PSU powerful enough for the X1950Pro? Help req.

[EF77]

Good day all. I have a 480watt Antec True Blue power supply. The following link:
( http://www.antec.com/specs/trueblue480_spe.html ) is the spec sheet for this power supply. I am pretty confident I have the watts needed for the X1950Pro 512MB card but maybe not the amps. This link is to the card I want to get: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161082
If you think I cannot run it with regards to amps, what is the next best thing, the 512mb X1650Pro? I need to keep with AGP. I currently run a X850XT 256mb card but I want to get the best I can for my computer to keep her around longer. I just upgraded to Viewsonics new 28" widescreen LCD monitor which arrives next week and want a upgraded card to run her and the resource intestive Flight Sim 2004. Many thanks for anyones help.

If it matters, I am running a P4 3.2Ghz from around 2003 and 2 gigs of RAM.

 

[sdrac]

I have the Sapphire version of the x1950 Pro with 512MB. Its spec'd for 30A on the 12V Rail minimum.
Going by that, your PSU is 2Amps shy - your close, and it might work ok for the most part, but it you want peace of mind and not have to worry about potential issues due to power, I'd upgrade the supply (note that your also limited to 460W across +12,+5.5 and +3.3 so chances are you won't get a full 28A on the 12V rail).
I'd go for the PSU upgrade over the x1650Pro. The X850XT you have is a more powerful card - the extra memory on the x1650 pro would help you if you plan to play with higher resolutions, but you'll be limited as to how high you can go due to that cards rendering capabilities.
If you really want to go with a new, different card - take a look at this article/chart for a comparison of the GPU's.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/08/06/the_best_gaming_video_cards_for _the_money/page7.html

sdrac

 

[lostandwandering]

Don't forget the NVidia has released AGP versions of the 7950GT and 7900GS. They won't be as good as the X1950pro or as cheap, but NVidia cards tend to be easier on the PSU. The 7950 should only need 22-24amps and the 7900 around 20 and both of those are within your PSU's specs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...2E16814143046,N82E16814150174,N82E16814130274

 

[EF77]

Interesting. Thanks sdrac and lostandwandering for your replies. Anyone else, please jump in and offer your opions please. There a many folks here a lot more knowledgeable than me.
I am currently running the X850XT at 1600x1200 without any problems. The monitor I am going to is native resolution at 1920x1200 which is not to far over what I am doing. I dont really want to upgrade the PSU as I am pretty daft at doing those types of things really. I did change out the graphics card without issues though. If you guys think the card I currently have can handle it, I think I will just stay with that for now. What do you all think?

 

[randomizer]

Bah, that PSU is fine for an x1950 pro! you only need 24-25A on an average system with that card to run without problems, you got enough, go get yourself an awesome card.

 

[Superheat]

I have the 1950 Pro and same power supply as yours just had to breakdown to buy a newer larger power supply for mine(computer constantly shut down while gaming with 1950 pro and undersized powersupply. Picked up one with more 12v rails and could put out plenty of amps. I too am big flight sim fan have lots of sim hardware on my setup and add-ons for 2004! Happy Flying! Hope to hear how you make out!

 

[kingoftherings]

Normally, I'd say yes, but that Pentium 4 probably suck up a lot of power.

I'd give it a definate yes if you had a little more amperage.

If you really want this card, buy it and see if it works over a long period of time. If you system crashes every now and then, upgrade the PSU.

 

[randomizer]

Ok personal experience here:

I ran an x1950 pro of an 18A PSU. Put your eyes back in your head you read that right, 18A! It ran fine in everything but some games. Oblivion, stalker, BF2/2142 - all the stressful ones. Reboots after a few mins of play. I had to underclock the CPU and undervolt it heaps to get those games to run. He has another 10A on top of that 18A.

I wouldn't say he has heaps of extra power to spare, but I'd say that PSU has enough guts to run it without OCing and stuff as long as it isnt faulty.

@Superheat: More 12V rails isnt necessarily a good thing. A huge single 12V rail is the best solution.

 

[cyberratt]

I'm not sure if this is the place to post this, but this is my experience.

I have an x1950 pro that I absolutely cannot get to run any games or 3d apps without hanging and crashing. I have an antec truepower trio 650w, which is listed on ATI's site as being adequate to power a x1950. Though I notice that the psu actually has 19a on +12v. Go for a psu with the big 12v rail if you're going to use the x1950 pro for anything graphics intensive. Though I also run an amd64 3500 that might be part of the problem. Randomizer's about on the money with that post.

 

[randomizer]

cyberratt your PSU has 52A on the combined 12V rails, however it may be faulty. Remember that your CPU and most of your system runs of 12V1, your video card runs mostly off 12V2/3 depending on which cables you connect it up to. My PSU has only 40A and powers my system fine.

EDIT: You may also have a heat problem, especially if it is a sapphire card.

 

[Zorg]

If you are going to get a new PS, I have the deal of the century.
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
Manufacturers website price S61EPS Price: $119.99

It is single rail with 49 amps on the 12V. Be careful with it.

