Quick Question

[Bags]

Okay, this is the PSU I have currently:
http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?S=1170&ID=1524

For future reference, I want to know now, when I go to upgrade would I need to upgrade that? I plan on upgrading to


Decent motherboard
8gb of DDR3 ram
2500k w/ ~$30 cpu fan for OCing

around xmas (I don't think there's going to be any big changes in those markets between now and then) and I'm wondering if I will need to budget in a new PSU around the time.

Currently (these will be transferring over) have

OC'd 460GTX
1 TB 7200rpm hard drive
3 case fans (mediumish one in the front and back, small one on the side)
1 DVD/CD drive
some wireless network card that takes up a pci slot

and if come planetside2's release I can't run it at 60FPS @ 1080 at least on low I'll be selling that GPU and upgrading to someone a price point above it ($200-250 range), whatever is out then in that range.

[Traak]

I have the exact answer you need right here: A list of graphics cards that you can sort according to many factors. I sorted on Total System Power Draw.

See where your falls in this list:

http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2011-gaming-graphics-charts/3D-Power-Draw,2678.html

As far as I can tell, your system is down below 200W total power draw with a GTX460.

Heck, if your power supply actually supported SLI, which it does not claim to, and added another one, so you had two in SLI, your total power draw is around 320W.

IN FACT, were you to upgrade to anything LESS than TWIN dual-GPU AMD's in crossfire, for a total of 4 GPU's, your power supply looks like it is still capable, as long as it performs at a true 500W.

Looks to me like you are in great shape.

If SLI is in your future, it looks like what your system needs is an SLI-supporting power supply, but if you are running one card, it looks as if there is no one-PCIe-16X slot-video card that can use enough power to require more watts, even cards that sport dual GPU's.

[Bags]

If SLI is in your future, it looks like what your system needs is an SLI-supporting power supply,

And that will be a question for Goku when it comes upgrade time. SLI in the future or better single GPU?

Thanks for now though.

[Traak]

It will depend on the price point. I like the dual-GPU cards, because you can still SLI/Crossfire them later by adding a second dual-GPU card.

But, at that future time, it might be more desirable to just replace with a newer card that does more than your present card were it bolstered with another in SLI.

[Goku]

Traak is right on the going SLI verse new single GPU. By the time PS2 comes out Nvidia hopefully will have their next gen out. Most likely their replacement for the GTX 560 Ti should probably be about as fast as GTX 460 SLI give or take 10%. You are better off with a single GPU with about the same performance, since you do not have to put up with multi gpu issues.

I would still upgrade that unit to a higher quality one when it comes time to upgrade. I'm not knocking the TT PSU as I have one of their higher quality units that has served me for a long time. Its just from what I remember people did not have a good opinion on the Purepower line whatsoever.

[Bags]

I would still upgrade that unit to a higher quality one when it comes time to upgrade. I'm not knocking the TT PSU as I have one of their higher quality units that has served me for a long time. Its just from what I remember people did not have a good opinion on the Purepower line whatsoever.

Yeah, I did some googling to find out what my powersupply was and didn't see much favorable chatter.

What size PSU would I be recommended when I ask in a few months? I only want to know so I can budget it in for later right now.

[Goku]

If you plan on going doing single gpu and overclocking both CPU+GPU a quality 600W-650W will suffice. Something like the Antec HigherCurrent Gamer 620W, Neo Eco 620W, Corsair TX (V2) 650W, and CX600 are good for mainstream price of ~$75. If you are looking for a modular then you have a lot more options, but much more $$$ you will have to spend.

[Bags]

Do I need modular? I don't even know what that all entails, exactly

[Traak]

Modular merely means that the power cable sets can unplug from the power supply when they are not needed.

For example, a modular power supply would have a bunch of plug receptacles on it that you can plug in the various things in that you need.

You would need to plug in however many SATA power plugs you need for your HDD's and DVD drive, However many PCIe connectors you need for your video card(s), and whatever else; any other connectors available on a modular supply could just be left unused until such time as you needed the (included) cord set that plugs into the power supply on one end, and into your hardware on the other end.

The idea is to reduce the clutter in the case, I think. Old-school power supplies have this mess of cables, not all of which you would use, so you had to find a way to bundle them up and keep them out of the way.

[Bags]

Ahh. I think I'll save the money and go with the clutter then.

[Goku]

I am never going back to non modular again. My next purchase will be a fully modular PSU. Works great if you have a smaller form factor case. Wire management in those is a nightmare.

[SKYeXile]

they're pretty nice to have, but its pretty easy to jam some excess cables under harddrive or something. then run the rest of the cables behind the motherboard mounting plate.

you hardly notice mine.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/SKYeXile/DSCF0336.jpg

[Vancha]

Keep in mind that power requirements will probably drop in the future. Ivy Bridge will be what? 77W? And ATIs new GPUs will supposedly make the 6000s look like Fermi by comparison.

Edit: Also, your sig has multiple personality disorder, not schizophrenia.