Powering PC with 1250w PSU extremely inefficient/Bad?

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Hatch

797 posts

Ultimate Geek

#198409 8-Jul-2016 09:26

I'm just wondering what the downsides are running a PC with a single GPU with a 1250w PSU. Obviously there will be some power wastage or inefficiency.

I'm planning to run a tri or quad GPU setup "sometime" in the future so I'd rather not have to buy two PSUs, one now and another in the future if there are no really serious disadvantages going with the 1250w PSU now.

darylblake

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#1587973 8-Jul-2016 09:38

No its not "Bad".

The big question is why do you want to run 4 GPU's. What type are you planning on running and what are you planning to use them for?

If you need the much GPU power then I would look toward the most powerful cards available, which at the moment are the GTX1080 or GTX1070. And I would probably look at a board partner model which will be factory overclocked. And I would not go with more than 2 GPU's. You will have loads of problems if you do more than 2.

tehgerbil

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#1588022 8-Jul-2016 10:30

Depends on PSU, if it's not 80+ rated and it's cheap crap then 1250W = 600W under load. (Perhaps not quite that bad, but depends upon brand.)

HowickDota

423 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1588046 8-Jul-2016 11:09

Nvidia isn't supporting 3-way sli with their new GPUs. You can have 3 but the third would only be used for PhysX

Benoire

2798 posts

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#1588105 8-Jul-2016 12:29

You have to look at the efficiency load curve to determine if its worth it. At 50% load, PSUs are often very inefficient, even the higher standard ones... At 80%, they start to perform where you expect for the power draw... Extrapolate your power use for the components against the PSU efficiency curve and it will tell you how much more power will be drawn from the wall compared to fully loaded.

Sideface

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#1588112 8-Jul-2016 12:34

I'm running a Corsair RM1000 1000 Watt 80 PLUS Gold Certified PSU on a large video-editing desktop PC with only one graphics card (an ASUS Strix GeForce GTX 980).
Although the PSU is overspecified, I bought it (discounted) because I am running 8 X HDDs (JBOD), and it had enough power leads to handle all of them.
The PSU runs cool, and the fan is always off. (I like quiet PCs)

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darylblake

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#1588202 8-Jul-2016 13:43

Yeh most definitely get an 80 plus certified. I got an EVGA 650W gold modular. It runs a Gtx780 which is a very power hungry card. But those new pascal 10xx series or the Polaris RX480 draw significantly less power. I would pick a high quality psu over the max power number on it.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1588796 9-Jul-2016 13:31

Great article on Tomshardware on choosing the right PSU:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/psu-buying-guide,2916.html

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darylblake

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#1588800 9-Jul-2016 13:36

Haha after reading that and having 2 psus blow up in the mid range PC test and to see that both of them were not 80+ certified goes to show that you should look for the sticker.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1594670 18-Jul-2016 18:19

Yeah - after reading that article I convinced myself to upgrade my old Corsair 650W for a 750w Seasonic Silent Snow (80+ Platinum). I also like silence (or at least quiet), and the Corsair has a constantly spinning fan.

lNomNoml

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#1594696 18-Jul-2016 19:23

Hatch:

I'm planning to run a tri or quad GPU setup "sometime" in the future so I'd rather not have to buy two...

Anything more than 2 way SLI or Crossfire is a waste IMO, the performance gain to cost ratio is shocking to say the least.

Also Nvidia is ditching m,ore than 2 way SLI it seems: http://www.pcper.com/news/Graphics-Cards/GeForce-GTX-1080-and-1070-3-Way-and-4-Way-SLI-will-not-be-enabled-games