Power required for CrossFire?

Waltjie

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Hi Everyone,

I'm thinking about getting myself another GPU to run them in CrossFire, but I wonder if I will need a stronger PSU?

Currently I have the following:

i5-3570K
2 x 4Gb 1600Mhz RAM
1Tb HDD
1 x 64Gb SDD
Gigabyte HD7850 OC edition which I run at 1050Mhz

I have a Huntkey 600W PSU.

I would like to get another 7850, but I wonder if the 600W will be enough? Anyone have something similiar?

Thanks so much for any feedback!
 
Check on AMD's website, they'll normally tell you what PSU is recommended for single and dual-card setups. Bear in mind though that they also assume people buy no-name brand crappy PSU's with vastly overstated capacities so their recommended rating will be quite a bit higher than you actually need.

I had a 620W Antec with 2 HD6870's and an overclocked i7-2600k in and never had any problems, but from what I know the 7000 series is way more power-hungry so it might not work.

This is pretty much the best tool for determining your exact PSU needs - http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp (provided you enter EVERYTHING in your system accurately of course).
 
Check on AMD's website, they'll normally tell you what PSU is recommended for single and dual-card setups. Bear in mind though that they also assume people buy no-name brand crappy PSU's with vastly overstated capacities so their recommended rating will be quite a bit higher than you actually need.

I had a 620W Antec with 2 HD6870's and an overclocked i7-2600k in and never had any problems, but from what I know the 7000 series is way more power-hungry so it might not work.

This is pretty much the best tool for determining your exact PSU needs - http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp (provided you enter EVERYTHING in your system accurately of course).

Wow thanks, what a handy little tool!

According to this, with TWO 7850's running in CrossFire, and under 100% load, my system will draw around 440W.
 
Wow thanks, what a handy little tool!

According to this, with TWO 7850's running in CrossFire, and under 100% load, my system will draw around 440W.

Using your specs given above (plus adding a few fans), I get around 470 Watt so it seems you should be fine. I didn't use overclocking and used 15% capacitor aging. The card manufacturers usually specify overkill PSUs to be on the safe side.

If your PSU is over the maximum power power draw (which only happens rarely) with a bit of headroom to spare, you should be more than OK, I've found that calculator to be pretty accurate. You could always just get the card and see how it works. Worst case scenario, even if the PSU was too small, it won't damage anything just cause some reboots, or the graphics driver will tell you and underclock the card(s).
 
@TJ99:
The HD7850 uses less power than the HD6870 !

@Waltjie
I'd recommend that you at the very least get a 750W PSU with enough PEG (PCI-E Graphics) power connectors.

If you had an Antec HCG620W PSU, then you could've gotten it to work by using 2x Molex to PEG adapters.

I just don't trust the cheap Huntkey PSU's, which is why I'd recommend a 750W PSU.
If you have a Huntkey Jumper 600B PSU, then you could perhaps run it, because it got a pretty good review and it has enough PEG connectors: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Huntkey-Jumper-600B-Power-Supply-Review/1496

A 650W would suffice, but they usually don't come with enough PEG connectors. Also, if you have a PSU that can barely handle the load, it would run pretty hot as well - where as higher rated PSU's should run cooler and live longer as well under the same load conditions.
 
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Hi Everyone,

I'm thinking about getting myself another GPU to run them in CrossFire, but I wonder if I will need a stronger PSU?

Currently I have the following:

i5-3570K
2 x 4Gb 1600Mhz RAM
1Tb HDD
1 x 64Gb SDD
Gigabyte HD7850 OC edition which I run at 1050Mhz

I have a Huntkey 600W PSU.

I would like to get another 7850, but I wonder if the 600W will be enough? Anyone have something similiar?

Thanks so much for any feedback!

The wattage is fine, but huntkey is far from the best. Get a decent corsair,seasonic,xfx,zalman 650watt unit.

Something like one of these:

http://www.wootware.co.za/antec-hcg-620m-high-current-gamer-modular-620w-psu.html

http://www.wootware.co.za/xfx-prose...50w-80-plus-bronze-certified-desktop-psu.html

http://www.wootware.co.za/coolermaster-rs650-acaae3-gx-650w-12v-624w-atx-12v-v2-31.html
 
@TJ99:
The HD7850 uses less power than the HD6870 !

I might have been thinking about the HD7870. or 7950. That's why I suggested the PSU calculator to get a more accurate result.

I actually have no idea about how the Huntkey PSU's perform as I've never used one. From what I've seen though they're at least not like those Fong Kong things that come with cheap cases and claim to be 600W yet weigh like 200 grams.

