GTX 970 power consumption

[lewisedwards]

I've got an AMD X4 860k and an R7 360 at the moment, running on a CX430 psu. The plan is just to be able to game 1080p no issues maxed out or close to it. I'm thinking of getting myself a GTX 970 now that the price is dropping like crazy but I'm wondering if the 430w psu is too small. My plan is to upgrade the psu (to something a bit more efficient and has more capacity) sooner rather than later but I'd rather get the GTX 970 first if i can. The CPU is overclocked @ 4.5ghz. I ideally need a power meter to see what the system is currently pulling but don't have one. I can't imagine there's any software that can show what the system is using real time. So from experience or knowledge does anyone know if it'll be alright? 

 

Any help or insight would be awesome.

[WhiteManito]

Wait for the GTX 1060. Also compare it with the RX 480. I personally don't recommend you buying a 970 right now.

[ClobberXD]

6 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

I've got an AMD X4 860k and an R7 360 at the moment, running on a CX430 psu. The plan is just to be able to game 1080p no issues maxed out or close to it. I'm thinking of getting myself a GTX 970 now that the price is dropping like crazy but I'm wondering if the 430w psu is too small. My plan is to upgrade the psu (to something a bit more efficient and has more capacity) sooner rather than later but I'd rather get the GTX 970 first if i can. The CPU is overclocked @ 4.5ghz. I ideally need a power meter to see what the system is currently pulling but don't have one. I can't imagine there's any software that can show what the system is using real time. So from experience or knowledge does anyone know if it'll be alright? 

 

Any help or insight would be awesome.

NVIDIA recommends a PSU of minimum 500W (if I recall right), but that is not at all necessary. 430W is perfectly fine, unless you've overclocked you CPU to 5GHz!

[arvark]

CPU Bottleneck.

[don_svetlio]

19 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

I've got an AMD X4 860k and an R7 360 at the moment, running on a CX430 psu. The plan is just to be able to game 1080p no issues maxed out or close to it. I'm thinking of getting myself a GTX 970 now that the price is dropping like crazy but I'm wondering if the 430w psu is too small. My plan is to upgrade the psu (to something a bit more efficient and has more capacity) sooner rather than later but I'd rather get the GTX 970 first if i can. The CPU is overclocked @ 4.5ghz. I ideally need a power meter to see what the system is currently pulling but don't have one. I can't imagine there's any software that can show what the system is using real time. So from experience or knowledge does anyone know if it'll be alright? 

 

Any help or insight would be awesome.

1 - the CPU will bottleneck
2 - the PSU you have is absolute garbage and will likely be unstable with a high-heat GPU like the 970
3 - 970 draws about 180-200W under load typically. mainly due to the autoOC function
4 - OCing on that PSU is a big gamble - I'd not do that.
5 - you will certainly not be alright

 

12 minutes ago, Anand_Geforce said:

NVIDIA recommends a PSU of minimum 500W (if I recall right), but that is not at all necessary. 430W is perfectly fine, unless you've overclocked you CPU to 5GHz!

Actually it is - 970 is not nearly as efficient as the TDP suggests as that is taken at stock speeds (1000-ish MHz) not the boost speed 1300-1400MHz

[lewisedwards]

20 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

1 - the CPU will bottleneck
2 - the PSU you have is absolute garbage and will likely be unstable with a high-heat GPU like the 970
3 - 970 draws about 180-200W under load typically. mainly due to the autoOC function
4 - OCing on that PSU is a big gamble - I'd not do that.
5 - you will certainly not be alright

 

I have no plan to change out the CPU any time soon, don't really have the cash to drop on a new CPU and mobo right now. 

 

I know the psu is not ideal but it's been stable for 6 months as it is now.

 

All I'd really like is a stable 1080p maxed. GTX 960 4gb isn't gonna provide that is it? Price as low as i can is the aim.

[don_svetlio]

4 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

I have no plan to change out the CPU any time soon, don't really have the cash to drop on a new CPU and mobo right now. 

 

I know the psu is not ideal but it's been stable for 6 months as it is now.

 

All I'd really like is a stable 1080p maxed. GTX 960 4gb isn't gonna provide that is it? Price as low as i can is the aim.

960 won't be able to do that. Also - that PSU REALLY needs to go. It's rated for a mere 30*C meaning that once it heats up (during gaming for an hour or so) you can expect it to behave like a 230W unit, not 430W.

[lewisedwards]

1 minute ago, don_svetlio said:

960 won't be able to do that. Also - that PSU REALLY needs to go. It's rated for a mere 30*C meaning that once it heats up (during gaming for an hour or so) you can expect it to behave like a 230W unit, not 430W.

