Is 400w enough for gtx 960 ?

Laughing_Beast · Dec 22, 2015

Hello guys,

I won MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 2G in a giveaway (YAY!) and now I wonder if 400W will be enough for it in this PC :

Intel Pentium G3220
H81M-E
2GB DDR3 1333MHz + 4GB DDR3 1333MHz
WD 250GB Blue
ordinary Asus DVD

P.S.: There's 8pins for power cable on GPU but MSI itself gave 6pins female -> 8pins male reduction into box with card. Not sure what to think about it. Does it mean it basically just need 75W (it would get from 6pin) via cable?

P.P.S.: I've read as much as I could find about this card but I really wanna be sure, sorry for nOOb questions.

rtwjunkie · Dec 22, 2015

Congrats on your new card! If I'm not mistaken, the minimum recommended PSU is 400 watts.

The reason for the 8 pin is because that card is meant to be overclocked, and has ALOT of headroom to do so.

This is good, because as I have found with the 960 I am using in one of my systems, it needs a healthy overclock to produce good fps AND quality. Thankfully, they are capable of doing so....if you have the PSU power. Overclocking it though, is going to take it past the stock 120w the card draws at stock clocks.

Bottom line, it should work, but I would get more wattage as soon as you are able (depending on quality of your PSU).

What model and brand is your PSU?

silentbogo · Dec 22, 2015

More than enough. GTX 960 has a TDP of 120W max.
Your system on its own will consume a bit over 300W at full load, so 400W is enough but it has to be a very good PSU.
Overclocking with this small wattage overhead is not recommended.

If I were you, I would get a decent 500W PSU instead.

NdMk2o1o · Dec 22, 2015

Laughing_Beast said:
Hello guys,

I won MSI GeForce GTX 960 GAMING 2G in a giveaway (YAY!) and now I wonder if 400W will be enough for it in this PC :

Intel Pentium G3220
H81M-E
2GB DDR3 1333MHz + 4GB DDR3 1333MHz
WD 250GB Blue
ordinary Asus DVD

P.S.: There's 8pins for power cable on GPU but MSI itself gave 6pins female -> 8pins male reduction into box with card. Not sure what to think about it. Does it mean it basically just need 75W (it would get from 6pin) via cable?

P.P.S.: I've read as much as I could find about this card but I really wanna be sure, sorry for nOOb questions.

What make is your PSU, should be fine as long as it's not a total piece of crap....

EarthDog · Dec 22, 2015

400W from a modern, quality, PSU is PLENTY. I wouldn't spend a penny more on a higher wattage PSU.

You would be lucky if the GPU and CPU are fully overclocked and running 100% it would hit 300W.

silentbogo said:
Your system on its own will consume a bit over 300W at full load, so 400W is enough but it has to be a very good PSU.

Overclocking with this small wattage overhead is not recommended.

If I were you, I would get a decent 500W PSU instead.

Highlighted parts... No.

The CPU is 53W max and can't be overclocked with his current combo. There are power limits on the 960 that will top it off around 150W or so. That is 200W at the absolute WORST, likely less. A quality 400W is fine. I would even overclock that CPU if it could with a 400W PSU... there isn't remotely a need for a 500W PSU for this system.

http://www.overclockers.com/evga-gtx-960-4gb-supersc-acx-2-0-graphics-card-review/
Our review on GTX 960. 4790K (88W CPU) system with an overclocked GTX 960 peaked at 260W (at the wall). Take 10% off that for PSU efficiency, and you are pulling under 240W actual with the card overclocked. 400W is plenty.

alucasa · Dec 22, 2015

My system is powered by 450w PSU and it's got 760 GTX and the system has been rock stable for years. So, yeah, it will be fine.

Off a wall meter, it hardly ever goes above 200w.

thebluebumblebee · Dec 22, 2015

The review of that very card, right here on TPU :rolleyes:

, shows that even running Furmark, the max load of that GPU (before OC'ing) is only 138 watts. If your PSU is anything decent, it will work just fine. If it's one of those 250 watts PSU's calling its self a 400 watt PSU, then you will have problems.

Liquid Cool · Dec 22, 2015

Congrats on winning the card!

My little eVGA GTX 960 only has a six pin...I'm currently running it on a 430w psu with zero problems. Great card....and actually the best card "sound-wise" I've ever owned. This card is dead-silent. Zero noise. I love it.

Best,

LC

Laughing_Beast · Dec 29, 2015

Thanks for replies! :lovetpu:

Will have to save money for some decent-enough PSU since what I have is a VERY cheap one. I am on damn low budget unfortunately. Would never actually BUY such card, maybe something like 750ti or 950. (I have Radeon 4670 currently.) I even contemplated selling 960 and buying something cheaper but there isn't that much difference in costs of 960 - 950/750ti to make such move really worth it.

