Is the Corsair AX1200 enough for 3-way SLI GTX 680?

A

andrewkm

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I have a system with 2 GTX 680 Zotac graphic cards.
Along side I have an intel i7 3960 Extreme, 32GB ram (4 sticks DDR3), 2 hard drives sata, and a blueray disc drive.

My question is whether I can insert one more GTX 680 Zotac graphic card with my current Corsair AX1200 Power supply.
 
Its way more than enough...

One 680: 450W
Two 680s: 650W
Three 680s: 850W
Four 680s: 1000W
 
andrewkm said:
I have a system with 2 GTX 680 Zotac graphic cards.
Along side I have an intel i7 3960 Extreme, 32GB ram (4 sticks DDR3), 2 hard drives sata, and a blueray disc drive.

My question is whether I can insert one more GTX 680 Zotac graphic card with my current Corsair AX1200 Power supply.
Click to expand...

Easily.

It can handle overclocked tri-sli 480 gtx's.....It would handle the 680 gtx's like butta
 
I use it for 3 7970s, 2 hard dives, 2600k over clicked to 4800 MHz, Blu ray drive, 6 lighted fans, 1 64 gig SSD drive and have plenty of power left over.
 
A reliable 1200 watt PSU will handle that plus a an overclocked cpu and a full array of fans.

Last year I had a tri-fired 5970-5870 (overclocked to 910/900 MHz and 1GHz respectively) rig for bitcoin mining which ran for several weeks off of my backup 850watt psu after my Corsair AX1200 decided to turn into a fragmentation device. If that could be powered off 850 watts then you will be fine with 1200.
 
just make sure you get a good brand though, the one u mentioned (corsair) is fine
 
Unless you dont overload the grid, cause people to drink bad milk and become zombies mutilating everyone in their path, you should be fine.
 
You'll definitely be fine. Like stated a solid 650W can handle two 680s and cpu, as long as they aren't heavily overclocked ;)
 
TroyX said:
650w for two 680's?

you sure?
Click to expand...

I run 2x GTX 680 with 750 watt corsair. I tested power draw from pc and it is using mid 500 watts. CPU is overclocked and each video card is overclocked a bit :)
 
Really like that people on this forum recommend PSUs that do well and not OH YOU NEED 1.1KW PSU for XYZ..
 
sonsonate said:
Really like that people on this forum recommend PSUs that do well and not OH YOU NEED 1.1KW PSU for XYZ..
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Yeah, it's been a nice swing to see realistic recommendations rather than SLI/CF = 1k+ like a few years ago. Helps that current CPUs and the 7970/680 do not use crazy amounts of power. Crazy to see how low the power penalty for overclocking the 680 is in the current [H] review too.
 
The AX1200 is a beast. Remarkably more performance out of it than even the HX1000 I had before.

As for "will it handle my build" I recommend running this configurator:

http://www.corsair.com/learn_n_explore/?psu=yes (interestingly, Corsair says the TX950 will also handle that build, if you are on a budget)

Or, use the one on nVidia's website:

(check page 5) Though it doesn't yet list the 680, it does rate the AX1200 as being capable of running the GTX580 in 3-way SLI.
 
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Also looking at the AX1200. Anyone think my AX850 can handle an SR-2, 2 overclocked hex cores, 12 DIMMs, and a 590? Thinking of picking up a 590 given the amount of uncertainty with the 680 and CUDA. (This is a workstation.)
 
exelias0 said:
Also looking at the AX1200. Anyone think my AX850 can handle an SR-2, 2 overclocked hex cores, 12 DIMMs, and a 590? Thinking of picking up a 590 given the amount of uncertainty with the 680 and CUDA. (This is a workstation.)
Click to expand...

I suggest getting 1000w and above as it is three way sli. Better be safe than sorry. If you were x2 sli then 850w would be more than enough.
 
happyboy said:
I suggest getting 1000w and above as it is three way sli. Better be safe than sorry. If you were x2 sli then 850w would be more than enough.
Click to expand...

This is simply false, at least with reference 680s. A "good" (not underrated) 650W is fine for two as is an 850W for three. You can't OC reference cards enough for it to matter or change the PSU requirement, so there is no "better to be safe than sorry", it's simple math.
 
yeah my 1000w for a single 7970 is looking like overkill , did mange to run 4 5870's on it when using it for bitcoin.
 
lol I run 3 7970s on an 850. I also ran 3 6970s on the same 850W. I was running 3 7970s AND an x79 rig with a 3930k @ 4.8ghz. If THAT isnt enough proof that these new GPUs are efficient, idk what is.

680s are much more efficient as well. They use 50W less power per GPU than a 7970 even... so an 850W would be fine for 3 680s.
 
I like the way these next gen cards are shifting in terms of efficiency. No longer do we need to spend $300 for a Platinum, titanium, neodymium+ rated PSU for enthusiast level builds.
 
I just added a third 680 +SC to my tower and I have a 1000w Corsair. I was hoping that it would be good enough considering I have a 3960x and 5 HDDs and a SSD in there as well. It ran crysis 2 a 2560x1600 for an hour straight so I guess it's okay.

If I start to get blue screens I am going to have to get the AX1200. I didn't have enough 6-pin PCI-E power cables for all 3 cards, so I have one of them on a 4pin/4pin adapter (doesn't feel good), but I guess I will find out over the next few days...
 
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