EggXpert

 I had been meaning to compile a list of power requirements for GPUs that are primarily to exclusively used in PCIe x16 cards. Where there are missing links, I am afraid some of the 8000 series nVidia chips had to have specs derived from endpoint card manufacturer's suggested Watts.  Some esoteric chips I did not feel like chasing down for posterity.  Note: all the nVidia in SLI configuration are somewhat underestimated... they do not account for inefficiencies and memory energy usage in the second card, only the Wattage requirement of the second chip.  But this should not be that much more.  Hope it is useful. [updated 17 NOV 09]

DISCLAIMER: These requirements are done with an enthusiast system (typically) so you can get the cards to run fine at lower wattages, but it is not recommended. 

Just my little addition, and great job! We really need this to get stickied. 

Inplabth:

DISCLAIMER: These requirements are done with an enthusiast system (typically) so you can get the cards to run fine at lower wattages, but it is not recommended.

Quite true.  You can definitely cheat.  These are worst case scenarios that the manufacturers build a generous buffer in to their specs so you hopefully won't damage your system if you are taxing your system electrically.  In fact Tom's Hardware recently published an evaluation of this. 

thanks for the info.....

I have p2 720 @ 3.5 1.33 vcore...4gb ballistix 1333...zalman 9900...2 dvdrw drive...velociraptor 300gb, 500gb wd n 320gb seagate...2 4850s xfire @ 685 core 1100 mem..9 fans..4 leds all running fine on a 550w s12 80 plus seasonic. 

Wow, thanks!!

Ah yeah my old computer has a 9500 GT and a 309 watt PSU when it supposedly needs 350 watt, and the PSU is already 3.5 years old.....

misterdevil:

thanks for the chart, but most of these requirement is based on psu thats >70% effiency right?

It doesn't really matter what efficiency the power supply is rated for.  Remember that the wattage rating on a power supply is how much power it can output to the computer, not how much it's going to draw from the wall plug.  

Both a 70% efficient 500watt PSU and a 80% efficient 500watt PSU can put out 500watts, the difference is that the 70% one will draw more power from the wall plug. 

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misterdevil:

thanks for the chart, but most of these requirement is based on psu thats >70% effiency right?

Doesn't matter.  PSU are rated to deliver not suck out.  A 500W delivers 500W (whatever that means --- Amps on the 12V+ are more substantive) whether for example, it is 65% or 85% efficient. The 85% one draws less current to deliver it, and 15% is wasted as heat, while the 65% draws more current to deliver and 35% would be wasted as heat. 

edit -- this is what happens when I don't read the entire thread before answering...CompWiz beat me to it. 

CompWiz:

Since those are rather rough estimates for total system draw, it would be helpful if you could put in the wattage draw for each card by itself.  Then you can add in your CPU wattage, optical drive(s), hard drive(s), motherboard, etc..., and get a more accurate estimate of your total system power needs. 

I am looking forward to seeing you get right on that. 

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp 

FascistNation:

CompWiz:

Since those are rather rough estimates for total system draw, it would be helpful if you could put in the wattage draw for each card by itself.  Then you can add in your CPU wattage, optical drive(s), hard drive(s), motherboard, etc..., and get a more accurate estimate of your total system power needs. 

I am looking forward to seeing you get right on that. 

http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp 

I wouldn't use that power calculator to figure it out.  I've tested many of those calculators out, and I've never found one that is both accurate and kept updated with new products.  Most of those produce laughably inaccurate estimates.  

Seeing as how it's really quick and easy to manually calculate your computer's power requirements(as I've pointed out and demonstrated many times on these forums and others), why not just do it yourself?  

Anyway, the manufacturers state the TDP for each video card, so you don't have to figure it out for yourself.  Here's a couple nice lists with all the TDP's of modern video cards compiled into one place:

ATI Card list

nVidia Card list

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Well-done Eggs. If any one wanna to know about the Video card requirements, this thread will be of great help.

Keep up the great work.

FascistNation:

What I really wish is if we could get a +12V max. Amp draw for each GPU.  Sigh.

