Basic questions for a 4870 rig

[Bucklaz]

All questions answered

Thx for the help everyone :D

[paphman910]

I would suggest Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L motherboard as the SATA connectors won't be covered up by the graphics card and I think it is pretty cheap priced board for intel E5200 but you could wait until after the new year when prices will start to drop due to AMD Phenom II coming out.

Paphman910

[stoanee]

I have a E3110@4 ghz/4870/2 hdd/1 dvd/2 hsf/3 case fan/2x2gb ram and it rarely draws more than 300 watts. I think you could get away with a 450. Calculate here.

http://http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php

Also here is a quote from wikipedia:

"Computer power supplies are generally about 70–75% efficient.[2] That means in order for a 75% efficient power supply to produce 75 W of DC output it would require 100 W of AC input and dissipate the remaining 25 W in heat. Higher-quality power supplies can be over 80% efficient; higher energy efficiency waste less energy in heat, and requires less power to cool as a result. As of 2007, 93%-efficient power supplies are available.[3]
It's important to match the capacity of a power supply to the power needs of the computer. The energy efficiency of power supplies drops significantly at low loads. Efficiency generally peaks at about 50-75% load. The curve varies from model to model (for examples of how this curve looks see the test reports of energy efficient models found on the 80 PLUS website). One rule of thumb is that a power supply that's over twice the required size will be significantly less efficient, and waste a lot of electricity."

[Bucklaz]

Originally Posted by paphman910

I would suggest Gigabyte GA-EP43-DS3L motherboard as the SATA connectors won't be covered up by the graphics card and I think it is pretty cheap priced board for intel E5200 but you could wait until after the new year when prices will start to drop due to AMD Phenom II coming out.

Paphman910

Oh man, I was waiting all this time until boxing day. I think I might just bite on boxingday, since i've already got the card

Originally Posted by stoanee

I have a E3110@4 ghz/4870/2 hdd/1 dvd/2 hsf/3 case fan/2x2gb ram and it rarely draws more than 300 watts. i think you could get away with a 450. Calculate here.http://http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php
Also here is a quote from wikipedia:
"Computer power supplies are generally about 70–75% efficient.[2] That means in order for a 75% efficient power supply to produce 75 W of DC output it would require 100 W of AC input and dissipate the remaining 25 W in heat. Higher-quality power supplies can be over 80% efficient; higher energy efficiency waste less energy in heat, and requires less power to cool as a result. As of 2007, 93%-efficient power supplies are available.[3]
It's important to match the capacity of a power supply to the power needs of the computer. The energy efficiency of power supplies drops significantly at low loads. Efficiency generally peaks at about 50-75% load. The curve varies from model to model (for examples of how this curve looks see the test reports of energy efficient models found on the 80 PLUS website). One rule of thumb is that a power supply that's over twice the required size will be significantly less efficient, and waste a lot of electricity."

Seriously? jebus, why in the heck would diamond reccomend a 500-700w psu. probably compensation for the market of lower efficiency psu's i suppose.
Also, thank you for the site. I'll check it out right now :)

edit: just checked the site. so the 450vx is 83% that should be plenty for my needs :D So I should mainly be looking at the wattage after efficiency. In the 450vx's case its usable wattage would be 360w right?
This is a neat lil site. Thx again

[SugarJ]

Nope. Sorry. A PSU's rating is its output rating. So a 450w PSU will put out 450w to the system, but draw more from the wall (like 562w if it's an 80% efficient PSU).

[Bucklaz]

Originally Posted by SugarJ

Nope. Sorry. A PSU's rating is its output rating. So a 450w PSU will put out 450w to the system, but draw more from the wall (like 562w if it's an 80% efficient PSU).

ooh ok, gotcha

[geokilla]

If you're broke, then why the hell would you get a 4870? There's no point in getting one if you're not gonna spend like $600 on the other parts of your PC. Your other components, such as the CPU will bottleneck the 4870 unless you overclock say, a E7200 to at least 3.6Ghz.

Assuming by broke you mean you're only gonna spend $300 on your PC, I say go with a AMD dual core rig. Those will serve you well for a budget system.

[Bucklaz]

Originally Posted by geokilla

If you're broke, then why the hell would you get a 4870? There's no point in getting one if you're not gonna spend like $600 on the other parts of your PC. Your other components, such as the CPU will bottleneck the 4870 unless you overclock say, a E7200 to at least 3.6Ghz.

Assuming by broke you mean you're only gonna spend $300 on your PC, I say go with a AMD dual core rig. Those will serve you well for a budget system.

thx for the reply. So I'd need atleast an E7200 oc'd to 3.6 to not bottleneck the card?

that's nuts. so there is no stock processor out right now that can allow a 4870 to run unhinderered?

[5ILVgeARX]

i believe most e5200 can reach 3.6ghz
why not get the e5200 and put a little more for a good overclockable board.

[Bucklaz]

Originally Posted by 5ILVgeARX

i believe most e5200 can reach 3.6ghz
why not get the e5200 and put a little more for a good overclockable board.

LOL funny that you said that. Cuz I changed the board for a better oc board, a p43. But I also changed the psu to a 400w psu, I think that will probably limit me now haha.

[geokilla]

A 400W on a 4870 is too risky. I would get at least a good 500W PSU to power that rig. In the end, your 4870 rig is un-doable. Either sell it back out, return it to FS, or save up.

[mlauzon]

Originally Posted by Bucklaz

I was thinking of using NCIX to pricematch other e-tailers on boxing day, but I'm not sure if they would pricematch boxing day specials.

They won't, etailers & brick-and-mortar will not price match on BD.

[b1lk1]

Originally Posted by geokilla

A 400W on a 4870 is too risky. I would get at least a good 500W PSU to power that rig. In the end, your 4870 rig is un-doable. Either sell it back out, return it to FS, or save up.

Then explain to me why my ENTIRE system including 2HD's and a watercooling loop, 6 fans and all my overclocked hardware only pulls 290W through the wall socket as measured by a Kill-A -Watt? Do yourself a favor and stop over-guess-timating power needs as there are too many other people that already have that job.

I agree that a 400W is the lower limit for a 4870 based PC, but it will be fine.

[Bucklaz]

Originally Posted by b1lk1

Then explain to me why my ENTIRE system including 2HD's and a watercooling loop, 6 fans and all my overclocked hardware only pulls 290W through the wall socket as measured by a Kill-A -Watt? Do yourself a favor and stop over-guess-timating power needs as there are too many other people that already have that job.

I agree that a 400W is the lower limit for a 4870 based PC, but it will be fine.

nice... lol, I was kinda getting worried about my build