What power rating do I require for this project?
What power rating do I require for this project?
My PSU failed today. It was an 850W model from Seasonic. I purchased another one because that's what most people suggested. However, it turned out to be too much power for my setup. I have an i5 9400f that only reached its maximum of 30W, and a RX 6800 XT with 16 GB that never exceeded 220W while gaming in 4K. Probably because I undervolted both the CPU and GPU, and I usually play at 60fps with high settings instead of ultra. This means they don’t need as much power. I’ve been playing different games for over a year, and together CPU and GPU never exceeded 250W. Apart from that, I have one HDD and two SSD drives inside, no extra fans or coolers. I don’t plan to buy another 850W PSU and I want you not to mention that sometimes “the wattage might spike without me noticing.” I’ve done many tests and benchmarks with this build, and it never exceeded the numbers I mentioned. So, can I use a 500W or 650W PSU now?
the manufacturer specifies a minimum power requirement for the RX 6800 XT ranging from 700 to 850 watts based on your model.
if you attempt to use less than that for your particular card, you may face issues such as no performance boost in games or other applications, and even crashes during high power usage.
what type of "power sensor" are you referring to for this setup, positioned between the device and its connected parts to measure real power consumption?
please consider the genuine quality of your specific unit rather than just generic manufacturer claims and listed wattage.
From what I observe, the 6800 XT can reach close to 450W. The fact that you've undervolted it and aren<|pad|>, not pushing the card to full load, seems to solve this problem. No software will recognize power draw spikes lasting only a few milliseconds. The power supply isn't the most costly component, but it's essential. If you can afford an additional $25 to upgrade to a higher quality power supply—ideally an ATX 3.0—do it. It's a worthwhile investment for stability and durability. I wouldn't settle for less than 650W.
I use MS Afterburner to monitor my power usage. Occasionally I keep it running for the entire gaming session and I've never seen a reading exceed 220W, regardless of what was happening in any game. If you're suggesting that the GPU can suddenly jump from 220W to around 700W without Afterburner detecting it, then I understand what you're saying. By the way, I'm not making a joke. Is it actually feasible for the GPU to increase that much? Because if it is, I'll need a more powerful PSU. And if not, then I don't need one.
I recently worked with a guy on a 7800XT and noticed a 400W+ spike. Someone else mentioned a 600W spike on a 7900XT, confirming it's real, especially when overclocking. Igorslab is the top resource in my opinion.
Oh, ok... Thanks man, I didn't know that! I'm actually slowly thinking about selling this whole damn thing and looking for another hobby. I've put over 1000€ (plus 800€ for a big 4k TV) into this box and it now it doesn't turn on anymore. I don't care if it's just the PSU, it' always gonna be "just something". Ruined my Saturday night and it'll ruin some more days as well to get the PC back fixed again.
Electronics often fade away without much cause, sometimes just a hint to test another console for your 4K TV.
which particular Seasonic model you own?
all manufacturers/distributors provide lower quality versions that struggle under heavy use such as gaming.
while Seasonic does have some excellent, if not among the top, units available.
they also include models that aren't dependable in these situations.
what is the warranty for your device?
if it's a superior model, you should expect at least around 8 years of coverage.
a replacement should be straightforward if needed.