[BlackJack999]

Well, I recently built this system

-Intel i7-930 Bloomfield, 2.8GHz
-EVGA E758-A1 3-Way SLI (x16/x16/x8) LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
-CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
-Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
-EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
-CORSAIR 750 Watt power supply
-2x Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA

ANYHOW. I'm considering making two system upgrades. The first is that I would like a new Hard Drive to keep as a slave media device, so as to keep the VelociRaptor as a purely gaming/boot drive. I'm also considering an upgrade in video card, either purchasing a second of the same card and SLI'ing it, or selling my current card (or something) and then purchasing one of the 400 series cards.

So my questions are these. If I am to upgrade, and install a new video card and hard drive, would I also need a new power supply? if unsure, how might I calculate the required power to run my machine? also, would I be OK with SLI'ing another card, or should I upgrade because these new cards are that good?

[Advertisements]

Hi, I personally would go the SLI route. The Corsair 750W is a pretty beefy power supply and is SLI certified, but it never hurts to check out a PSU calculator. There's a few around online and give you a good idea of an estimate.

http://extreme.outer...culatorlite.jsp

That one is a good one.

Regards,

Troy

[Troy]

Hi, I personally would go the SLI route. The Corsair 750W is a pretty beefy power supply and is SLI certified, but it never hurts to check out a PSU calculator. There's a few around online and give you a good idea of an estimate.

http://extreme.outer...culatorlite.jsp

That one is a good one.

Regards,

Troy

[BlackJack999]

Seems like a good calculator. Just as a question, what does it mean when the on the video card box it says "minimum of 500 watts." I mean, surely it cannot be drawing that much power running at max.

[Troy]

It generally means that the video card, along with the system, might be drawing close to that at full power...

It should also say minimum of xxx Watts using SLI... And it is rightly just a minimum. I always use good quality supplies and spec up in the recommended range, not just the minimum.