050 uses 75W but needs 300W PSU

 

Do I just get the Zotac GTX 1030 at its 30W usage, or can I get something a bit beefier?

TDP is not necessarily the same as your actual power draw. Under load, that CPU will probably be drawing 120-140W. That's assuming you don't overclock it.

[mahyar]

4 minutes ago, Chris Pratt said:

TDP is not necessarily the same as your actual power draw. Under load, that CPU will probably be drawing 120-140W. That's assuming you don't overclock it.

die it self wont draw more that TDP but its vrms efficiency that increases it to like 100 or 110w 

[Eigenvektor]

10 minutes ago, Cloudy White said:

I'm utterly confused looking at low power GPU review sites, this is from the same page...

>Gigabyte Radeon 550 uses 50W but needs 400W PSU

>Zotac GTX 1050 uses 75W but needs 300W PSU

These recommendations are based on a "typical system" such a GPU is used in, plus some safety margins. So the recommendation is not based on the GPU alone.

 

To get a better idea of your system's power draw, connect it to a kill-a-watt and do some stress testing. This will show you how much power it actually uses under load and how much headroom you have.

[aisle9]

17 minutes ago, Cloudy White said:

Hi everybody, and thanks for reading. I'll try keep this concise. I have a pre-built mini-itx computer with a non-removable 220W PSU.

>CPU i5-9400 - 65W

>Mobo Mini-ITX Aspire XC-885 (same as computer model, proprietary bullshit?) - ??? W

>Toshiba HDD - 3.7/6.4 idle/peak W

>No case fans

>Barely any ports for stuff
>No disc drives
 

I'm utterly confused looking at low power GPU review sites, this is from the same page...
>Gigabyte Radeon 550 uses 50W but needs 400W PSU

>Zotac GTX 1050 uses 75W but needs 300W PSU

 

Do I just get the Zotac GTX 1030 at its 30W usage, or can I get something a bit beefier?

First off, who built the thing? The manufacturer of the PSU is important here. If it's a Lite-On, Seasonic or Delta unit, even In-Win is ok here, you're good to assume that it's actually pushing 220W. If it's from Chang's Chinese Firecracker Factory's power supply division, assume fireworks if you push it to 220W for long.

 

To more specifically answer your question, I've dropped an i7-2600 (95W) into a Dell Optiplex 790 SFF along with a low-profile GTX 750 Ti (60W) on that system's 240W Delta PSU, and nothing ever went bang. If your PSU is solid and there's room for the card, I think an RX 550 would be fine, and the 1050 isn't entirely out of the question.

 

Which case, btw? I'm always looking for fun new ITX possibilities.

[Cloudy White]

4 minutes ago, Eigenvektor said:

To get a better idea of your system's power draw, connect it to a kill-a-watt and do some stress testing.

Yeah, I made this topic in case there was an easy answer but reading everybody here, seems this is the smart move, thanks friendo, I'll get my ass on one of those pronto! Thanks chaps!

[Mateyyy]

19 minutes ago, Chris Pratt said:

Under load, that CPU will probably be drawing 120-140W. That's assuming you don't overclock it.

Huh?

[Cloudy White]

@aisle9 >Who made the PSU

Oh that's a banging question, yeah a Lite-On. Case is uhhh... think it might be proprietary like some Alienware shit going on, shame if so as I love the look of it. Aspire XC-885 is the model, has a gorgeous vertical brush on the front plate, and a cute little bronze/gold trim around the power button.
*Edit. Case has to be sold separately, otherwise it wouldn't have the redundant disc drive port on the front.

@Mateyyy
Nice call with the graph.

[Ralf]

34 minutes ago, aisle9 said:

First off, who built the thing? The manufacturer of the PSU is important here. If it's a Lite-On, Seasonic or Delta unit, even In-Win is ok here, you're good to assume that it's actually pushing 220W.

It's 192W @35℃ on the 12V rail and 174W @50℃. So if the case has bad airflow and/or the psu draws fresh(hot) air from inside, it's loosing whopping 50W if you assume that it's a 220W psu.

[Avocheeseado]

A 1650 with a 9400 + hdd, mobo and ram will pull just over 200w. 

4 hours ago, Ralf said:

It's 192W @35℃ on the 12V rail and 174W @50℃. So if the case has bad airflow and/or the psu draws fresh(hot) air from inside, it's loosing whopping 50W if you assume that it's a 220W psu.

Yes you will need to compensate for that. if that is the case then a 1030 might be your best bet