Required PSU Wattage for R9 290

[Xquisite]

Dude, you should not have any worries with that PSU. It's sufficient for your needs. They recommend a better PSU because there might be a chance that you have a bad PSU that does not provide its wattage as advertised and ultimately melts down your GPU.

[TinoXtreme]

It can provide 600W total to the system, and it will pull a theoretical ~750W from the wall as converting AC (from wall) into DC(for the pc) is 80% efficient.

 

The CX600 will run a 290 absolutely fine.

 

CX600 has 46 amps on the (single) 12V rail (552w).

 

Here is a system TOTAL load (so everything running), an R9 290 and an overclocked 3570K (4.2).

 

 

418W.

 

So the guy on the last page is using results from people using crap £15 850W PSUs.

 

"PSU manufacturers have played on the fact that bigger is better when talking about PSUs. But the truth is that a modern mainstream PSU has enough clout to power a high-end build, and there's little reason to look past 600W unless you really are running heavily-overclocked systems with multiple graphics cards."

 

src: hexus

So yea, it can provide the power, but will it be stable?

it will run at what, 70-90% load?

My CX600 is not the highest quality PSU, can it provide stable power to my components?

Well, I ordered my 290 already  B)

[daemonowner]

As Enderman said, "750 / .8 = 937.5W that it will take from the wall". If your system is pulling 750W, the PSU will be pulling 937.5W from the wall. Of course, we don't really need to consider that here, because your system won't pull anywhere near 750W and a (good) 600W power supply can deliver 600W, not 600W from the wall.

 

Many companies overestimate the amount of power you will need, and recommend higher Wattage power supplies than what you actually need. The reason is that many people have low end units that can't deliver their rated Wattage, and recommending 750W is simpler than dealing with people who insist their 500W garbage heap is capable of running a high end setup. Also, some have conflicts of interest and sell power supplies themselves. Higher Wattage units cost more, and hence profit.

 

Noooooo dont use anything under a 750w psu for the r9 290.... If u have 2 cards need min 850w. This card will melt anything under 700 w

Are u hi?

This site lol ... First go to any real tech site and see this question been asked 10000 times i have already seen this card melt a 650 and no one with a brain will tell u to run 200 watt less then the reconmended..

Learn to quote.

Learn to spell.

Learn to research.

And go back to those sites where they recommend 750W for a 290.

Interesting that there's a 100W difference between single and crossfire setups. A single 290 would 'melt a 650' and needs 750W minimum, but jump 100W more and you can run two of them!

 

Let's begin. In no particular order...

Techpowerup reviewed the Sapphire Vapor-X R9 290, and the maximum power consumption through the PCIE connectors was 311W.

In 3DMark06/11, Tweaktown measured the total power consumption of their system including a 3960X at 4.7GHz and the HIS R9 290 IceQ Turbo was 453W.

Tweaktown also reviewed the Sapphire Vapor-X R9 290 OC, and with their 4.7GHz 3960X system stressed in 3DMark06/11 they found the maximum power consumption to be 429W.

While gaming, HardwareCanucks found their system including a 4930k at 4.7GHz and the Sapphire Vapor-X R9 290 OC to use 444W.

Tweaktown reviewed the Sapphire Tri-X R9 290 OC and found the total power consumption to be 442W.

HardOCP found their whole test system including a 3770k at 4.6GHz and the Asus DC2 R9 290 OC to use 439W.

With a 3960X at 4.8GHz and the Asus DC2 R9 290, Xbitlabs found the total system power consumption to be 537W in Crysis 3. I suspect this included inefficiency (energy lost as heat at the wall).

HardwareCanucks found the whole system including the XFX DD R9 290 to use 470W in Unigine Valley stress testing. 

CustomPCreview's review of the MSI Gaming R9 290 found the total system power consumption with a 3570k @stock to be 388W in Furmark 

HardwareCanucks found the whole system with a Sapphire Tri-X R9 290 OC to use 476W in Unigine Valley.

Guru3D tested the Asus DC2 R9 290 OC with a 3960X at 4.6GHz, and found the whole system to use 374W in full GPU stress. The calculated GPU usage was 255W at load.

HardwareCanucks reviewed the reference R9 290, and at load their whole system pulled 468W.

With an i7 3820 and the reference R9 290, techreport found the system to use 349W at load. 

