Should I replace my 800W PSU before upgrading to an RX 9070 GRE or 9070?
Asked by
MellowCedar42
I've been using an RX 5600 XT for about six years and am considering upgrading to an RX 9070 GRE or RX 9070. My current power supply is an 800W GameMax 80 Plus Bronze VP-800-M-RGB, which has also been running for around six years without problems. The wattage appears sufficient on paper, but I'm unsure whether the unit's quality, age, or ability to handle GPU power spikes makes it unsafe for a newer, more powerful graphics card. Prices are high where I live, so I'd rather avoid replacing it unnecessarily, but I also don't want to risk the rest of my system. Should I buy a new PSU, and are there any other hardware limitations I should consider?
Answers
The 800W rating is more than enough, but the concern is the quality of this particular PSU rather than its wattage. GameMax units generally aren’t considered a reliable choice for a high-end GPU, especially when power spikes are involved. I’d replace it with a reputable, independently tested 650W–750W model, or 750W–850W if you want extra headroom for future upgrades.
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I’d replace it regardless of which graphics card you choose. A good 650W unit should be sufficient for these cards, but make sure it has the required PCIe connectors and use separate PCIe cables from the PSU rather than relying on one daisy-chained cable. Look for a well-reviewed model from a reliable manufacturer instead of choosing only by wattage.
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Before buying anything, check the rest of the system too. If the CPU and monitor are from the same generation and performance tier as the RX 5600 XT, particularly for 1080p gaming, the processor could limit the benefit of a 9070-class card. The PSU is still the weaker part of this setup, but the CPU, resolution, and refresh rate will determine whether the upgrade is worthwhile.
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