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How much power is my psu eating?

333 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  MCBrown.CA, 
klg1128
(See system specs)
Approximately, how much power is my psu actually using? Is there a way to know? Do psu's use the ,aximum power at all times?(like mine, it is a 600w, so is it always running on full power?)

I want to buy this device so I can run SLI:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104054

However, I need to know if it will always run on max power. The bottom line is, I can't go over 800w because of the fuse box for my room. I would rather buy this dedicated graphics psu to save money, buying a new power supply would cost me more.
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TFL Replica
A PSU's power usage is according to the load on it. A 800watt PSU only uses as much as the power load (when taking efficiency into account) demands.
You can get a Kill A Watt to take accurate measurements.
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E
Quote:

Originally Posted by TFL Replica View Post
A PSU's power usage is according to the load on it. A 800watt PSU only uses as much as the power load (when taking efficiency into account) demands.
You can get a Kill A Watt to take accurate measurements.
Agreed.

In addition, if you are already close to the max power of your "fuse box", getting another source (i.e. psu) isn't going to change anything, power (W= Current x Voltage) is additive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by klg1128
buying a new power supply would cost me more.
And it would not help anything. 800W is 800W whether you are getting it from one source or two.

You should be able to EASILY run 9800GTX SLI with a good PSU. Whether or not that XION will do it, is another story.
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BikePilot
Yep, a PSU only gives the computer as much current as the PC needs. The amount of power the PSU uses is that amount, divided by the efficency factor of the PSU at that specific current draw. For example, if your computer is consuming 150W of current and your PSU is 80% efficent, then the current the PSU will pull from your wall outlet will be 150W/0.8=187.5W

As said above, using two PSU's won't help a thing in regard to your fuse box unless you run them off separate house circuits.

Your house fusebox is probably rated in amps. Multiply that number by 120 to get the Watts its capable of supporting. So a standard 20A home breaker will do a total of about 2,400W.
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justarealguy
Quote:

Originally Posted by TFL Replica View Post
A PSU's power usage is according to the load on it. A 800watt PSU only uses as much as the power load (when taking efficiency into account) demands.
You can get a Kill A Watt to take accurate measurements.
Yes, this is true. You must, however, take in to account the inefficiency of a power supply. Depending on which one it is it could be as low as 60%. Generally high end PSUs are at least 80+
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jam3s
Quote:

Originally Posted by EntropyTTU View Post
Agreed.

In addition, if you are already close to the max power of your "fuse box", getting another source (i.e. psu) isn't going to change anything, power (W= Current x Voltage) is additive.

And it would not help anything. 800W is 800W whether you are getting it from one source or two.

You should be able to EASILY run 9800GTX SLI with a good PSU. Whether or not that XION will do it, is another story.

heck, with a good 650w I could handle 2 9800gtx's in SLI, with an overclocked Q6600 and a couple drives.

800w should be a breeze. I've never heard of Xion though. So GL
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klg1128
Okay, if I were to buy that dedicated gpu psu, would I be going over 800w with another 9800gtx+?
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MCBrown.CA
Two 9800GTX+ barely peak at 575W full load, more like 500W so yea 800W is not necessary.

Remember to consider that the further away from it's power rating a PSU operates, the more inefficient it is so a grossly overpowered dedicated GPU PSU doesn't make sense.

EDIT: Hardspell GPU power consumption numbers - overclocked 9800GTX+ = 272W load
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