Maximum PC

Hey all, thanks for taking the time to read this (and help, if you can!)

I bought a computer here, and while it has great specs, the power supply isn't great, and there isn't a video card. I'd like a video card with an hdmi out that can run games pretty well, so I'm looking at this power supply and this video card... But I'm wondering if they're compatible. Can anyone tell me if these will work with this rig? And if not, point me in the right direction I should be looking for a better VC and PS?

FSP Group Booster X5 450W Independent/Supplementary SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Dedicated Multi.GPU Power
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 17-104-054

EVGA SuperClocked 01G-P3-1563-AR GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814130610

Thanks so much in advance!
SuperXero

Technically, DVI is HDMI but without the audio channels, so you could get an adapter or a DVI to HDMI cable to hook up your current system to a TV without audio.

Anyhow, the PC you have still uses the normal ATX sized power supply so lets just find a replacement PSU instead of buying a worthless piece of crap supplement PSU for 3x more expensive. Before we search, lets see how much power your system nets.

Intel i5 2400: 95w tdp
Intel H61 chipset: 6.1w tdp
GTX 560 ti: 170w tdp
1TB 7200 hdd: 10w tdp
Misc: 30w

Total: 311w

So at max load, you system will chew through around 300w, give or take. Add a little PSU overhead of about 20% and are around the 350-380 mark.

I'd look at the Corsair Builder Series CX430 V2 PSU for $25AR + $2sh right now on newegg. It's cheap, great, more than enough power to match your system and its JonnyGuru recommended. Alternatively, you can look at the bigger brother, the CX500 V2 PSU for $30AR, AC (EMCNJJN29) that is just way more than you'll ever need.

Also probably nothing to note, but I would check the graphic card's clearance and make sure it can fit the 9" card. Judging by the photos, it does look like it should have room, but still; better to make sure than having to pay a 15% restock fee for not. It actually looks pretty room for a compact HP pre-built system.

PSUs are most efficient @ 50% load so I would say either the 500W or a 650W even though it is more than what is needed it can be carried over to a new system and should be as efficient as possible. The other thing is that the 560Ti can, at stock clocks, use as much as 317W under load so the 650W really seems a better choice.

I would also agree to take some measurements on the case to make sure the card will fit it seems a bit cozy in there, lol.

Here are the measurements:
9"(L) x 4.38"(H)or(W) depending on how you look at it.

^You are mixing the 560 ti with the 560 ti 448 or getting the overall system load mixed up with the gpu wattage. A stock 560 ti should be around 170w, while OC 560 ti's should be around 200-220w. A 448 model can yield close to 300w if you ramp up the voltage and core clocks, but even those models at stock speeds is the same as the 570, 220w tdp.

Also, while PSU's are generally more efficient at 50% load, we are only talking about 2-3% drop over the 20 and 100% loads on an 80+ plus PSU. It is way overkill to attempt to buy an expensive PSU and only load it at 50% just to save less than 3 dollars of power usage for a whole year... You would have to be running that PSU at normal usage for 10 years before you start to recoup your money.

Here is a link for the power that might help http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/330.

That says: "Total System Power in Watts - Lower is Better"...

System load: 317
System Idle: 161

Theoretical GPU usage: 156w

And that doesn't include wattage of the CPU when ramped up. It also dependent on what game or app was used for the wattage test. FurMark does a great job of stressing the GPU.

crysis

My bad that is total system power. Damn the fine print!

Ah, just slap a Corsair 650TX and 560Ti in there and you'll be fine.

650 is worthless for a system that won't be using half that... waste of money considering those 650's are more than double the cost.

Thanks for the replies all!

I've decided to go with the first power supply that JBaz recommended. Regarding the video card, I plan on waiting for the computer to come in then make some measurements to ensure the card will fit before ordering -- does this sound right?

As much as I can understand the logic if the 650 will fit and the OP was going to spend the money on a additional PSU maybe we should let them decide what is best for their pocket book. My opinion is that a 650W maybe a little more than what what is needed but will carry through several upgrades and will be efficient doing it.
I would recommend a Cosair TX650 but Seasonic, PCP&C are good along with some Antec and OCZ. The choice is yours SuperXero.

If you are talking about the CX430 that is fine just use one of the included molex plugs with the GPU to connect the other 6-pin plug for the GPU power. The PSU has 1-PCIe 6-2pin power plug so the molex is for the other.

As far as waiting for the computer to come in that is a good idea and is something I would do as well.

This is a low budget box (although a decent deal with a decent cpu) with a mid level graphics card; just buy what the system needs right now; not like he's going to be able to do an SLI system or overclock the cpu to warrant a 650.

By the time OP decides to "upgrade", he will need to build a whole new system to even take advantage of a 650w. Let him get a more powerful psu then if he decides to upgrade or build a new pc in 6, 12 or 24+ months from now. Even then a decent cheaper 500w will still be more than enough to power an i7 2nd gen with the same mid level gpu with a little OC. Why spend over double the cost for something that he "maybe use" once this system is put out to pasture?

Okay, so here's the box:



and



Just trying to figure out where I would put the video card -- I have yet to replace the power supply with the one that I purchased.

Thanks again for helping,
SuperXero

Also I have not yet measured the area inside the PC as I'm not sure where the card would go... Thanks again!

replace the power supply first. the gpu goes in the large black pcie slot on the bottom slot (of your orientation). Its physically bigger than the other 3 slots... Look at your graphics card... very easy to tell. Just due note that you may have to remove the slot bracket for the above slot for the added cooler, if your card is a 2 slot configuration.

Okay, I can replace the power supply -- regarding the gpu though -- could you elaborate on the 2 slot configuration? Thanks.

EDIT: Power supply installed successfully.

SuperXero