Oh well at least the card is very nice to look at. That'll make waiting/saving easier

How about this one - Seventeam Cilense ST-P0520PBA (520W) http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2258 ? Offered for about 1100CZ = 44USD here. According to review I found it might be what I look for? It has 40A on 12V...well MSI asks for 42A for its 960....close enough? :confused:

P.S.: I am very unlikely to upgrade to anything more power-hungry (unless I win it. :cool:

)

Folterknecht · Dec 29, 2015

Get yourself something decent, the PSU is the last part you want to safe money.

http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=1617

Its totally overpowered for a 2 Core CPU and a 960 which wont draw more than 250W, but it's very solid and enables you to just plug in a more power hungry CPU and/or GPU, if you get your hand on them in the future.

thebluebumblebee · Dec 29, 2015

Laughing_Beast said:
How about this one - Seventeam Cilense ST-P0520PBA (520W) http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2258 ? Offered for about 1100CZ = 44USD here. According to review I found it might be what I look for? It has 40A on 12V...well MSI asks for 42A for its 960....close enough?

I don't know Seventeam, but that looks okay???? As for the 42A, don't worry about that at all.
How much would a FSP AURUM 400W cost?

NdMk2o1o · Dec 29, 2015

Mate you system will struggle to pull 300w with insane overclocks on the CPU and GPU you should be fine!

Laughing_Beast · Dec 29, 2015

thebluebumblebee said:
How much would a FSP AURUM 400W cost?

Well,about 2000CZ/81USD

rtwjunkie · Dec 29, 2015

Laughing_Beast said:
How about this one - Seventeam Cilense ST-P0520PBA (520W) http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2258 ? Offered for about 1100CZ = 44USD here. According to review I found it might be what I look for? It has 40A on 12V...well MSI asks for 42A for its 960....close enough?

The specs look fine, but I couldn't in a quick search find out much about it or the component maker.

thebluebumblebee · Dec 29, 2015

Laughing_Beast said:
Well,about 2000CZ/81USD

OUCH!
How about: http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=1331

JrRacinFan · Dec 29, 2015

@Laughing_Beast
Think about this for a moment, your current system is probably pulling just a mere 30W under what your planned specs would be. It will work just fine.

Laughing_Beast · Dec 30, 2015

thebluebumblebee said:
OUCH!
How about: http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=1331

1225CZ = 49USD - Only slightly more then the one I posted. (Which is just first one I found decent review on.) That could be the one for me

rtwjunkie said:
The specs look fine, but I couldn't in a quick search find out much about it or the component maker.

Review I found is in Czech

Well,it says it has (good) active components from Infineon but cheap Chinese capacitors (Teapo, Suscon). Its performance in these tests wasn't good enough for 80+ Bronze, though. Verdict is like " It's ok for its price, very similar to Seasonic / Fortron in this segment."
Apparently Seventeam mostly makes PSUs for Ultra, CoolerMaster, SilverStone and bazillion others.

thebluebumblebee · Dec 30, 2015

One more: http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2280

Laughing_Beast · Dec 30, 2015

thebluebumblebee said:
One more: http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2280

About 2029CZ/81USD too

thebluebumblebee · Dec 30, 2015

I'd go for the 1225CZ = 49USD Seasonic over the 1100CZ = 44USD Seventeam.

Laughing_Beast · Dec 30, 2015

thebluebumblebee said:
I'd go for the 1225CZ = 49USD Seasonic over the 1100CZ = 44USD Seventeam.

Ok,seems like I'm going to get the 1225CZ = 49USD Seasonic one.(http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=1331)

Thanks to @thebluebumblebee and all others for help! :lovetpu:

thebluebumblebee · Dec 30, 2015

Because of a better warranty, how about one more? http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2990

DarthBaggins · Dec 30, 2015

Yup if you snag a SeaSonic for low or a Super Flower go for it

Laughing_Beast · Dec 30, 2015

thebluebumblebee said:
Because of a better warranty, how about one more? http://www.partis.cz/index.php?gid=2990

Most shops have it for about 1400CZ but some for as cheap as 1080CZ/44USD...hmm gotta check those shops. Will do it tomorrow I guess, my head hurts a bit now. Thanks again.