What I do know, however, is (1) that many people use PSU's that are rated MASSIVELY higher than their actual requirements and (2) they rarely, if ever get hot enough to become an actual issue especially in a decent case, (3) a PSU is most efficient at around 50% load, reducing below and above that (which is why the 80plus certification is measured at high and low loads) and (4) it spends most of its time closer to the bottom end (20% load or less), with only a small percentage of the time being at peak power draw.

Thus, all these people banging in 700W+ AWESUME EXXXTREME MAXXXX GAEMER PSU's to run a single midrange card setup, with a stock CPU are actually converting more energy into waste heat, since the PSU almost never actually operates at 50%. Largely irrelevant though as the amounts of energy wasted are relatively small, just saying if you really are that concerned about efficiency you shouldn't go too big either.

Not to mention the biggest issue, a good PSU is expensive and it's a big waste of money buying one if you don't need it. The easiest and cheapest solution is just to see if it does work with your current PSU, and if it doesn't, then upgrade to a bigger/different one. And there's nothing wrong with using the Molex-to-PCIE connectors, that's why the cards come with them. I've been doing it for years.

Edit: Agree with the post above, some of those are good brands and what I would suggest you get as well. IF your current one doesn't work.
 
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Get it plug it in and see if it works, don't go blow money if isn't needed. First see if it can handle the job.
 
Rather tell us the brand & model of the PSU that you have at this moment - preferably post an image of the power ratings printed on the side of the PSU (or give a link to an image with the exact same ratings).

Like the Huntkey Jumper 600B PSU had 4x 12V rails, with the 2x 12V rails for the graphics cards had 16A ratings each, which would be enough for CrossFire HD7850's. I'm not sure what 600W Huntkey PSU you have, which is why I want to know those power ratings - even if they're out, as well as the model name so that we can lookup reviews.
 
Yes, rather blow your PC first.

Dude don't be so such a drama queen, honestly. The chances of it working are fairly high but you are going to scare someone into thinking their pc is going to explode.

Got some reason why you think a 600w PSU will destroy his pc, can you back it up credible facts? Anyways i would rather try it and save 1k replacing the psu. I didn't think my 650w corsair would run a 6990 crossfired with a 6970 so instead of listening to people telling me it won't work i tried it what do you know, it ran 24/7 mining bitcoins. Saved me plenty money.
 
Hi Everyone,

I'm thinking about getting myself another GPU to run them in CrossFire, but I wonder if I will need a stronger PSU?

Currently I have the following:

i5-3570K
2 x 4Gb 1600Mhz RAM
1Tb HDD
1 x 64Gb SDD
Gigabyte HD7850 OC edition which I run at 1050Mhz

I have a Huntkey 600W PSU.

I would like to get another 7850, but I wonder if the 600W will be enough? Anyone have something similiar?

Thanks so much for any feedback!

Do not listen to Roadkill's typical emotional ramblings. To be 100% sure do a calculation of the complete hardware setup's power requirements to determine the required power with 2* the GPU's as envisaged for crossfire (as many wise members here already stated) then add a 100W extra for future expansion just in case. Get a supply close to that total wattage.
 
Worst case scenario, even if the PSU was too small, it won't damage anything just cause some reboots, or the graphics driver will tell you and underclock the card(s).
eh no. Worst case scenario is a big bang & an arbitrary number of components go up in smoke.
 
Are you living in 1996 still? it's 2012 bro.
Relax. I'm not objecting to OP's plans or your setup...there is easily enough wattage in both cases. I'm objecting to:

even if the PSU was too small, it won't damage anything

Huntkey PSUs have a reputation for exploding before they even hit 100% draw:

350W Bang > http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/672
400W Bang > http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/557
450W Bang > http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/527
550W Bang > http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/668

Oh and its 2013 not 2012. ;)
 
Yea true LOL, holidays i lose track of days and dates :D.

Does the explosion kill other hardware though?
 
Are you living in 1996 still? it's 2012 bro.

Does Roadkill know anything about electronics at all, if so explain what happens to power electronics while it draws heavy current overloading the DC supply bus during overload conditions when the voltage output voltage drops.
 
Yea true LOL, holidays i lose track of days and dates :D.

Does the explosion kill other hardware though?

Thought? Read the conclusion and look at the pictures and video then think for a change. When that power supply electronics breaks down like shown in those reviews there is no control of what voltages and current spikes get pushed in the motherboard thus anything could happen.

From the experts doing the review!

If you are looking for a true 550 W power supply don’t buy this product. Take a look on the list of power supplies we already tested and that got an award seal for choosing a good product that won’t explode or damage your equipment.
 
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