Alright, any suggestions for something solid on a budget? I've heard decent things about the CM G550M.

[don_svetlio]

1 minute ago, lewisedwards said:

Alright, any suggestions for something solid on a budget? I've heard decent things about the CM G550M.

G550 is average at best. What is your PSU budget?

[lewisedwards]

I'd say like £60-75

[don_svetlio]

7 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

I'd say like £60-75

EVGA G2/GS/GQ
SeaSonic M12II EVO/G-series/S12G
Antec HCG
Corsair RMx

Find the cheapest 550W from one of those lines of products and buy that

[lewisedwards]

7 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

EVGA G2/GS/GQ
SeaSonic M12II EVO/G-series
Antec HCG
Corsair RMx

Find the cheapest 550W from one of those lines of products and buy that

 

So the prices are as follows:

 

Antec HCG 520w - £55

EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550w - £72

EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550w - £70

 

Corsair and Seasonic bit pricey. EVGA worth the extra ££ for the gold efficiency? 

 

[don_svetlio]

2 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

 

So the prices are as follows:

 

Antec HCG 520w - £55

EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550w - £72

EVGA SuperNOVA G2 550w - £70

 

Corsair and Seasonic bit pricey. EVGA worth the extra ££ for the gold efficiency? 

 

All of them are good but the G2 are just a tier better. It all comes down to what you want. Ignore efficiency - we're talking quality. Personally, I trust the HCG series and wouldn't bother spending more than necessary.

[lewisedwards]

2 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

All of them are good but the G2 are just a tier better. It all comes down to what you want. Ignore efficiency - we're talking quality. Personally, I trust the HCG series and wouldn't bother spending more than necessary.

Alright, thanks for the advice. I don't need modularity or anything more than the HCG. My PC is in need of a colour theme change from black and gold so HCG gives me reason to mix things up. Thanks again.

[don_svetlio]

1 minute ago, lewisedwards said:

Alright, thanks for the advice. I don't need modularity or anything more than the HCG. My PC is in need of a colour theme change from black and gold so HCG gives me reason to mix things up. Thanks again.

HCG should be modular from what I remember. It's a rebranded SeaSonic M12II EVO

[lewisedwards]

3 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

HCG should be modular from what I remember. It's a rebranded SeaSonic M12II EVO

Doesn't look like...

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-520/

 

Also I've just found a 550w GS for £60 so that seems worthwhile... 

[don_svetlio]

1 minute ago, lewisedwards said:

Doesn't look like...

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-520/

 

Also I've just found a 550w GS for £60 so that seems worthwhile... 

That article is from 2011. Check the product page on your store. The one I pointed to is modular. Am certain of it

[don_svetlio]

3 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

Doesn't look like...

 

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Antec/HCG-520/

 

Also I've just found a 550w GS for £60 so that seems worthwhile... 

[lewisedwards]

2 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

The one I've seen is non modular so an old one. Doesn't look like there's any about in the UK

[don_svetlio]

10 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

The one I've seen is non modular so an old one. Doesn't look like there's any about in the UK

Hmmm. Then grab the GS - it's also a SeaSonic platform.

[ClobberXD]

1 hour ago, don_svetlio said:

Actually it is - 970 is not nearly as efficient as the TDP suggests as that is taken at stock speeds (1000-ish MHz) not the boost speed 1300-1400MHz

I remember seeing a video from Tek Syndicate, where Logan demonstrates using a 400W or 450W PSU, with the GTX 970 or something, and confirmed that it works perfectly alright!

[don_svetlio]

13 minutes ago, Anand_Geforce said:

I remember seeing a video from Tek Syndicate, where Logan demonstrates using a 400W or 450W PSU, with the GTX 970 or something, and confirmed that it works perfectly alright!

Was he using a cheapo unit like the OP or a high end platinum rated passive one? Precisely

[lewisedwards]

2 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

Was he using a cheapo unit like the OP or a high end platinum rated passive one? Precisely

Someone find that, I've got a free afternoon and nothing to do

[don_svetlio]

3 minutes ago, lewisedwards said:

Someone find that, I've got a free afternoon and nothing to do

I'm having trouble finding such a video. I am also interested to see what PSU he uses as - if he is using a high end unit then it's no surprise - @byalexandr ran a 290 on a 450W PSU. The important part is quality.

[byalexandr]

3 minutes ago, don_svetlio said:

I'm having trouble finding such a video. I am also interested to see what PSU he uses as - if he is using a high end unit then it's no surprise - @byalexandr ran a 290 on a 450W PSU. The important part is quality.

400W. And it was the really shoddy quality EVGA one