R4 PSU question

I need to know because I tried putting in a 780 a couple years ago and it shut itself down repeatedly after a couple months use. I don't want to repeat the same mistake when adding two 1080's. I tried opening it up to look at the side of the PSU but the labels didn't mention wattage.

it's likely someone may stop in & remember such trivia, I'm not sure of the answer; may I ask, whether yes or no, what prompts the trivial pursuit? I ask, since your history here says the last post you were part of was your own, regarding GTX 1080 GRFX, where SLI was discussed, where you said: "They both (cards) need 500 watts. Wouldn't that mean drawing 1000 watts of power from a 875 watt psu?"

x1 1080FE draws 180w TDP, x2 SLI = 360w ... the 875w has x2 12volt GRFX rails, rated @18amps each = 216w x2 = 432w rated power, more than enough for x2 1080 SLI 

The 525w has x1 GRX 12v rail, 18a | 216watts, can run solo 1080 rated at 180w TDP

The J556T & W299G Corporate 875watt? Would u prefer to discuss them or worry over the 525w?

The label spec is on the side of the PSU which faces the non-removable side panel of the chassis.  Simply opening the removable side panel does not allow you to read that label.  So, the most certain way is to pull out the PSU and examine the label on the other side, after removing the 4 screws.  And most importantly, unplug the power cord from the wall + then press on the power button for a minute or so + unplug the cables (assuming your PSU is fully modular, as it should be) from the front of the PSU.

Jerry Husky,

Click my DELL-username and send me a Private Message with the R4 Service Tag number. I can then check to see which PSU shipped from us on that R4.

I see you just marked this as answered, I will leave this in the archive for other members

what is the maximum hardware can Alienware Aurora R4 support?

tried putting in a 780

R4 shipped with dual-780s, so an inability to run just one?, odd indeed

Again, 1080 Founders Edition is 180w, yet we see R4 rated at 2x175w / 230w & 250w - or - upto HD7990/8990 & Titanz (375watt solo cards)

W299G & J556T, two of the 18amp 12volt rails are some combination of 12vA - 12vE

R4 875w models get a pair of GRFX cables, each cable (wearing a 6pin & jumper 6+2) is on a 12v rail, each cable is rated at 216watts / 18amps

R4 could run a 250watt 780 or a pair of them because up to 75watts can go to the GRFX card directly through the PCI-Express slot, example: TitanZ = 375watts

• 300watts over 12vA cable + 12vB cable (150watts through each cable)
• 75watts through the PCI-Express slot

A 250watt 780 'probably' draws 200watts from a cable & 50watts through the PCI-Express slot

for dual-cards, you must use one cable (6pin + jumper 6+2) per card

this card has 'access' up to as much as 432watts

• 216w / 18amps per cable
• plus up to 75watts through the PCI-E lane it's plugged into

for a solo-card, you use both cables: blu-wht = x1 12v rail | blu-ylw = x1 12v rail

If your PSU shutdown with a 780, I would have suggested the connecting scheme above, deploying both 12v rails. If it still shutdown, I would have suggested a new power supply, J556T or W299G, since they're easily found online new/used, eBay etc

Aurora power supply swap posts / links gathered here:

• Notebook Review Aurora Lounge page 4 post #31 under my name

850watt - 1000watt single 12volt rail psus are recommended