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Bofferbrauer on 18 December 2014
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vivster said:
Bofferbrauer said:

@Vivster: do you use 80+ gold or even platinum psu? Because if not, you're riding dangerously close to the limit with your projected i7/Big Maxwell configuration. A 450W psu might suffice, but I wouldn't take a 400W, even though it will probably work just fine. The reason it does so though is that low power psu are generally just regraded psu with more power output, and most of the time this is due to market demands, not limitations on the hardware itself. But if you happen to fall on such a psu some day, expect a lot of bluescreens due to failing power supply.

Don't power failures due to low output usually result in black screens?

My current setup is a 3570k and an overclocked GTX680. I'm using a 480W Gold certified PSU from BeQuiet. I also use a fairly accurate measurement tool where my PSU is plugged in.

On performance tests and games my power consumption barely moves above 300W. That includes the efficiency rate of the PSU of course so the actual power that is drawn directly from the PSU is even lower.

Maxwell is extremely efficient compared to previous generations which results in a 980 that uses about as much as my 680 while being more powerful. I expect the big Maxwell will be around a 780ti concerning power consumption, which is for the full system about 350W including a current i7. Again, that's out of the socket, meaning the direct power draw from the PSU is lower.

So I have absolutely no worries going into my next system with a 400W PSU. If I can find one with enough cables for my system. Lower power PSU are usually pretty stingy with more cables. That's why I had to use a 480W for my current system.

Depends if a part gets no power at all or just not enough power, but you're right, black screens can happen, too.

I know the 980 is very efficient, moreso than your 680. On the other hand the 4770k conumes more than your 3570k, so it is a bit of a toss up. I would stay at your 480W psu if it's still in production or use a similar one, be quiet is a very good brand (using it myself, although a 5 year old 600W 80+ bronze model), and it's a gold model just like I expected from you.