Can this run a 7600GS?

I was wondering if this power supply could handle a 7600GS

7600GS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121008

300WATT PSU
http://support.gateway.com/s/PC/R/ [...] 8sp2.shtml

Its a always good to get a PSU that is slightly better than for what you use it for.

I bought my computer with it already installed, If I was buying one then I would try to get something that I could be sure was stable.

Try to get a PSU with at least 20A just to be on the safe side.

What are your system specs?

Your power supply can easily handle that card. The question is, can it handle your CPU!

Anyone?

You've picked a card that draws very little power. But have you heard the saying "the straw that broke the camel's back"?

3.4GHz Prescott is probably pushing your power supply near its limit right now. I'd be afraid to add another hard drive!

Anyone know if this card would do instead of the 7600GS?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121021

A decent 7300GT, would that work with my PSU?

Alright thanks man, i guess ill order the Gigabyte version of it ASAP.

Thanks again

Let's use a generic math example.

Suppose your CPU has a peak TDP of 120W (I'm too lazy to look it up but you can if you're right at the border). Typical motherboard CPU VRM subcircuit is about 93% efficient. So for entire CPU+power delivery we have a peak, not typical, power consumption of;

(120/0.93) = 129W
129W / 12V = ~ 11A

Now add to that the currents of other power consumers. Suppose 1A for fans (it'd not likely that high on an OEM system even including video card fan but it's a nice round number even if rounding off, "0A" is probably closer.

Now add the HDD and optical and let's pretend both are at max peak power consumption (which is impossible since that would be when HDD spins up at POST and at that point you can't be already reading an optical disc).

~ 2.4A

Now 7600GS peaks around 27W and IIRC it is not all 12V power but for this example let's assume it is.
27 / 12 = 2.25A

11A CPU + 1A fans + 2.4A drives + 2.25A video = 16.7A

With a low-end generic or some branded retain PSU you might need a unit rated for more than 17A, but with a typical major OEM PSU if it were rated for 17A you could expect it can deliver that.

We haven't even addressed that it would be exceptionally hard (impossible) to run the system in a state with peak 3D gaming, peak CPU, peak HDD spinup and reading an optical drive all simultaneously. Typical current for this system would probably be closer to 12A @ 12V. IOW, a PSU actually rated for about 14A of 12V current but high peak currents (Sparkle, PC Power & Cooling, etc do this) would run the system so long as it wasn't a very old PSU design meant for past eras that used a highly weighted 5V voltage reading to regulate, which could tend to make the 12V voltage sag some.

In short, unless the PSU is dishonestly rated, there is no reasonable goal of 20A 12V power. It would be an arbitrary overkill even with this "supposed" high power CPU. Details matter. However, overkill is not so bad, a margin of operating below peak output can be desirable but it should be seen more as a choice when buying a new PSU, rather than a reason to disqualify use of the existing PSU.