Will my PSU work for the GTX 260?

M

MadHatter

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 8, 2005
Messages
150
Hey guys,

I'm looking at a graphics upgrade from my 7800gt to something that will play 1080p flawlessly (with the codes I like, not the coreavc bs). The machine currently has an ultra x-connect 500W. Will this be sufficient for me to run the GTX 260? I see my amperage isn't as high as the recommended on newegg, but don't know how big of a deal that is. Links for my PSU and the card I'm looking at are below. Thanks for any help!

http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=37&pPath=157&productID=161

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...380048 50001402 106792634&bop=And&Order=PRICE
 
I don't know how good your PS is but I am near that level with no issue. Does your PS have two six pin PCIE power connectors? If not that could be telling...

Power supply calculator says I am at about 450w but more importantly my PS exceeds the 12v rail amp rating that the video card recommends. For what it's worth, not everyone trusts this calc.
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Supermicro C2SBA+II
Q9550 quad at 2.83 (stock)
4 gig PNY DDR2
BFG 260 OC2
3 HDD and 1 Blueray/HD-DVD/DVD-R drive
Seasonic SS-550HT
 
MadHatter said:
Will this be sufficient for me to run the GTX 260? I see my amperage isn't as high as the recommended on newegg, but don't know how big of a deal that is. Links for my PSU and the card I'm looking at are below. Thanks for any help!

http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=37&pPath=157&productID=161
Click to expand...

Get a new PSU. That Ultra is a very low quality PSU rated at 25C made by a piss poor PSU company known as Youngyear. So there's an extremely high chance that PSU will not be capable of 34A on the +12V rail at 40C to 50C, the average real world temperature that many PSUs reach in PCs. Since it's a Youngyear, there's a good chance that it's barely capable of 20A on the +12V rail.

If you're looking for decently priced replacement, I recommend either these high quality PSUs:
BFG Tech LS-550 550W PSU - $67
BFG Tech LS-680 680W PSU - $78

If all you're doing with this PC is watching HD content, at most all you need is HD4550 which can be had for $60:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&Description=HD4550&bop=And&Order=PRICE

Still recommend replacing the PSU either way. That Ultra is a total POS.

Also for anyone who trusts Kill-A-Watt readings, please read the following:
[Basic Power Supply Info]
Paul_Johnson said:
Yes and a quick search would turn up this topic a million times over. Here is the recap:

1) APFC can fool Kill-A-Watts into giving you abnormally low readings (some times giving better than 100% efficiency)

2) Power supplies derate with temperature anywhere from 2w/c above a nominal rated at value to 10w/c.

3) Kill-A-Watt's and most power meters sample too slowly to catch transient loads (the Transient load from our tests is 117w and is COMPLETELY missed by Kill-A-Watts).

4) Power supplies last longer if you stay in the 40% to 60% range of their output.

5) power supplies are quieter if you stay in the 40% to 60% range of their output.

6) Power supplies are cooler if you stay in the 40% to 60% range of their output.

The power meters in UPS software are just as bad. You have to spend some change before you get anywhere near an accurate power meter when your PSU has APFC.
Click to expand...
 
Yes, I know it's a crummy PSU :-/ I had one die on me already.. but have all my wiring done with their modular connectors, and do like the cables.. so I'm hesitant on switching.

And sorry, should have specified.. I DO play a few games.. CS:S, BF2, COD4, and just got Left 4 Dead. I wanted to go with something to where I wouldnt have to worry about the video card holding anything back with performance in addition to 1080p content.

Also.. Ill be running this on a machine with ASUS mobo, Q6600, 4GB, and 3 HDDs. If I give this all a try with my ultra-xconnect is there any risk to the components? Or would it just shut off if the PSU overheats?
 
MadHatter said:
If I give this all a try with my ultra-xconnect is there any risk to the components? Or would it just shut off if the PSU overheats?
Click to expand...

Considering the shitty quality of that PSU, a number of things could happen:
- The PSU will just shut off assuming it has OCP (doubt it)
- The PSU will just shut off assuming it has OCP (doubt it) and kill your system
- The PSU will slowly kill your system over time
- The PSU will slowly kill your system over time and die
- The PSU will die from the load
- The PSU will die from the load and take out your system
- The PSU will slowly kill your system over time, die, and take out whatever is left of your system
 
Get any high quality 400w ps and you'll be fine. I'm using an antec earthwatts 380w, which isn't the best choice, but works.
 
500W and 34A @ 12V would be fine if it was a high-quality, brand name PSU. Unfortunately I've only heard bad things about "Ultra" so I'm not sure about your particular PSU...
 
Is a Antec 550 True Power Trio a good PSU for a HD4870? I sure hope so.. it runs my current ATI HD2900Pro just fine....

Rob in Mesquite,Tx
 
MadHatter said:
Hey guys,

I'm looking at a graphics upgrade from my 7800gt to something that will play 1080p flawlessly (with the codes I like, not the coreavc bs). The machine currently has an ultra x-connect 500W. Will this be sufficient for me to run the GTX 260? I see my amperage isn't as high as the recommended on newegg, but don't know how big of a deal that is. Links for my PSU and the card I'm looking at are below. Thanks for any help!

http://www.ultraproducts.com/product_details.php?cPath=37&pPath=157&productID=161

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...380048 50001402 106792634&bop=And&Order=PRICE
Click to expand...

I'm running an Ultra X-Finity 500W (Same just no modular connections) with my setup without any issues. I have followed many reviews and the original X-Connect and X-Finity appear to be the only PSUs they put out that are half decent. Sits in the 70-80% efficiency range at reasonable temperatures.
 
Danny Bui said:
Considering the shitty quality of that PSU, a number of things could happen:
- The PSU will just shut off assuming it has OCP (doubt it)
- The PSU will just shut off assuming it has OCP (doubt it) and kill your system
- The PSU will slowly kill your system over time
- The PSU will slowly kill your system over time and die
- The PSU will die from the load
- The PSU will die from the load and take out your system
- The PSU will slowly kill your system over time, die, and take out whatever is left of your system
Click to expand...


You forgot one.... it blows up and stinks up your whole house:)
 
DusterAZ said:
I'm running an Ultra X-Finity 500W (Same just no modular connections)
Click to expand...
Actually they're not the same. Your X-Finity is made by Wintech whereas that X-Connect is made by Youngyear.
 
Well thanks for all the input guys!! It's been enough for me to see my foolish ways of letting this POS stay here :-P

I ordered the CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W

Hopefully this will get me by for a while :) Thanks again!
 
I have a CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W.

I'm trying to figure if this is safe enough for a new gtx 285.

Any recomendations would help. I'm trying to save some power with a card this powerfull compaired to getting something else. I would not be able to justify buying a 260 or a 280 because I currently have a 9800 GTX.

What say you fine folks hiding in my computer?

Edit: Spelling and stupid mistakes when inserting link. example "http://http://www.newegg...."
 
That ultraproducts website is reported as an "attack site" by my virus software.
 
Both Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox reports that the Ultra website is full of malware. Not far form the truth :D

Oh and IE7 doesn't say a word.
 
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