PSU Compatibility?

[LocutusOfNord]

Let me start this out by saying that I only have a very tenuous grasp of what I'm doing – I knew nothing about building PCs before I started playing this game, so if this game hasn't helped/forced me to learn it yet, I don't know it, and that includes ANYTHING about PSU connections.

So I got one of the missions where the guy wants a certain benchmark (7K-something), and moreover he wants dual GPUs. The spreadsheets I'm referencing said I could get there with an 1800X and a pair of MSI Radeon RX 580 Gaming x 4G.

Out of habit, I just take the EVGA 450 B3 for custom builds (I like the modular designs, and 450 seems to be enough to power whatever I've needed so far - I hadn't identified any other criterion to selecting PSUs in the game yet [though I recognize there would be such IRL]). However, when I tried to hook up the GPUs, there were not enough plugs to plug in both GPUs and everything else that needed it.

After jumping into free build for a moment, it looked like I could get it done with a Silverstone NJ520, and sure enough, after ordering it as a rush part, I was able to install it, hook up everything that needed hooking up, benchmark it, and deliver the PC to the customer.

So obviously, not all PSUs are equal in terms of number and type of plugs. But after looking over the descriptions of those two PSUs, I couldn't find the information that would have let me know before ordering them and trying them which would have worked with what I wanted to do.

What information should I have been looking for - what detail should I have checked to end up with the right PSU right from the start? How do I tell which PSU has enough plugs for what I need? What type of plug is it that I needed anyway? How do I avoid just buying PSUs and hoping they have enough plugs in the future?

[X-SR71]

Ok, first, great choice with the EVGA 450 B3. I use it for all my single card builds. It's cheap and modular and will power even a single RTX 2080 Ti.

Now, I don't think there are PSUs powerful enough for 2 cards but without the required number of plugs. In other words, if the PSU has the required power for 2 cards, it will most probably work.

High wattage PSUs are a safe bet. Middle power PSUs, like 500w, well I'm not entirely sure, but they won't be able to power a lot of dual-card configurations anyway.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

I'm not sure there's any real way to know what power supply to pick from the start unless you use some of these calculator / spreadsheet things on the web. But one thing you can do is if you put the 450 watt power supply in the system and run OCCT on it but don't run the short test. Run it in infinite mode and watch the power draw climb over time. In PCBS it doesn't instantly jump to full power draw (Although in real life, it would jump to instant power draw in a real computer). In PCBS you have to let it run and watch the power climb. Eventually it will reach sort of equilibrium and level out at a certain power draw and not go over. If it goes up to and past 450 watts, then you know you need a bigger power supply for that build. How bit is unknown. You can try different power supplies in free build to find out.. or just throw a 1500-watt one into it and then just let it go and see what the max draw is.

[X-SR71]

ok, quick update: as far as compatibility goes, the game doesn't seem to consider number of plugs as a limitation. Even a Shean 250w has enough plugs for a dual RTX 2080 configuration. Of course I wouldn't try powering it up...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1644777120

[LocutusOfNord]

Thank you both for your replies.

Originally posted by X-SR71:

Now, I don't think there are PSUs powerful enough for 2 cards but without the required number of plugs. In other words, if the PSU has the required power for 2 cards, it will most probably work.

I will try to keep that in mind in the future. But there's no way to see information about the available plugs before purchase?

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

But one thing you can do is if you put the 450 watt power supply in the system and run OCCT on it but don't run the short test.

I don't think you've understood my question. The issue wasn't the power draw from the dual cards once I started the system, but actually getting them installed in the first place. I was completely unable to plug everything in to a point where the system would start up.

Originally posted by X-SR71:

ok, quick update: as far as compatibility goes, the game doesn't seem to consider number of plugs as a limitation. Even a Shean 250w has enough plugs for a dual RTX 2080 configuration. Of course I wouldn't try powering it up...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1644777120

My experience is not the same. I've taken a screenshot here of me trying to hook up the two GPUs to the PSU. You can see that the sockets on the second GPU have become red, and I'm completely unable to plug them in without unplugging one of the other GPU plugs.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1644796717

[BonPadre]

I had in V0.9.x indeed also a PSU that did not have enough connections for dual GPU's and the build I wanted.
Can't remember which it was, but it may well have been the one you talk about, because cheap bang for bucks on modular.

You'll tend to use mostly always the same PSU at some point due to your needs and experiances, but indeed such connections numbers are not described anywhere.
__________

That beeing said, I don't know what sheet you have been using OP, but accordingly to the one that is totally up to date from BiuBiu, for your build, it would anyway take an est. 515W.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1596577871

Also, those GPU are clearely indicated as 185W a piece and the CPU is 95W (so 2x 185W = 370W + 95W = 465w)

So anyway that 450W would not do the job, and you were lucky with those "only" 185W GPU's... you can go up to way higer Wattage, so it was good you got that connections issues, your PSU would not have been sufficient anyway, so that's one more thing learned (and it's great to learn new stuff)

[X-SR71]

Originally posted by LocutusOfNord:

Thank you both for your replies.

Originally posted by X-SR71:

Now, I don't think there are PSUs powerful enough for 2 cards but without the required number of plugs. In other words, if the PSU has the required power for 2 cards, it will most probably work.

I will try to keep that in mind in the future. But there's no way to see information about the available plugs before purchase?

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

But one thing you can do is if you put the 450 watt power supply in the system and run OCCT on it but don't run the short test.