 

[blade85]

your psu is fine

look at my system (click the little computer on top of my post)

Im running all of that on a 380 watt psu with just 22amps total on the +12V rail

 

[sdrac]

Blade -
Your systems is similar to mine. I originally had one of the original Ultra X-Finity 600W PSU - it had 28A on a single 12V rail. Over time the PSU output dropped and I finally had to upgrade the PSU to cleanly power the x1950 Pro.
I've read elsewhere that under load the 256MB version of the card consumes about 10-11Amps. 512MB may be slightly more. So depending on what else you have on your system and what you do with it (and how good/old your PSU is), 22 (or 28Amps) maybe enough - or may not be.
So overall thats why I say its safer to just upgrade the PSU if you go with that card.

 

[Riot5]

Sorry to hijack your thread, but I have a power related Q. as well.
Can anyone tell me if a 520W PSU with a +12V rating of 28A will run a x1950xt?

 

[blade85]

Blade -
Your systems is similar to mine. I originally had one of the original Ultra X-Finity 600W PSU - it had 28A on a single 12V rail. Over time the PSU output dropped and I finally had to upgrade the PSU to cleanly power the x1950 Pro.
I've read elsewhere that under load the 256MB version of the card consumes about 10-11Amps. 512MB may be slightly more. So depending on what else you have on your system and what you do with it (and how good/old your PSU is), 22 (or 28Amps) maybe enough - or may not be.
So overall thats why I say its safer to just upgrade the PSU if you go with that card.

I agree, its definitely safer to get a better psu, but it wont hurt to just plug in the card with what he has now. If its not enough, it will start rebooting. then he can worry about getting another psu.

 

[boco77]

I have a 550 watt power supply will a x1950xt be ok with it? I dont know the volt raiting for the psu..

 

[blade85]

I have a 550 watt power supply will a x1950xt be ok with it? I dont know the volt raiting for the psu..

you can read the various details on one side of the power supply. Just open your case and see what the PSU has written on it.

 

[boco77]

I have a bit of a lame question but isnt the x1950 xt card plug and play? I mean is there any power connectors from it that have to hook up to the mobo? and if so, is it hard to connect? Last time I installed a card in a computer was the radeon 9600 and that was just a simple case of slotting it into the agp slot

 

[randomizer]

Most cards now need a power connector, unless they are low power ones like 7600GT and lower.

@sdrac: An 8800GTX uses about 12A, there is no way an x1950 pro uses that much. A 256Mb x1950 pro uses 6-6.5A at the most.

@blade85: You are running pretty close to the limit there, but you should be ok as long as the output of the PSU doesnt drop too much.

 

[blade85]

@blade85: You are running pretty close to the limit there, but you should be ok as long as the output of the PSU doesnt drop too much.

yeah lol, really putting it on pressure

Its a second hand psu aswell...LOL! soooo just gonna wait and see how long it lasts till i have to finally replace it for a better one :lol:

 

[randomizer]

Just goes to show you don't always need the most powerful PSU on the market to run an average gaming PC.

 

[RetiredChief]

Randomizer, where did you get that 6 to 6.5 Amps for the x1950 Pro from. The reason I'm asking is i Have th x1950 XT. Going from idle to game, my current increases about 7.2 -> 7.5 Amps, this is over and above the current at Idle. I'm surprised that the xt is that much higher than the pto.

 

[EF77]

If you are going to get a new PS, I have the deal of the century.
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
Manufacturers website price S61EPS Price: $119.99

It is single rail with 49 amps on the 12V. Be careful with it.

It says its for PCI cards though. I have AGP. Need to find one over 30A on a single rail that is the same dimensions as the one I currently have: http://www.antec.com/specs/trueblue480_spe.html

 

[EF77]

Blade -
Your systems is similar to mine. I originally had one of the original Ultra X-Finity 600W PSU - it had 28A on a single 12V rail. Over time the PSU output dropped and I finally had to upgrade the PSU to cleanly power the x1950 Pro.
I've read elsewhere that under load the 256MB version of the card consumes about 10-11Amps. 512MB may be slightly more. So depending on what else you have on your system and what you do with it (and how good/old your PSU is), 22 (or 28Amps) maybe enough - or may not be.
So overall thats why I say its safer to just upgrade the PSU if you go with that card.

Well, like I said, I have 3.2ghz P4 (believe it is the Northwood core). I have 2GB of RAM via 2 sticks. I have 2 case fans and about 4 things plugged in via USB, a LED display in the front of the case that shows the temp and a small blue case light. I have an Intel D875PBZ motherboard.

I think based on everything I have read here and elsewhere, I just may give it a shot with what I have now which is the Antec TrueBlue 480W PSU that has 28A on a single 12v rail.

 

[Dr_asik]

That PSU is of very good quality, and 28A on the +12V rail is a lot. ATI puts 30A just to be on the safe, but your PSU is definitely up to the task.