HX520w Corsair PSU + 3870 X2 ?

[Poot1873]

I've a 3870 X2 on its way to me and was wondering if my HX520W Corsair PSU would have enough juice to run it properly. I did read that a 550w is recommended but do you think my 520w would be ok ?

http://www.corsair.com/products/hx.aspx

Also is the 3870 X2 better than a 8800 GTX or about the same ?

[Zhaoman]

Yes it should run it fine, depends if you have any heavy overclocks though.

The 3870X2 is arguably faster than the 8800GTX. The 8800GTX is marginally slower on average.

[Poot1873]

Thanks for the reply, no everything is stock. At the moment there is a 8800 GTX in it which runs fine, so i'm going to move the gtx into another machine to SLi it and fire the X2 into this one.

[Thorsson]

I wouldn't want to run the 3870X2 on that PSU myself (and I have it myself, so it's not that I don't rate the PSU). You are going to be pretty close to the limit.

[Poot1873]

I suppose there is only one way to find out, at least if thing start to go pair shaped I know why !

[Zhaoman]

CPC's test system drew just over 400W with a 9800GX2

[s_kinton]

That PSU will run the x2 no problem. Absolutely no need to buy a new PSU.

[staffsMike]

That PSU will run the x2 no problem. Absolutely no need to buy a new PSU.

Agreed it won't need 500W, probably no where near.

[Poot1873]

Thanks guys. Was there not a website that you could enter in your spec of PC and it told you how what wattage it was using up ?

[staffsMike]

Thanks guys. Was there not a website that you could enter in your spec of PC and it told you how what wattage it was using up ?

They all lie, corsairs is the best I've seen so far but it's still a bit generous with it's suggestions.

[Xtanto]

Corsair's PSUs are good in that the old wisdom was to overspec the PSU however if you get a great well made PSU you can load it fine at near full load without problems. I also use the HX520 and have had pc on for year or so at about 60-80% power load and it has been fine.

[Poot1873]

The X2 is arriving tomorrow so hopefully I'll get a chance to install and test it after the kids are in bed.

[Thorsson]

Don't forget that PSUs don't run so efficiently when they get close to their limit (or at the other end either).

[Zhaoman]

I doubt it will be running at its limit though, if a system sporting a 9800GX2 only draws 400W max then I can't see how a 3870X2 can draw any more.

[Noxvayl]

Thanks guys. Was there not a website that you could enter in your spec of PC and it told you how what wattage it was using up ?

Yes there is> http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp

Note that your system is SINGLE SOCKET. Dual sockets is for people with 2 or more processor chips. For example 2x Q6600 quad core processors in a skulltrial intel motherboard would be dual socket and 1x Q6600 quad core CPU would be single socket.

This calculator is pretty accurate

I doubt it will be running at its limit though, if a system sporting a 9800GX2 only draws 400W max then I can't see how a 3870X2 can draw any more.

I believe the HD3870X2 draws 340W with: X6800, Intel X38, 2Gb DDR2 Corsair memory, 750Gb HDD and 20x DVD Re-Writer. This is at a typical load of 85% for all PC components, gaming will produce similar power draw depending on the game being played.

[looney]

I wouldnt worry, the corsair can actually run at higher rates, theres areview on the 450w corasir that run at i think over 550w perfectly.