Processor	Intel Pentium G3220
Motherboard	Asus H81M-E
Cooling	stock
Memory	6GB DDR3 1333MHz
Video Card(s)	MSI GTX 960 Gaming 2G
Storage	WD 250GB Blue
Display(s)	LG E2350
Audio Device(s)	on board
Power Supply	SEASONIC 400W SS-400ET F3 80PLUS Bronze
Mouse	Hama uRage MMORPG
Software	Windows 10 64bit

Processor	Core i9-9900k
Motherboard	ASRock Z390 Phantom Gaming 6
Cooling	All air: 2x140mm Fractal exhaust; 3x 140mm Cougar Intake; Enermax ETS-T50 Black CPU cooler
Memory	32GB (2x16) Mushkin Redline DDR-4 3200
Video Card(s)	ASUS RTX 4070 Ti Super OC 16GB
Storage	1x 1TB MX500 (OS); 2x 6TB WD Black; 1x 2TB MX500; 1x 1TB BX500 SSD; 1x 6TB WD Blue storage (eSATA)
Display(s)	Infievo 27" 165Hz @ 2560 x 1440
Case	Fractal Design Define R4 Black -windowed
Audio Device(s)	Soundblaster Z
Power Supply	Seasonic Focus GX-1000 Gold
Mouse	Coolermaster Sentinel III (large palm grip!)
Keyboard	Logitech G610 Orion mechanical (Cherry Brown switches)
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (Start10 & Fences 3.0 installed)

System Name	WS#1337
Processor	Ryzen 7 5700X3D
Motherboard	ASUS X570-PLUS TUF Gaming
Cooling	Xigmatek Scylla 240mm AIO
Memory	64GB DDR4-3600(4x16)
Video Card(s)	MSI RTX 3070 Gaming X Trio
Storage	ADATA Legend 2TB
Display(s)	Samsung Viewfinity Ultra S6 (34" UW)
Case	ghetto CM Cosmos RC-1000
Audio Device(s)	ALC1220
Power Supply	SeaSonic SSR-550FX (80+ GOLD)
Mouse	Logitech G603
Keyboard	Modecom Volcano Blade (Kailh choc LP)
VR HMD	Google dreamview headset(aka fancy cardboard)
Software	Windows 11, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

System Name	Ryzen Reynolds
Processor	Ryzen 1600 - 4.0Ghz 1.415v - SMT disabled
Motherboard	mATX Asrock AB350m AM4
Cooling	Raijintek Leto Pro
Memory	Vulcan T-Force 16GB DDR4 3000 16.18.18 @3200Mhz 14.17.17
Video Card(s)	Sapphire Nitro+ 4GB RX 580 - 1450/2000 BIOS mod 8-)
Storage	Seagate B'cuda 1TB/Sandisk 128GB SSD
Display(s)	Acer ED242QR 75hz Freesync
Case	Corsair Carbide Series SPEC-01
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	Corsair VS 550w
Mouse	Zalman ZM-M401R
Keyboard	Razor Lycosa
Software	Windows 10 x64
Benchmark Scores	https://www.3dmark.com/spy/6220813

System Name	Main/DC
Processor	i7-3770K/i7-2600K
Motherboard	MSI Z77A-GD55/GA-P67A-UD4-B3
Cooling	Phanteks PH-TC14CS/H80
Memory	Crucial Ballistix Sport 16GB (2 x 8GB) LP /4GB Kingston DDR3 1600
Video Card(s)	Asus GTX 660 Ti/MSI HD7770
Storage	Crucial MX100 256GB/120GB Samsung 830 & Seagate 2TB(died)
Display(s)	Asus 24' LED/Samsung SyncMaster B1940
Case	P100/Antec P280 It's huge!
Audio Device(s)	on board
Power Supply	SeaSonic SS-660XP2/Seasonic SS-760XP2
Software	Win 7 Home Premiun 64 Bit

Is 400w enough for gtx 960 ?

Laughing_Beast

rtwjunkie

PC Gaming Enthusiast

silentbogo

Moderator

NdMk2o1o

EarthDog

alucasa

thebluebumblebee

Liquid Cool

Laughing_Beast

Folterknecht

thebluebumblebee

NdMk2o1o

Laughing_Beast

rtwjunkie

PC Gaming Enthusiast

thebluebumblebee

JrRacinFan

Served 5k and counting ...

Laughing_Beast

thebluebumblebee

Laughing_Beast

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DarthBaggins

Laughing_Beast

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Storage	Samsung EVO 870 SSD - 1TB
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Mouse	Logitech G500
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Case	beQuiet Silent Base 801 (Rev-ATX layout)
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Keyboard	Novel Keys NK65 Entry Watermelon w/ Drop Panda X's (lubed 205g0 & TX Films)
VR HMD	Quest 3
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