Tomshardware found the peak reference R9 290 power consumption to be 255W, and 201W while gaming.

Guru3D calculated the reference R9 290's TDP as 254W, with their system using 372W at load.

Tweaktown's review of the reference R9 290 found the total power consumption to be 484W.

With a stock 3960X and the reference R9 290, eteknix found the system power consumption to be 393.5W.

Techpowerup measured the power draw through the PCIE connectors and found the R9 290 to pull 263W at most.

 

Tell me more about those 650W power supplies that melted from running an R9 290.

[harrynowl]

So yea, it can provide the power, but will it be stable?

it will run at what, 70-90% load?

My CX600 is not the highest quality PSU, can it provide stable power to my components?

Well, I ordered my 290 already  B)

Will be fine. It will run at ~80% load in a worst case scenario which is completely acceptable

[daemonowner]

@TinoXtreme

@harrynowl is correct. A CX600 won't always draw 600W, and if your try to pull 600W from it, it will be pulling 750W from the wall, 150W would be lost as heat mainly due to inefficiency (assuming 80% efficiency when pulling 600W).

The CX Series is the lowest I would personally consider. It's an acceptable budget series. It should be fine.

[TinoXtreme]

Will be fine. It will run at ~80% load in a worst case scenario which is completely acceptable

Thanks guys. This is the best community I've ever seen! 

[Aniallation]

I have a question tho,

I asked many people (not on this forum, and I recieved a lot of different answers)

So my PSU is CX from Corsair 600W

 

Does that mean it's gonna pull 600W from the wall and then shove 80% of that into my rig or that it's gonna shove 600W into my rig and pull 750W from the wall?

 

It'll shove 600W into your rig and pull 750W from the wall, but for how long is debateable... which is why it's not a PSU I'd personally buy

[TinoXtreme]

It'll shove 600W into your rig and pull 750W from the wall, but for how long is debateable... which is why it's not a PSU I'd personally buy

That's what I'm afraid of

[Haakon18]

So after reading through this I have my own system question.

I am currently running a;

FX-8320 @ 3.5GHz

Sapphire R9 280x Tri-x Vapor-x OC @ stock 1100/1500

1 HDD

1 DVD

8Gb 1600MHz Ripjaw X

On a 500w Cobra Raidmax 80+ Gold psu.

I have had no issue, games great.

however I am looking to upgrade to the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-x @ stock. In theory the extra power requirement is 25w so I should be fine?

[dragoon20005]

So after reading through this I have my own system question.

I am currently running a;

FX-8320 @ 3.5GHz

Sapphire R9 280x Tri-x Vapor-x OC @ stock 1100/1500

1 HDD

1 DVD

8Gb 1600MHz Ripjaw X

On a 500w Cobra Raidmax 80+ Gold psu.

I have had no issue, games great.

however I am looking to upgrade to the Sapphire R9 290 Tri-x @ stock. In theory the extra power requirement is 25w so I should be fine?

 

 

Many will also agree with me that the PSU you got in your rig is a bomb waiting to explode anytime

 

investing on a new PSU will be needed

 

 

*bomb has been planted... *beep beep beep

[Cheddle]

So, I decided. I'm buying an R9 290 Tri-x from Sapphire.

But, I'm worried my Corsair 600W 80+ is not going to be enough...

 

I have 1 HDD, 1 DVD/RW ROM, Core i5 3330 , 2 DDR3 RAM sticks and 4 fans.

 

So, I checked how much power my rig will need with Cooler Master's PSU Calculator and MSI's PSU Calculator.

 

CoolerMater's PSU Calculator: 463W

MSI's PSU Calcuator: 357W

 

WTF?  That's a 100W difference.

I know this is just an esimate but still!

 

I also checked on Sapphire's website. According to them, I need a 750W PSU!!!

Let's assume this "750W PSU" is only 80+ certified. 80% * 750W = 600W

 

Every comment is appriciated, but I'd like to get an oppinion from someone who know's what he's talking about.

Can my PSU power my rig? Even when I'm running both CPU and GPU at full load? Will it be stable?

I don't to destroy my PC.

 

I ran my crossfire r9 290's on a 80+ 750w high current gamer by Antec. I run my crossfire 4870's on a 500w "came with my $40 computer case" power supply.

