[SOLVED] Got 660 Watt PSU, But Want To Do SLI - What Wattage is Recommended?

[Appletax]

Hello,

I've decided that I'd like to do SLI since the rest of my machine is pretty much maxed out. I want to go all out on this machine and use it for years to come. I currently have a SeaSonic Platinum 660 watt power supply. I am considering returning it to Amazon and replacing it with the same model, but with 860 watts of power. What do you think?

Here's my current rig:

- CPU: Intel Core-i7 4770K - It's the only part I want to overclock (OC to 4.5 GHz)
- CPU Cooler: Noctua DH-14
- GPU: EVGA GTX 770 SuperClocked ACX 2 GB
- Mobo: Asus Maximus VI Hero
- RAM: G.SKILL Trident X 32 GB 2400 MHz 1.65 V - RAMDISK!!!
- SSD: Samsung 840 Pro 256 GB
- HDD: SeaGate 3 TB 7200 RPM
- Optical: Pioneer BDR-2209 BluRay Writer
- USB Devices: Keyboard, Wireless Mouse, 2 External HDDs, Flash Drive

In the future, I'd like to add more system fans and LED strips. I also want to add two 3 or 4 TB Western Digital Red hard drives in RAID 1 for backing up movies.

Edit: swapped out the 660 watt PSU with a 860 watt PSU from SeaSonic and bought two 970 FTWs from EVGA. Runs great

 

[mr m]

What am I doing up so early?

For a definitive answer use this handy calculator. Too many folks buy oversized PS's that aren't efficient at low loads.

http://www.thermaltake.outervision.com/index.jsp

 

[ohio_grad_06]

If you are going to do sli i would say bigger is better. If not, keep the 660 and be happy. Either way the system should be a beast. Quit worrying about it, and enjoy the system and upgrade as you go that's part of the fun.

 

[Appletax]

I just read a review of a system with a 6 core Intel CPU and gtx 780 ti sli. The system drew, at full load, 617 watts from the outlet. They recommend an 800 watt PSU at min.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

You do realize your system especially gtx 770's or gtx 780's in sli is massive overkill for about any game out there?

 

[Appletax]

I just want the PSU to be ready for when its time to upgrade to sli. I won't get it for awhile.

 

[Appletax]

So would 860 watts work? I bought a kill-a-watt meter and it's never gone above 300 watts with my current setup. All I've done so far to crank that number up is play Skyrim, Just Cause 2, and Just Cause 2's benchmark - all at ultra details.

 

[Appletax]

I talked to Nvidia via chat and the guy told me that 860 watts works for standard setups, but I "...have 32 GB of RAM and a 3 TB hard drive." Wow! As if RAM and an HDD take up a lot of wattage. All I could think of was "why even bother trying to answer the question when you're obviously not qualified."

Grrr

 

[mr m]

Why aren't you plugging in your data into the link I posted? Instead of guessing you'll get a pretty accurate wattage estimate.

The calculator works with FF or Chrome. IE 11 not so good.

 

[Appletax]

Why aren't you plugging in your data into the link I posted? Instead of guessing you'll get a pretty accurate wattage estimate.

The calculator works with FF or Chrome. IE 11 not so good.

751 watts at 100% peak load... 681 watts at 90%.... guess 860 watts should leave power to spare...

 

[Appletax]

I suppose I'm going to go with the 860 watt. It should be plenty.

 

[Appletax]

Bought an 860 watt Seasonic and two 970 FTWs from EVGA. Runs great I play all games at 4K Ultra

 

[CLC]

You didn't splurge and buy the 1500 watt, what kind of gamer are you!

 

[Appletax]

You didn't splurge and buy the 1500 watt, what kind of gamer are you!

Gotta get QUAD Titan Zs first Hello 48GB of VRAM (and a $6000 bill)!

 

[MDD1963]

If peak load could potentially be near 700 watts, I'd personally prefer a 1000 watt PSU then....

(better to have a couple hundred watts to spare than to hope some other PSU can actually provide stable voltage/current running at 95% of it's rated capacity)