I'm upgrading my graphics card from an RTX 2060 to an RTX 5080 and currently have a Corsair RM850 power supply. Do I need to replace it with a 1000W unit? I'm also using an Intel Core i9-12900K, and I'm wondering whether its power draw affects the recommendation. I don't plan to overclock.
3 Answers
The i9-12900K can draw a lot of power under heavy workloads, so the CPU and GPU together could leave less headroom than the wattage labels suggest. You’ll probably be fine at stock settings with a quality 850W PSU, but I’d personally choose a 1000W model if buying new, especially for transient power spikes.
You should still see a major performance increase going from an RTX 2060 to an RTX 5080. The 12900K may limit performance in some CPU-heavy games or at very high frame rates, but it isn’t automatically a reason to replace the CPU. Consider upgrading the PSU for extra headroom, but a CPU upgrade probably isn’t necessary right away.
I figured there’s no way I’d see no improvement with a 12900K. It may not be the newest chip, but it should still be a big upgrade over the 2060.
An 850W unit may be enough if you’re running everything at stock settings, but you should check whether your specific RM850 model includes the newer GPU power connector or use the proper adapter included with the graphics card. A 1000W ATX 3.x power supply would give you more headroom and make the upgrade simpler.
Doesn’t the graphics card come with the required adapter?
Since I’m not planning to overclock, do you think the 850W unit should be okay?