 

Guess I have been lucky haha

 

Im going to say that as long as your power supply has 400watts on the 12v rail (33amps) you will be fine. This should be some 450-500w PSU's and all 550w+ PSU's

[B_aker]

 

Tell me more about those 650W power supplies that melted from running an R9 290.

Made and account to like this^

[Rylie59]

You'll rarely need more than 600 watts for a single gpu setup

[Andrew Sh]

Didn't read the date of OP.

But this is for future people looking for this answer.

So, I decided. I'm buying an R9 290 Tri-x from Sapphire.

But, I'm worried my Corsair 600W 80+ is not going to be enough...

I have 1 HDD, 1 DVD/RW ROM, Core i5 3330 , 2 DDR3 RAM sticks and 4 fans.

So, I checked how much power my rig will need with Cooler Master's PSU Calculator and MSI's PSU Calculator.

CoolerMater's PSU Calculator: 463W

MSI's PSU Calcuator: 357W

WTF? That's a 100W difference.

I know this is just an esimate but still!

I also checked on Sapphire's website. According to them, I need a 750W PSU!!!

Let's assume this "750W PSU" is only 80+ certified. 80% * 750W = 600W

Every comment is appriciated, but I'd like to get an oppinion from someone who know's what he's talking about.

Can my PSU power my rig? Even when I'm running both CPU and GPU at full load? Will it be stable?

I don't to destroy my PC.

Despite how people jizz all over the 290/x I still can't figure out how anyone in their right state of mind would get one.

They are so hot and hungry that they'd go 7 course meal on your electricity bill. I suppose most people here don't pay their own bills yet. Get either a gtx 970 or r9 390.

Based on above comments and your own observations, you may have to upgrade PSU too. For that extra cost you can easily get a better CURRENT generation GPU that will be faster and more efficient.

Don't be silly. Get a new GPU that won't act as one of those super costly electric house heater fans.

[don_svetlio]

[don_svetlio]

Stahp buying R9 290s with CX T_T

[don_svetlio]

Didn't read the date of OP.

But this is for future people looking for this answer.

Despite how people jizz all over the 290/x I still can't figure out how anyone in their right state of mind would get one.

They are so hot and hungry that they'd go 7 course meal on your electricity bill. I suppose most people here don't pay their own bills yet. Get either a gtx 970 or r9 390.

Based on above comments and your own observations, you may have to upgrade PSU too. For that extra cost you can easily get a better CURRENT generation GPU that will be faster and more efficient.

Don't be silly. Get a new GPU that won't act as one of those super costly electric house heater fans.

A 970 will still make the CX hot enough for it to have a meltdown - and the difference in power draw between the 390 and 970 is not that large.

[Andrew Sh]

A 970 will still make the CX hot enough for it to have a meltdown - and the difference in power draw between the 390 and 970 is not that large.

Nah. Unless running one of the 200w AMD CPUs, 600w is more than enough for any single card at the moment.

The 970 draws about 150w if I remember right. Please find me a normal CPU/mobo combo that would draw more than about 300w and put a 600w PSU near max load

[don_svetlio]

Nah. Unless running one of the 200w AMD CPUs, 600w is more than enough for any single card at the moment.

The 970 draws about 150w if I remember right. Please find me a normal CPU/mobo combo that would draw more than about 300w and put a 600w PSU near max load

970 has a 145W TDP - it draws around 200W-220W on non-reference models. 2 very different things - the 8+6-pin allow for 225W + 75W from PCIe port = 300W max. Reference max is 225W. Most will be around 200W.

CX PSUs are not for gmaing/high end rigs. Watch the vids above - even ask the Corsair rep here -  he'll gladly tell you that for a higher end system RMi or HX are better.

[Andrew Sh]

970 has a 145W TDP - it draws around 200W-220W on non-reference models. 2 very different things - the 8+6-pin allow for 225W + 75W from PCIe port = 300W max. Reference max is 225W. Most will be around 200W.

CX PSUs are not for gmaing/high end rigs. Watch the vids above - even ask the Corsair rep here - he'll gladly tell you that for a higher end system RMi or HX are better.

I know exactly how you look at it, fact is though that you'd have a fair bit of headroom between the system draw and the max output so the PSU wouldn't be at max load or that close to it. Getting a high end PSU would be more suitable if running a lot higher wattage. Also, a single gtx 970 coupled with a low end i5, 2 ddr3 ram sticks and let's say an extra 30w of other hardware, would by no means be considered high end.

