Planning an upgrade - new PSU needed?

[ArrowMk84]

Would my current PSU (PCPnC 850w) handle a Quad SLI setup? Right now it runs my dual 7800GTXs with plently of headroom (over 400w to spare, actually), so I'm thinking it would handle it, but I want a second opinion.

 

[szman86]

sorry to be a bit off topic not answering your question, but how do you know how much headroom you have on your psu?

 

[ArrowMk84]

My UPS has a power meter built in, and I can watch as I play different games. With Oblivion, the power draw is usually around 430w, and that's including my monitor.

 

[Bbq]

should be no problem.

 

[dchrsf]

My UPS has a power meter built in, and I can watch as I play different games. With Oblivion, the power draw is usually around 430w, and that's including my monitor.

And keep in mind the psu isnt 100% efficient, so subtract your monitor aprox wattage, and probably around 75% of that number is your wattage your pc is pulling from the psu. Also, the 75% is average for efficiency, so it may be lower or higher. Then after all that, take the final number and 850w-that = what you have to spare.

I think you'll find that you have much more than you originally thought

 

[ArrowMk84]

My PSU does 850w sustained (950w peak), at 83% effiency. The monitor (with built-in USB hub running my mouse, keyboard and X-52) draws 82 to 90w off the UPS. Using the 430w full load figure, the PSU is drawing 340w, and supplying 280w. Hell, this PSU could probably run an octo-sli... (assuming I haven't screwed up basic mathematics)

Accounting for the speakers I have as well, a 20amp line to run all my stuff might be a better investment!