Graphics Sapphire 5770 Vapor-X Power Requirements

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by GKS, 3 Jul 2010.

  1. GKS

    GKS What's a Dremel?

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    I have a Sapphire 5770 Vapor-X GPU to install in a new build. There are NO instructions in the box as to the card's power requirements:
    * The DVD in the box contains a generic instruction manual for the 5770 series that states you need a power supply with 75 watt PCI-e connection and shows two power connections to the (generic 5770) card.
    * The card appears to have only one 6-pin power connection point.
    * A cable was included in the box that connects to the card. One end has a 6-pin connector - with one cable double over. The remaining 5 cables are then fitted into a 4-pin molex type connector - the effectively suggests a connection to the power supply through a peripheral connection point.
    Can someone who has installed this card please clarify the power requirements for this card?
    Many thanks
     
  2. noizdaemon666

    noizdaemon666 I'm Od, Therefore I Pwn

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    You only need a 6 pin PCI-E power connector like on the end of the molex adapter. I'd suggest using a 6 pin connector straight from the PSU rather than converting a molex.

    Not sure how much it actually needs though. You'll need at least a 500W PSU depending on your other hardware though.

    Hope that helps :)
     
  3. Jipa

    Jipa Avoiding the "I guess.." since 2004

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    500 W? Rubbish!

    "ATI rates the Radeon HD 5770 for 18W of power consumption at idle and 108W maximum board power at load."

    Sure, that's for the reference design, but the wattages for these special versions aren't really any different.
     
  4. Bakes

    Bakes What's a Dremel?

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    Well, there are the other parts that will also be drawing a significant amount of power, so on a moderately overclocked PC you'll be wanting at least 400w, minimum (my PC (1 5870, i7 920 4.3GHz) draws 440w (that's without inefficiencies) so you will be touch and go with a 400w PC in many situations.

    You want to leave yourself room for some upgrades, as graphics cards have been drawing more and more power and die shrinks are going to be showing diminishing returns at cooling the chips.

    So, 500w is an entirely sensible amount, as it will mean two things. Firstly, the PSU will be running at lower load, so lower noise, and secondly, you'll have room for upgrades.

    Personally, I'd stretch up to a 650w PSU, if only to give yourself room for multi-gpu in the future, should you want to.

    OP: The adaptors are supplied so that older PSUs (without PCIe cables) can be utilized. This is not recommended, indeed my 5870 has a warning in the box 'use of supplied cables is not intended or supported'. If you can possibly go without, don't use the supplied cables (there are numerous reasons not to), and just buy a proper PSU.
     
  5. Telltale Boy

    Telltale Boy Designated CPC Jetwhore

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    If you look on their website here you can see that they require a minimum 400w power supply or 500w for crossfire.
     
  6. Jipa

    Jipa Avoiding the "I guess.." since 2004

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    HD 5770 (+i7 975X) idle: 145 W, load: 234 W
    HD 5770 Vapor-X (+i7 965X) idle: 100 W load: 173 W
    HD 5770 Vapor-X (card only) idle: 18 W load: 74 W
    HD 5770 vapor-X (+i7 920@4 GHz) idle: 157 W load 232 W

    Now please don't go around telling people that running a single HD 5770 Vapor-X requires ATLEAST 500 W power supply. And ofcourse I'd recommend getting a 400 W unit or higher if he were to buy one,as that's the lowest wattage that decent manufacturers bother making these days. Corsair CX400/VX450 would be more than enough.

    Anyway what I'm trying to say here that just about any decent power supply ever made has high enough wattage. The only possible problems here are that OP has an old PSU that has high enough overall wattage, but which can't give enough juice to the +12 V line.

    So GKS: what's the make/model of your PSU? (and maybe also the rest of the setup..)
     
  7. GKS

    GKS What's a Dremel?

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    Thank you all for the replies. I have now solved my dilemma - thanks to the great Scott Mueller book on PCs! On page 921 of his 19th edition he has a diagram of power supply wiring standards. The PCI-e connector provides 3x12v (yellow) and 3xGND (black). When I studied the adapter cable that Sapphire had included I now understand what it does. In effect it converts the 1x12v (yellow) and 1xGND (black) on a peripheral power supply connector to 3x12v (yellow) and 3xGND (black) at the GPU end (and ignores the other 5v peripheral leads).
    I guess I am now happy to go ahead and power up - having swapped the adapter lead for a PCI-e lead. As for my power supply, I am using a Seasonic 650 watt Series-X. The ATI standards list that each 6-pin PCI-e connector has to provide a min. of 75 watts. Hope this helps.
     
  8. rollo

    rollo Modder

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    corsair cx400 is more than enough for 5770 its really low powered

    if you have an old 4890 in on a 500 watt psu you could replace it for the 5870 and not need a new psu for example
     
  9. Jipa

    Jipa Avoiding the "I guess.." since 2004

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    Oh so it was all about the adapter, not whether or not your PSU can handle the card :D Lol. Yeah the adapter is only meant for those that don't have/don't have enough PCI-e-power connectors on their PSU as standard. Obviously yours has, so just ditch the adapter.
     
  10. DarrenH

    DarrenH What's a Dremel?

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    I think a 500W PSU is a good shout. It leaves you more than enough room for when you are maxing out your PC in a game or other graphic-intensive app. I am thinking of adding a similar card to my new build and have put in a 650W Coolermaster GX in there as I may add another card in the future for Crossfire.

    It's personal choice and experience but with the newer 1 GB graphic cards I would always have at least 500W for ease of use and peace of mind!
     

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