Think you're a little like me though, I hate skimping out on a PSU. I run my gtx 970 on a tx750m. That has been holding just fine with an r9 6970 + OC i5 2500k, then with a gtx 770 and now with my new system of i7 4790k @4.6 + gtx 970.

Probably overkill atm but if it dies due to age, I'd replace with another overkill one cause as previously, I never cheap out on a PSU

[don_svetlio]

I know exactly how you look at it, fact is though that you'd have a fair bit of headroom between the system draw and the max output so the PSU wouldn't be at max load or that close to it. Getting a high end PSU would be more suitable if running a lot higher wattage. Also, a single gtx 970 coupled with a low end i5, 2 ddr3 ram sticks and let's say an extra 30w of other hardware, would by no means be considered high end.

Think you're a little like me though, I hate skimping out on a PSU. I run my gtx 970 on a tx750m. That has been holding just fine with an r9 6970 + OC i5 2500k, then with a gtx 770 and now with my new system of i7 4790k @4.6 + gtx 970.

Probably overkill atm but if it dies due to age, I'd replace with another overkill one cause as previously, I never cheap out on a PSU

I got mine since the other options available were too low wattage

But a 970 will produce heat - that heat will warm up the CX's Chasis and thus make the board warm and thus make the thing go chernobyl.

[hogfather]

So, I decided. I'm buying an R9 290 Tri-x from Sapphire.

But, I'm worried my Corsair 600W 80+ is not going to be enough...

 

I have 1 HDD, 1 DVD/RW ROM, Core i5 3330 , 2 DDR3 RAM sticks and 4 fans.

 

So, I checked how much power my rig will need with Cooler Master's PSU Calculator and MSI's PSU Calculator.

 

CoolerMater's PSU Calculator: 463W

MSI's PSU Calcuator: 357W

 

WTF?  That's a 100W difference.

I know this is just an esimate but still!

 

I also checked on Sapphire's website. According to them, I need a 750W PSU!!!

Let's assume this "750W PSU" is only 80+ certified. 80% * 750W = 600W

 

Every comment is appriciated, but I'd like to get an oppinion from someone who know's what he's talking about.

Can my PSU power my rig? Even when I'm running both CPU and GPU at full load? Will it be stable?

I don't to destroy my PC.

 600 is more than enough

[Andrew Sh]

I got mine since the other options available were too low wattage

But a 970 will produce heat - that heat will warm up the CX's Chasis and thus make the board warm and thus make the thing go chernobyl.

Hah well an r9 290x will make twice the heat and right near a 1000w PSU will not make it go boom

PSUs aren't that close to the GPU so they don't really warm up from it. Also to add to that, a 970 rarely goes over 70*c, even when overclocked.

My Asus strix 970 doesn't have fans on till 65 and then at about 15% fan speed doesn't go over 67*c, inside a tiny Matx case and an overclocked i7.

Also, psus have a fan to prevent overheating anyways, 600w is enough for a single GPU so let's leave it at that considering OP posted this in 2014 and were almost in 2016

[don_svetlio]

Hah well an r9 290x will make twice the heat and right near a 1000w PSU will not make it go boom

PSUs aren't that close to the GPU so they don't really warm up from it. Also to add to that, a 970 rarely goes over 70*c, even when overclocked.

My Asus strix 970 doesn't have fans on till 65 and then at about 15% fan speed doesn't go over 67*c, inside a tiny Matx case and an overclocked i7.

Also, psus have a fan to prevent overheating anyways, 600w is enough for a single GPU so let's leave it at that considering OP posted this in 2014 and were almost in 2016

My Asus 280 never goes above 70*C on the core - that didn't prevent it from making my TT PSU get hot as fuck - it was only rated @ 35*C - 6 months later I got a SeaSonic - care to guess why?

[Andrew Sh]

My Asus 280 never goes above 70*C on the core - that didn't prevent it from making my TT PSU get hot as fuck - it was only rated @ 35*C - 6 months later I got a SeaSonic - care to guess why?

Cause fk TT. Based on my experience with pc building I'd always get a nice corsair

Or you got unlucky if you had a 600w psu