I've set up my PC and it's working well, but I'm thinking ahead about upgrades. I want to run three 7900 XTX graphics cards, and I've also maxed out my hard drives and RAM to minimize future PSU changes. According to the power calculator I used, it suggests I need about 1536W. Here's how I arrived at my rough calculation:
- Motherboard: ~80W
- 5950X CPU: 142W
- Three 7900 XTXs: 355W each, totaling 1065W
- 128GB RAM: ~10W
- SSD: ~10W
- 8 HDDs (7200RPM): ~64W
- Fans: ~14W
This totals approximately 1385W, so I seem to be missing 151W somewhere. Given this, will my 1600W power supply actually provide enough headroom?
5 Answers
Honestly, if you're concerned about headroom, I’d go for a higher wattage PSU. There’s a Super Flower option around 2800W that's not too much more expensive. It would give you plenty of breathing room if you're using all those components, but keep in mind it's 230V only.
Totally agree, having extra capacity could save you a headache later!
What’s the reasoning behind needing three 7900 XTXs? Understanding your goals might help with more tailored advice.
This highly parallel workload needs a lot of VRAM for better performance and model handling.
Exactly! Some workloads can leverage multiple GPUs effectively, especially for complex tasks.
Have you thought about just adding a second PSU? It might make spikes above the total easier to manage, and give you the flexibility for future upgrades.
But keep in mind that not all cases can fit a second PSU, so check your setup!
True, but an ATX 3 PSU could actually handle spikes better than older models.
You're likely going to run out of PCIe slots and power cables before you can even power three of those cards. They’re pretty bulky and may not fit all at once. A riser cable might help, but it's worth considering if you'll even have the connections available.
You’re right! I’ve seen some setups using risers where they can mount a third card, but it can get quite tricky.
Exactly. But if Seasonic was able to help you out, then you might solve the power issue.
If you're on a 120V outlet in the US, you might run into issues since you'll be nearing the circuit limit at just 1440W draw. It's close, and any inefficiencies could trip you up.
Good point! On 230V, it's a different story, though. Just something to keep in mind if you're planning to upgrade.
Exactly! You definitely want to stay under that threshold to avoid circuit overload.
That’s some solid advice! How does Super Flower stack up against Seasonic for reliability?