I don't think you've understood my question. The issue wasn't the power draw from the dual cards once I started the system, but actually getting them installed in the first place. I was completely unable to plug everything in to a point where the system would start up.

Originally posted by X-SR71:

ok, quick update: as far as compatibility goes, the game doesn't seem to consider number of plugs as a limitation. Even a Shean 250w has enough plugs for a dual RTX 2080 configuration. Of course I wouldn't try powering it up...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1644777120

My experience is not the same. I've taken a screenshot here of me trying to hook up the two GPUs to the PSU. You can see that the sockets on the second GPU have become red, and I'm completely unable to plug them in without unplugging one of the other GPU plugs.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1644796717

Oh! Thats a good find. The B3 is fully modular too so I guess there's really no way to know.

Funny a 250w has enough plugs for a dual card and a 450w doesnt.

[X-SR71]

Quick update. I could dual card with the EVGA 450 B3:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1645396603

[BonPadre]

have a free slot to power your SSD/ HDD ?
it's only a partial assembly here.

If I remember correctly that was the issue, but I may be wrong

[X-SR71]

Originally posted by BonPadre:

have a free slot to power your SSD/ HDD ?
it's only a partial assembly here.

If I remember correctly that was the issue, but I may be wrong

That could be it. But I always use M.2s anyway :)

[BonPadre]

Originally posted by X-SR71:

Originally posted by BonPadre:

have a free slot to power your SSD/ HDD ?
it's only a partial assembly here.

If I remember correctly that was the issue, but I may be wrong

That could be it. But I always use M.2s anyway :)

*facepalm* why did I not think of that ?

that beeing said, when it happened to me, maybe I either wasn't using an M.2 able mobo (me always beeing cheap.... bad guy...) or the budget did not allow me, or I simply completely overlooked that idea.

Thanks for the head up

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Originally posted by X-SR71:

Quick update. I could dual card with the EVGA 450 B3:

Just so you're aware: I just confirmed this myself in-game in free build. EVGA 450 B3 only supports dual video cards if the video cards are single 6-pin power, single-8 pin power, or 8+6 on both. It does -NOT- support two 8+8 connector video cards.

[TheWhiteFlame]

Originally posted by X-SR71:

ok, quick update: as far as compatibility goes, the game doesn't seem to consider number of plugs as a limitation. Even a Shean 250w has enough plugs for a dual RTX 2080 configuration. Of course I wouldn't try powering it up...

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1644777120

its a TRAP. i dont wanna say u are wrong, but partially!
the reason for this is that ALL SHEAN PSUs share teh same model! it sone of the 3 fictionally companies of the game. i generally try to avoid them anyway. they often have very cheap parts that have properties of higher tiers, which feels kinda unrealistic and "cheaty". they are probably in the game to fill some gaps. and they are generally made for the early game anyway, so they probably didnt care to make them super balanced, they should ease you into the game. and they didnt bother to change the number of PSU connectors. so you could use the shean250 to power like 8 SSDs or sth if you wanted, while the 450EVGA only has 6 connectors.

ANYWAY there should be the number of connectors displayed in the shop, cuz its really confusing and you never really know. just ran into a prbolem with dual GPUS, the case also had 2 hdds and now the PSU didnt have enough connectors and a new one would kill the budget.

so seems we just have to learn by experimenting and writing the numbers down.

from other post i gathered that 1500watt PSU have a lot more than 550w wich have more than 450w ...

also he shean GPUS like the gr8tor use 300w!!! but are ultra small and need no extra PSU connector, which is pretty much insane.

[TheWhiteFlame]

Originally posted by Aquafawks:

Originally posted by X-SR71:

Quick update. I could dual card with the EVGA 450 B3:

Just so you're aware: I just confirmed this myself in-game in free build. EVGA 450 B3 only supports dual video cards if the video cards are single 6-pin power, single-8 pin power, or 8+6 on both. It does -NOT- support two 8+8 connector video cards.

also it doesnt support dual 8+6 AND HDD+SSD, this is ONE TOO MANY :(((

[TheWhiteFlame]

well im new to the game and started playing this version. anyway what i talk about is what i SEE RIGHT NOW. and again, this was the only thing in the whole internet that mentioned that stuff. so i brought it up again. what exactly is resolved? where can i read about that resolve, please show me the link?

to clarify: it is STILL confusing and UNCLEAR how many connections a specific PSU has, before you buy it. yes ok, more expensive ones got more... [[and as it seems every HDD/SSD needs its own connection (no 4 HDDS on one single cable and so on).]]
but what my main argument here was a pledge for a bit more info in the shop. so that the info about number of connections are displayed. also i would like more infos on the gpus, like what connections to PSU they need. also when you click on a specific GPU in the shop, there is the info about wattage MISSING aswell.

so im talking about adding some more text info to the shop on the detail pages. plz show me where else this is talked about, requested or done discussing???

idk, sure if you think that all this stuff i bring up is not relevant for whateve reason you can point me to the thread and im be happy. im sorry that this is annoying you, actually i like what you are contributing.

[IMightBeGiant]

Just to chime in, I also agree more/better information would result in a more efficient build process. As the OP experienced, I used a FSP Hydro 750W which did NOT have the multiple GPU connector capability. The PS that did work was the Gigabyte AORUS P750W which costs exactly the same, and shows no different or relevant information to make it obvious of its multi-GPU capabilities.