Power Bottleneck?

[Captain Of Light]

Hello. So I have a really big issue in Performance. I am currently running an 8350fx and an r9 290 with 600 watts for power. It seems to me that my 600 watts is not enough at all. I say this because I compared performance with my friend who is running a 6350fx and a gtx 760 with 600 watts. We compared the same game with the same settings and OS. The results was that he was better. I am confused at this point because a 6350fx and gtx 760 is not even comparable to an 8350 and r9 290. So I think my power supply is not enough. Also I assume this aswell because my computer shuts off randomly for a Kernel Memory Error which is apparently a power issue. Can someone lead me into the right direction?

[Guest MinimalEffort]

I would have thought that 600w would be enough. What PSU do you currently have?

[EliminatingAngels]

Do you monitor your cpu and gpu temps? If not, it could be that your cpu or gpu is thermal throttling. 

[CoolaxGaming]

Wow, dude my system, which is alsmost identical, consumes 800 watts. Subtract 100 for OVerclocks, that is 700. Get a better powersupply...

[Vexzarium]

I have a bit of information for you to consider:

 

You have a FX-8350

I'm running a i5-4690k

Your CPU uses significantly more power than mine.

 

You have a R9-290

I'm running a R9-290x

Our wattage requirements are similar.

 

So you should be drawing more power from the wall than me based on your CPU needing more than mine and our GPU's being similar.

 

I draw 600-700w at the wall from under full loads from a 750w Gold Certified PSU.

You will draw even more than this.

 

You need a better PSU.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I'd recommend >=750w Gold Certified or better PSU

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply  ($79.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $79.99

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-30 19:56 EDT-0400

 

I use this PSU. And it is jonnyGURU recommended:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=266

 

This PSU is the bare minimum for your current configuration.

[theelitegamer]

Do you monitor your cpu and gpu temps? If not, it could be that your cpu or gpu is thermal throttling. 

The pain of thermal throttling. 

To see if your computer is doing this, get MSI afterburner and play a game then look back and see if you see the tempts goes up and down like a heart beat monitor. 

[thekeemo]

Wow, dude my system, which is alsmost identical, consumes 800 watts. Subtract 100 for OVerclocks, that is 700. Get a better powersupply...

im using a 600w psu.. worked with 3820 (double power use of 4790k) and a 290x..

[CoolaxGaming]

im using a 600w psu.. worked with 3820 (double power use of 4790k) and a 290x..

Huh corsair link says 786.5 with BFH running....

[Vexzarium]

im using a 600w psu.. worked with 3820 (double power use of 4790k) and a 290x..

Works and actual draw are two different things.

 

A GTX960 works even when it is maxed at the cap of 2gb of VRAM. Where as a 280x will be playing the same exact game with the same exact settings using 2.6gb of VRAM. They both work, but because the extra needed VRAM is available on the 280x, it will perform better in the same circumstances as the GTX960.

 

This analogy is similar to the fact that a lot of PC's will "work" with a PSU that does not provide enough wattage, but if they had more, they'd be able to draw the correct amount needed to operate at it's full potential.

 

Radeon cards are not well reviewed on merchant sites, you know why? Read through the reviews on a site like Newegg on a typical 290x. You know what you'll see mostly? People rating down the product because they experienced crashes and screens of death. Ask them what PSU they were running and you're sure to find out that their issues with the Radeon card were of no fault to the card. They failed to purchase and install a PSU that provides adequate wattage, among other elements needed from a PSU.

[Captain Of Light]

Wow, dude my system, which is alsmost identical, consumes 800 watts. Subtract 100 for OVerclocks, that is 700. Get a better powersupply...

Okay. 

[thekeemo]

Works and actual draw are two different things.

 

A GTX960 works even when it is maxed at the cap of 2gb of VRAM. Where as a 280x will be playing the same exact game with the same exact settings using 2.6gb of VRAM. They both work, but because the extra needed VRAM is available on the 280x, it will perform better in the same circumstances as the GTX960.

 

This analogy is similar to the fact that a lot of PC's will "work" with a PSU that does not provide enough wattage, but if they had more, they'd be able to draw the correct amount needed to operate at it's full potential.

it works at full potential...

 

Huh corsair link says 786.5 with BFH running....

does the 8359 consume ~350w?

[Vexzarium]

 

does the 8359 consume ~350w?

The FX-8350 can draw up to 400w when overclocked and under full load.

 

the R9-290 can draw up to 350w NON-Overclocked when under full load.

 

And this is NOT counting all of the other components and their draw in his system.

 

He has a 600w PSU, do the math.

[CoolaxGaming]

it works at full potential...

 

does the 8359 consume ~350w?

No, it consumes 260ish watts

[Vexzarium]

No, it consumes 260ish watts

Partially Incorrect:

 

Take notice to the second graph for load power draw.

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2012/11/06/amd-fx-8350-review/7

 

If at stock speeds, then yes, your statement is correct.  Not sure if I've met anyone who runs their FX-8350 not overclocked.

[Captain Of Light]

The pain of thermal throttling. 

To see if your computer is doing this, get MSI afterburner and play a game then look back and see if you see the tempts goes up and down like a heart beat monitor. 

Okay.

[Captain Of Light]

The pain of thermal throttling. 

To see if your computer is doing this, get MSI afterburner and play a game then look back and see if you see the tempts goes up and down like a heart beat monitor. 

Okay.

 

 

I have a bit of information for you to consider:

 

You have a FX-8350

I'm running a i5-4690k

Your CPU uses significantly more power than mine.

 

You have a R9-290

I'm running a R9-290x

Our wattage requirements are similar.

 

So you should be drawing more power from the wall than me based on your CPU needing more than mine and our GPU's being similar.

 

I draw 600-700w at the wall from under full loads from a 750w Gold Certified PSU.

You will draw even more than this.

 

You need a better PSU.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I'd recommend >=750w Gold Certified or better PSU

 

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

 

Power Supply: Rosewill Capstone 750W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply  ($79.99 @ Amazon) 

Total: $79.99

Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available

Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-03-30 19:56 EDT-0400

 

I use this PSU. And it is jonnyGURU recommended:

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=266

 

This PSU is the bare minimum for your current configuration.

 

Thank you so much for the help!  That really helped and I now know what I need to do and buy. Thanks!

[Vexzarium]

Let's say hypothetically you are running your FX-8350 & R9-290 NOT Overclocked.

 

Under Full Load:

FX-8350: 250w

R9-290: 350w

All other components: ??

More than 600w

 

Just the CPU and GPU are right at your PSU's limit of 600w, which it is not capable of delivering at 100% all of the time. Add all of the other components and their power needs, and you're attempting to exceed the capabilities of your PSU.

 

Now Overclocked:

 

Under Full Load:

FX-8350: 350w-400w

R9-290: 400w-450w

All other components: ??

More than 750w

 

Hell, I'm always nervous with my 4690k + R9-290x Lightning only having a 750w PSU. Both of which are overclocked.

[Vexzarium]

 

 

Thank you so much for the help!  That really helped and I now know what I need to do and buy. Thanks!

If you can find a good deal on a Gold Certified or better PSU that is at least 750w, go for it. But you may want to look at an even higher wattage if you intend to overclock the hell out of your CPU and GPU.

 

That FX-8350 is a power monger when it's got a nice OC on it.