Can You Run a 6700XT GPU on a 600W Power Supply?

Can You Run a 6700XT GPU on a 600W Power Supply? The ATI RadeonTM HD 6700XT graphics card has proven itself to be one of the fastest GPUs on the market, but the question still remains for many buyers: Is the power supply in my computer strong enough to run this card? And what about my other components? Will they all work together? The answer to these questions depends largely on how powerful your power supply is and what other components you are planning to use with it.

But before we can give you a definitive answer, let’s take a closer look at the power requirements of the 6700XT GPU itself and then investigate how this compares to other common system components.

Should you look at how much power your PC is using?

There’s no need to buy an 800-watt power supply if you’re using your computer mostly for light Internet browsing and word processing. However, if you’re interested in PC gaming or will be doing high-power computing such as running servers, paying attention to your computer’s power needs can save you money over time. Knowing how much power your computer uses will help ensure that you buy a powerful enough PSU for your needs; otherwise, it might turn out that a more expensive model could have sufficed.

Should you get modular cables?

The other drawback to modular cables is that if you’re building with any type of limited cable budget, you can end up paying for expensive connectors and switches that you don’t need. For example, an 850-watt power supply will come with plenty of connections for even high-end systems. But if it comes with both ATX and EPS connectors (each costing about $10 or more), it might force you to spend extra just to use less than half of what you paid for. So unless your build requires extensive cable management, getting non-modular cables could be money well spent.

How much watt do you need for different GPUs?

GPUs typically run around 100-300 watts, so it’s safe to say that you will need a pretty hefty power supply. A good rule of thumb is to purchase about 300 watts for every 75 watts of maximum output from your graphics card. If you have any questions about your specific setup, be sure to contact our customer service team. We are here to help!

Am I shortchanging my graphics card by going with a weaker PSU?

To find out if you're in danger of running into issues, you'll want to figure out how much power your new graphics card is going to need. First, take a look at its specifications. How much power does it draw from your system's existing PSU (usually listed in amps)? The more amps your current PSU can provide, the better. Also note that many graphics cards require one 6-pin and one 8-pin PCI Express connector for adequate wattage; be sure both are available on your PSU before you pull that trigger. If it all looks good so far, we'd recommend doing some research on other folks' experiences running similar GPUs with similar PSUs in their rigs.

Can you run the cheapest GPU with the most powerful PSU?

Most power supplies are more than sufficient to power mid-range GPUs, so you probably don't need to waste money on an expensive supply. However, when your GPU is among the most powerful available, you should definitely look into a quality power supply with high-quality cables and connectors. We recommend picking up an Antec NeoPower 650w PSU, which is about as cheap as high-end PSUs get for hardcore gamers. The brand Antec is known for offering solid and dependable power supplies at competitive prices; their NeoPower series isn't cutting corners in terms of performance or reliability.

What will happen if I go over budget on my PSU?

If you spend more than about $100 on your power supply, you should have no trouble powering your graphics card. If you're going to spend less than that, however, things get a little more complicated. Many budget power supplies aren't rated for peak loads—they're just designed to keep you within operating range at maximum capacity. What does that mean in practical terms? It means that if you run your system with a graphics card that's too powerful for it, your PSU could be overloaded and burn out before its time.

How can I maximize my graphics card without going overboard on my PSU?

If you want to get great performance out of your graphics card, but don’t want to buy a power supply that is going to be overly large and expensive, it’s worth doing some research before investing in an expensive video card. The first step is simply choosing an appropriate power supply for your system. One common misconception about power supplies is that there are low-end or high-end PSU categories—this isn’t really true. In reality, good quality PSUs can span a very wide range of costs; however, there are low end PSUs that are not good quality and higher end ones that are very high quality.