You can.  Just follow the links I posted above

ATI Card list

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So help me out here.  As I read the Wiki charts posted by CompWiz can I interpret the TDP column  as the power I can expect the card to draw?

I have a mini-ITX with in an Antec Skeleton-90 case with a 90W PSU.  I have no HDD or CD/DVD just a SSD drive that pulls a meager 2.5W and 65W Core 2 duo.    My problem is that my Zotac MB has HDMI, DVI and VGA out but my Harmon Kardon AVR accepts SVideo, Component and A/V (no HDMI). So I have now learned I can't make my MB output go into my AVR.  (I mistakenly thought my DVI to Component cable would do what I wanted but it won't).  So now I must either use a VGA to SVideo converter the runs off of USB power (which I suspect will yield less than desirable results) or get a video card that has SVideo TV-Out port.  I'd prefer not replacing the PSU.  This will be used exclusively as an HTPC.

So is it possible for me to find a card that will have adequate video to play HD video but stay in the limits of my power supply?  Or am I relegated to the USB video converter or bumping my power supply?  Product suggestions would be very much welcomed.

CopperClapper:

So help me out here.  As I read the Wiki charts posted by CompWiz can I interpret the TDP column  as the power I can expect the card to draw?

I have a mini-ITX with in an Antec Skeleton-90 case with a 90W PSU.  I have no HDD or CD/DVD just a SSD drive that pulls a meager 2.5W and 65W Core 2 duo.    My problem is that my Zotac MB has HDMI, DVI and VGA out but my Harmon Kardon AVR accepts SVideo, Component and A/V (no HDMI). So I have now learned I can't make my MB output go into my AVR.  (I mistakenly thought my DVI to Component cable would do what I wanted but it won't).  So now I must either use a VGA to SVideo converter the runs off of USB power (which I suspect will yield less than desirable results) or get a video card that has SVideo TV-Out port.  I'd prefer not replacing the PSU.  This will be used exclusively as an HTPC.

So is it possible for me to find a card that will have adequate video to play HD video but stay in the limits of my power supply?  Or am I relegated to the USB video converter or bumping my power supply?  Product suggestions would be very much welcomed.

wow, a 90watt power supply?  What brand is that?  

And, yes, TDP is equivalent to power draw.  

So, let's take a look at what your current setup is drawing: 

CPU: 65watts
Hard Drive: 2.5watts
motherboard: 20watts(estimate)
RAM: 3watts(estimate)
Fan: 3watts(estimate)

total:  93.5watts

Chances are your motherboard draws a bit less than that, and it's not likely you'll be hitting your CPU's TDP, so you may just be making it in just under 90watts in most circumstances.  

However, it seems that you really don't have any extra power to run a graphics card.   The lowest power graphics card that you can get is a Radeon 4350 with a rated 25watt TDP.  It likely draws somewhat less than that, but it's still too much for your power supply. 

 Is there any reason that you're using such a low wattage power supply?  There are low-cost power supplies available that could easitly handle your system. 

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CompWiz, thanks for the reply. 

I may have mispoken slightly on the PSU in that it isn't really a PSU.  I've got an Antec Skeleton (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129067) with an out-of-box "90-watt adapter plus PCB for stable and reliable power".  I knew I was cutting it thin but my hope was with the Zotac MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500022) and SSD it would work for an HTPC.  And if my I could get the video to connect I think it would have (in fact it does if I don't go through my AVR).   I should also mention I was rather paranoid about fan noise and wanted to keep that to a minimum.  A PSU would add another fan (I assume - haven't done my homework there yet) and it looks like I need to be careful with video cards which will also potentially add a fan. Couple that with the CPU fan and the case fan we're getting a lot fans going for an open air case.

So now I figure it's time to seek some advice before I blindly buy more hardware that disappoints me because I didn't understand its limitations or demands.

So I think my options at this point are:

1. New PSU and new graphics card (probably would be a downgrade from the onboard GeForce 9300 :( just to get an S-Video port.
2. Use a VGA to S-Video converter () and live with the quality of picture (risk being power supply might still not be adequate)
3. Replace my AVR with one that supports HDMI ($$$).
4. Find a magic adapter/converter that would accept HDMI or DVI or VGA output from the MB and adapt/convert it to Component or S-Video or A/V that my AVR will accept.
5. Anything else?

