7870 le +psu

[alienware]

Well i am a tad torn now and might just risk some additional $ and prolly get the xfx650w or smth like that, as i do not wish to screw up any of the other stuff in my pc.

Stay away from XFX as their warranty sucks. They do make some decent units now (well, they don't, Seasonic do it for them) but go for something like a Corsair TX or HX. Those are the ones to have.

Just remember this is your PC with your hardware connected to it. Sensible logic says to buy the best PSU you can afford as it's your hardware connected to the other end.

Avoid most OCZ units unless you've seen it properly tested by some one like Johnnyguru or Gary here at OC3D.

Hopefully Tom will see this thread and have a good recommendation for you.

 

[alienware]

Have to say, I'm not too keen on Corsair's CX range either.
Built a rig for my mate based in an ivy i3, MSI z77 and a 7870 tahiti LE and the CX500 PSU came with it's 8pin CPU power connector loose, causing boot issues and having to be replaced.
Fair enough the replacement unit he's now using (still a CX500) is powering the rig fine but I personally wouldn't trust it again. Braid's MORE than underwhelming and it just has a cheap feel about it; causing me to think I'll have to replace it for him again in a year or two.
For just ~ £15 more you can have a HX550m or a GX600 which won't come broken and will power your rig for many long and happy days

Things changed when they released the newer CX range. The old one was a CX400 Seasonic. It was about £65. The new CX430 was £35.

No one knew the difference at the time because Corsair refused to send any review samples out stating that they weren't high end PSUs for the enthusiast so there was no point. However, they were forced to remove the 80+ rating they initially had as it wasn't true and had not been through the test labs @ 80+.org.

This is an enthusiast's forum for enthusiasts. None of us should be recommending cheap power supplies !

 

[iBeInspire]

Things changed when they released the newer CX range. The old one was a CX400 Seasonic. It was about £65. The new CX430 was £35.

No one knew the difference at the time because Corsair refused to send any review samples out stating that they weren't high end PSUs for the enthusiast so there was no point. However, they were forced to remove the 80+ rating they initially had as it wasn't true and had not been through the test labs @ 80+.org.

This is an enthusiast's forum for enthusiasts. None of us should be recommending cheap power supplies !

The PSU in my mate's rig was a CX500 v2, but still had problems. I agree with you, an extra £10/£20 can go a long way.

 

[seumasbeathan]

But this guy already has the CX500, if he didnt then yeah I would also recommend getting something a bit better, but as he already has it there is no problem with it

 

[alienware]

The PSU in my mate's rig was a CX500 v2, but still had problems. I agree with you, an extra £10/£20 can go a long way.

Indeed.

Whenever I have built a PC I always spec up the PSU first. Call it overkill but right now I'm running a 1200w Newton labs PSU that is 80+ silver rated on a system that probably pulls 650w if I'm lucky (that's when I OC the 670s).

I was quite surprised when Corsair decided to release the CX range tbh. It pretty much goes against everything they stand for.

I mean look, they're not terrible but they certainly have no place in a high end system. Maybe for a media PC or a light gaming PC sure, but I wouldn't use one in a gaming rig of any sort.

I still remember the NZXT Hale PSU that Tom was sent. IIRC it was 500w 80+ gold and he spent the entire day trying to blow it up but it just refused. That, however, was a £130 500w psu so we go back to the "getting what you pay for" philosophy. No one gives anything away in this world and there are no pleasant surprises with hardware.

Corsair used to charge £65 for a 400w psu. When they charged £35 for a so called 430w psu they were doing just that and nothing more.

 

[iBeInspire]

Oh sorry I didn't read the OP, I thought you we're asking for a brand new 7870 LE + PSU combo x.x
My apologies ~

You'd run the card fine for a while but it'll be on the raggedy edge. The PSU would prolly fail after a year or two, or even worse and it could go out in a spectacular fashion and take a few things with it x.x
Your fine to buy the card and run it for a while, but your next upgrade should definitely be the PSU
Hope I helped and sorry again for the slip up on my part ~

 

[Ator]

I found this pic today just by chance http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...703.1073741826.116557138366296&type=1&theater
and at least for the time being i will stick with the psu that i have.

 

[alienware]

I found this pic today just by chance http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...703.1073741826.116557138366296&type=1&theater
and at least for the time being i will stick with the psu that i have.

Wow that man truly likes to take big risks

The PSU only has one six pin so he's really chancing his arm.

TBH I'm amazed it even starts up. I tried putting a 8800 Ultra on one with a core 2 duo and it would just sit in a boot loop

 

[seumasbeathan]

Wow that man truly likes to take big risks

The PSU only has one six pin so he's really chancing his arm.

TBH I'm amazed it even starts up. I tried putting a 8800 Ultra on one with a core 2 duo and it would just sit in a boot loop

You may just have had a faulty unit

 

[alienware]

You may just have had a faulty unit

I used it for nearly a year tbh. The only thing I can think of here is that he unit in the picture is a V2 and they are better than the original.

I still wouldn't run a rig like that from a PSU like that. Still, if people choose to it doesn't hurt me any. Not my stuff that will fry.

 

[AverageNinja]

I'd have a look at the GS or TX series PSUs from corsair.
Generally speaking 500w is enough for that rig. Even a quality 400w should do, but a little headroom is always nice

 

[Ator]

I used it for nearly a year tbh. The only thing I can think of here is that he unit in the picture is a V2 and they are better than the original.

I still wouldn't run a rig like that from a PSU like that. Still, if people choose to it doesn't hurt me any. Not my stuff that will fry.

Worst thing that can happen off the bat is it does not start up. But the cx500 that i have actually has 2x 6+2 pci connectors. So if the manufacturer gave it 2x8pin efectively i think it should run ok. And total comsumption should not exceed 350w --> gpu declared 200w max, cpu at 100% 55w, so that leaves me with 100w for dvd, hdd, 3 fans and 4x2gb of ram = approx 350, with more than 50W head room on the 12v rail

But i probably will upgrade psu as soon as i have the finances

I'd have a look at the GS or TX series PSUs from corsair.
Generally speaking 500w is enough for that rig. Even a quality 400w should do, but a little headroom is always nice

TX maybe, GS not likely. Tbh i was looking at xfx core pro 650 or 750 since they are priced similarly.




PS Ordered the card last night and a new psu to go along, just to be safe.

 

[Rich_]

Hmm.

Personally I disagree.

I had a CX 430 and it was a cheap pile of rubbish, nothing at all like the rest of Corsair's range. It was touted as being 'the builder series' and tbh was only really good enough for a basic office PC.

I had a 775 MATX board on it with a Core 2 Duo E4500 and when I connected my 8800 Ultra to it it just sat in a boot loop.

Sure, the other Corsair PSUs are very solid and under rated, but the CX range (at least the one I had) were nothing but cheapo PSUs with a nice sticker on.

The original CX400 or whatever it was called? well that was a rebranded Seasonic, absolutely nothing like the tat I had. the CX 430 was really light and was also rated at 80+ only for me to find out Corsair had retracted the 80+ rating.

I would do some solid research before trying it if I were you.



Having read that I would never run your system from it. Especially an LE which uses quite a power hungry core. Remember - this isn't one of Corsair's high end under rated PSUs, this one is literally 'get what you expect for the price'.

nvm i was gonna say they had some rebranded 430's but u already got it


To the OP- IF you still looking for a PSU, i've read from hwsecrets, where they have savvy guys take apart PSU's and test them, that Rosewill is the single most underrated brand.