Want to buy a 7970, but will it work with this system and PSU?

[InfiniteLurker]

I was planning on buying a 7970 tomorrow, but I'm not sure about the power supply in the system I'm going to use it in.

I have a Dell Studio XPS 435T/9000, so I think size-wise I'll be OK. However, the power supply is listed as 475W.

Will I need to upgrade the PSU for this card?

Thanks for the guidance...

 

[Schmide]

Finding a image of the PSU wattage here, noticing that the 3 12v rails can feed about 384w, and comparing it to the power usage in a review here of 391w loaded. I think you would need a new PSU.

 

[Arkadrel]

Yeap... New PSU needed.

 

[tynopik]

Finding a image of the PSU wattage here, noticing that the 3 12v rails can feed about 384w, and comparing it to the power usage in a review here of 391w loaded. I think you would need a new PSU.

A few mitigating factors:

1) that's 391w FROM THE WALL, actual load on the PSU is less

even assuming 80% efficiency, that's only a 313w load on the PSU

2) that's with an Intel Core i7 3960X overclocked to 4.3GHz

 

[Schmide]

A few mitigating factors:

1) that's 391w FROM THE WALL, actual load on the PSU is less

even assuming 80% efficiency, that's only a 313w load on the PSU

2) that's with an Intel Core i7 3960X overclocked to 4.3GHz

Although I agree with the efficiency factor. I believe the OP has a Intel core i7 extreme 975 which is no slouch in consuming power. It would actually be within 10 or so watts of the 3960x. OEM PSU loaded at 80% is a recipe for failure.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

A few mitigating factors:

1) that's 391w FROM THE WALL, actual load on the PSU is less

even assuming 80% efficiency, that's only a 313w load on the PSU

2) that's with an Intel Core i7 3960X overclocked to 4.3GHz

Does that change things? Will I not need a new PSU? A quick look in the case and it appears that the PSU isn't easily swappable.

 

[Don Karnage]

Grab this psu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139028

 

[InfiniteLurker]

Although I agree with the efficiency factor. I believe the OP has a Intel core i7 extreme 975 which is no slouch in consuming power. It would actually be within 10 or so watts of the 3960x. OEM PSU loaded at 80% is a recipe for failure.

I have a i7-920... not an extreme 975.

 

[Schmide]

List your complete components. CPU, HD, mem, fans, etc.

 

[Attic]

From http://www.amd.com/us/products/desktop/graphics/7000/7970/Pages/radeon-7970.aspx#2

Minimum is 500W power supply. I wouldn't feel comfortable running the card on a 475W Dell PSU.

 

[Panopticon]

You don't want to risk burning up a $550 video card when a new PSU is only around $100 (or less). You should get something around 650w if you can. The problem with some of those dell psu's and cases is they sometimes use weird sizes that aren't industry standard. I tried to upgrade a psu in my cousins dell about 2 yrs ago and the screw holes did not line up at all and the new psu would have bent the case if I tried to put it in. It was only a 500w so it was a normal size. You could attempt to swap out the psu and if it doesnt fit just order a new case also that way you will be sure you can upgrade down the line.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

List your complete components. CPU, HD, mem, fans, etc.

Intel Core i7-920 @2.67 GHz
Intel x25-m G2 160GB SSD
9 GB DDR3 @ 531 MHz (7-7-7-20)
1 DVD-RW
1 DVD-ROM
2 fans

 

[toyota]

that psu would probably work but its several years old and will likely be at it's very limit under load. also I would not buy a 7970 if you cant oc that cpu at all.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

Grab this psu

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139028

Hmm - that one doesn't look like it is certified by AMD from the link somebody else posted...

 

[InfiniteLurker]

that psu would probably work but its several years old and will likely be at it's very limit under load. also I would not buy a 7970 if you cant oc that cpu at all.

I won't be overclocking, I'm just looking for a good bump to gaming performance for my 30" LCD and was just hoping to reuse a spare system I have.

 

[toyota]

I won't be overclocking, I'm just looking for a good bump to gaming performance for my 30" LCD and was just hoping to reuse a spare system I have.

with a stock 920, you will not be getting the most out of a 7970 though. with your psu and stock 920, I would wait to see what the 7950 looks like.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

You're willing to buy a $600 GPU for a $1200 monitor but you won't buy a $70 power supply to make sure you don't damage your components?

Just buy a new power supply.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

You're willing to buy a $600 GPU for a $1200 monitor but you won't buy a $70 power supply to make sure you don't damage your components?

Just buy a new power supply.

Did I ever say I wouldn't buy one? I merely asked if I actually needed a new one.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I was basically saying to just upgrade your PSU for piece of mind.

 

[InfiniteLurker]

with a stock 920, you will not be getting the most out of a 7970 though. with your psu and stock 920, I would wait to see what the 7950 looks like.

Yikes, I didn't realize this. Roughly how much will I be restricting things with the 920?

 

[toyota]

Yikes, I didn't realize this. Roughly how much will I be restricting things with the 920?

well it will depend on the game. for some really cpu intensive games, a 2.66 i7 is not going to keep the framerates where you like them in spots. I just cant justify spending 550 bucks on a gpu if i cant get basically 100% out of it. and again with your power supply it really pushing it anyway.

 

[notty22]

I'm of the opinion you can match a high end card with a stock i7 920. Though it might be a little more affordable and a better match to get the 7950.
Here is a article , with some testing with a stock I7 920, and a new Sandy Bridge and Bulldozer cpu for comparison. This is only 1 set of games. And there are always outliers that like more cpu speed.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7970_CPU_Scaling/
You can swap a standard ATX psu in to that tower easy enough. I did it this past year to my Dell 530, that's been running for 4 years straight. I was swapping in a 4770, had no pci-e power connector and did not want to have to tear it apart again in 6 months.

 

[Don Karnage]

Hmm - that one doesn't look like it is certified by AMD from the link somebody else posted...

It's a Corsair. It doesn't need to be certified by Amd.

Yikes, I didn't realize this. Roughly how much will I be restricting things with the 920?

920 at 2.66ghz

You'll be fine

 

[toyota]

It's a Corsair. It doesn't need to be certified by Amd.





920 at 2.66ghz

You'll be fine

so you make that determination from BF 3 single player? try multi and its a different story.

even with my 2500k, I see improvement in some games by ocing the cpu. considering his cpu would be about like mine being ran at 2.4. there is no doubt he would hold back a 7970.

 

[Don Karnage]

so you make that determination from BF 3 single player? try multi and its a different story.

even with my 2500k, I see improvement in some games by ocing the cpu. considering his cpu would be about like mine being ran at 2.4. there is no doubt he would hold back a 7970.

A 920 is plenty for a 7970. Would it be better with a 2500K? Absolutely but bloomfield is no slouch. It's not like he's running Bulldozer.....

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AMD/HD_7970_CPU_Scaling/