CopperClapper:

CompWiz, thanks for the reply. 

I may have mispoken slightly on the PSU in that it isn't really a PSU.  I've got an Antec Skeleton (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129067) with an out-of-box "90-watt adapter plus PCB for stable and reliable power".  I knew I was cutting it thin but my hope was with the Zotac MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813500022) and SSD it would work for an HTPC.  And if my I could get the video to connect I think it would have (in fact it does if I don't go through my AVR).   I should also mention I was rather paranoid about fan noise and wanted to keep that to a minimum.  A PSU would add another fan (I assume - haven't done my homework there yet) and it looks like I need to be careful with video cards which will also potentially add a fan. Couple that with the CPU fan and the case fan we're getting a lot fans going for an open air case.

 Well, not really.  There are some passive power supplies available.  Also, there are some very quiet power supplies, such as the Zalman ones.  

Additionally, there are passive video cards available.  Newegg commonly has a Radeon 3450 or Radeon 4350 with passive cooling on sale for around $15-30 after rebate. 

If you get the right parts, your computer really won't be louder than it is right now.  

CopperClapper:

So now I figure it's time to seek some advice before I blindly buy more hardware that disappoints me because I didn't understand its limitations or demands.

So I think my options at this point are:

1. New PSU and new graphics card (probably would be a downgrade from the onboard GeForce 9300 :( just to get an S-Video port.

A discrete graphics card would likely not be a downgrade from the integrated 9300.  Discrete graphics cards, even low-end ones, are usually faster than integrated ones.  Of course, if you're not playing games, that's not going to matter.  

I'd say that's probably your best bet.  Get a Radeon 3450 or 4350 with a passive cooler on sale at newegg for around $15-30 after rebate. Here's a list of video cards on newegg that should meet your needs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=48&Description=&Type=&N=2010380048+1305520549&srchInDesc=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&PropertyCodeValue=696%3A9641&PropertyCodeValue=696%3A33099&PropertyCodeValue=696%3A20108&PropertyCodeValue=686%3A25271&PropertyCodeValue=686%3A42010&PropertyCodeValue=2328%3A14103&PropertyCodeValue=2328%3A14104&PropertyCodeValue=2328%3A14102&PropertyCodeValue=2328%3A14201&PropertyCodeValue=2328%3A14101&PropertyCodeValue=2953%3A18921

 Then, look  around for a silent or very quiet power supply. 

After a quick search, it seems that there really aren't many silent power supplies around any more.  About a year ago Buy.com commonly had passive power supplies on sale for around $30 after rebate, if I remember correctly, but those seem to have dried up. 

So, take a look at the Zalman power supplies.  This one looks to be perfect: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817379008

It has a quiet fan, and it won't even turn the fan on unless the power supply heats up to  a certain temperature.  They say it's rated to run silently until the power supply reaches 45°C, which it may not even reach when running your computer. 

You can get something a bit cheaper, most power supplies vary the fan speed based upon the load or internal temperature, so with a low load, you probably won't hear anything.  You can see a chart comparing a series of 500-550watt power supplies and the noise that they made at various load levels here: http://www.anandtech.com/casecoolingpsus/showdoc.aspx?i=3516&p=26

So, you might look at getting the OCZ StealthXStream 500watt which newegg has on sale right now for $40 after rebate($60 before rebate).  Just so you know, last week Newegg had an additional $10 discount on that power supply, bringing the price down to $30 after rebate.  And, earlier this year I bought that same power supply from newegg when it was on sale for $15 after rebate, w/ free shipping. 

Also, when you make your purchase, do it through the bing cashback portal to get a 6% discount on newegg purchases.   link: http://www.bing.com/shopping/pages/stores.aspx?scope=cashback&FORM=R5FD1

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CopperClapper:

I'll do some shopping and let you know how it turns out.

I'll look forward to hearing about it.  

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