Question about my 2nd System Specs

JAM83 · Jul 7, 2023

I'm wondering if it would be ok for me to add a 3TB HDD to my 2nd system? (Specs are on my profile) I ask that because the PSU is only 350watts. And I can't upgrade to a better PSU at the moment. I'm tapped out for a while.

CountMike · Jul 7, 2023

JMedlock83 said:
I'm wondering if it would be ok for me to add a 3TB HDD to my 2nd system? (Specs are on my profile) I ask that because the PSU is only 350watts. And I can't upgrade to a better PSU at the moment. I'm tapped out for a while.

HDDs draw relatively little power, 6 to 9W. so it should be safe,

JAM83 · Jul 7, 2023

CountMike said:
HDDs draw relatively little power, 6 to 9W. so it should be safe,

Thanks, Mike! I was just wanting to be sure. I was gonna put my R9 270X in there too, but yeah, I read where the PSU could blow up, so I decided against it. . LMAO

CountMike · Jul 7, 2023

JMedlock83 said:
Thanks, Mike! I was just wanting to be sure. I was gonna put my R9 270X in there too, but yeah, I read where the PSU could blow up, so I decided against it. . LMAO

Yeah, that GPU can draw up to 180W thru 2 6pin PCIe cables

JAM83 · Jul 7, 2023

CountMike said:
Yeah, that GPU can draw up to 180W thru 2 6pin PCIe cables

yep. I'm glad I saw the 350Watt sticker on the side of the PSU. I had the GPU already connected and was looking for the 2 power cables for it (which I had), and i saw 350watt and said "WAIT, THIS PROBABLY AIN'T ENOUGH POWER". . . So, I searched, and I would need a minimum of 500watt

CountMike · Jul 7, 2023

JMedlock83 said:
yep. I'm glad I saw the 350Watt sticker on the side of the PSU. I had the GPU already connected and was looking for the 2 power cables for it (which I had), and i saw 350watt and said "WAIT, THIS PROBABLY AIN'T ENOUGH POWER". . . So, I searched, and I would need a minimum of 500watt

Worst part is that it may not even really have that wattage, Depends on make and model and efficiency rating. Even when it is, it's rating at maximum effort and for short time. Some no name or obscure make PSUs can't push even half of what they claim. PSU is one of most neglected components but should always have at least 25-30% more power than realistically needed to be on safe side.

SIW2 · Jul 7, 2023

calculator might give you some idea

be quiet!

www.bequiet.com

JAM83 · Jul 7, 2023

CountMike said:
Worst part is that it may not even really have that wattage, Depends on make and model and efficiency rating. Even when it is, it's rating at maximum effort and for short time. Some no name or obscure make PSUs can't push even half of what they claim. PSU is one of most neglected components but should always have at least 25-30% more power than realistically needed to be on safe side.

I have a 750Watt PSU right now in my System 1. It's rated 80 GOLD

johnlgalt · Jul 7, 2023

Yeah, there are a lot of good system power calculators out there that anyone doing piecemeal upgrades on their systems should always refer to - and don't just use one, either. More info is always good.

Better to seemingly waste time getting info from 5 different power calcs that all end up saying the same thing, than relying on one that was accidentally misconfigured, and frying components - because that cost is out of your own pocket alone.

bobkn · Jul 7, 2023

The tricky part is that not all PSUs are the same. Brand X units stated total power can be misleading (to put it politely).

Here's one "600W" unit: Hercules. Rated at 24A on its single 12V rail. More like what I'd call a 300W PSU.

Here's another: eVGA. 50A on its 12V rail.

Whether PSU calculators include a factor to accommodate poor PSUs, I don't know.

johnlgalt · Jul 7, 2023

Excellent point, knowing the hardware's capabilities are just as important. Both existing hardware as well as any replacement hardware you have / want to get.

JAM83 · Jul 7, 2023

johnlgalt said:
Excellent point, knowing the hardware's capabilities are just as important. Both existing hardware as well as any replacement hardware you have / want to get.

So, it's very possible that my current 750W PSU isn't enough for my video card, CPU, RAM, 4 HDDs, 1 SSD, and the M.2????

bobkn · Jul 7, 2023

Your System 1 specs say 850W, not 750. Which is correct?

The Ryzen 7 1800X is spec'd at 95W. The RX 580, less than 225W. (That's for a version made by Sapphire.)

The PSU, if it's an RM850, is spec'd for 70A on the +12V line. That would be more than adequate.

750W should be OK as well, as long as it's not a poor PSU.

JAM83 · Jul 8, 2023

bobkn said:
Your System 1 specs say 850W, not 750. Which is correct?

The Ryzen 7 1800X is spec'd at 95W. The RX 580, less than 225W. (That's for a version made by Sapphire.)

The PSU, if it's an RM850, is spec'd for 70A on the +12V line. That would be more than adequate.

750W should be OK as well, as long as it's not a poor PSU.

My GPU is Showkings, but i'm assuming that's just a reseller, because the card is an AMD
It's 850, my bad. 850W PSU