:::URGENT::: Can anyone help me?

I am new to the forums , I have read all other threads and replies and i want help on my problem.
I currently have a HP pavilion m7580n
Proccesor:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual core Proccesor 4400+

Graphics Card:
NVIDEA GeForce 7300LE
Memory:
2048MB
Hard Drive:
320GB
Optical Drive:
Super Multi DVD Burner with Lightscribe Technology
Most Importantly my PSU:
300 Watt



I have been recenly searching for a Graphics card because i want a high performance computer(just on high results) so i am currently buying the nVIDIA XFX GeForce 8600 GT FATAL1TY 256 DDR3 ( Can you also tell me if this is a good card?) and it says specifically on the label on Minimum Requierments that it needs a 350 watts, I was wondering if its ok to continue my purchase or do i really need a new psu thats at least of 350?
Are there any backsides to this or consequences if i try to use a 350 minumum watt on a 300 watt psu?
-Thank You In Advance.
Ps. This is my first Post

You defenently need a new PSU. Probably a 500W Antec(?) or better.

300 is not really enough your risking overloading your power supply, and damaging your computer you can pick up a good 450-500 watt power supply from newegg for $50-60 I would also drop the 8600GT, and pick up a Radeon HD 3850 the 3850 has a sweet price/performance curve.

I don't know much about HP power supplies, but with that card, you may be okay. While way better than what you have, it is only qualifies barely as mid-range gaming card with "acceptable" performance. If you want to get serious, you will need a new power supply and an 8800gt, or if they are too pricey, an ATI 3850/3870 would do you a very nice job as well.

The power supply or graphics card?

I was basically talking about both (then again i am whats called a noob/newb/retard at comptuer spec and information

If you buy a new power supply its simply unplugging the old one and plugging the new power supply its real easy, and if you buy the ATI 3850 it will plug in the PCI express x16 slot the same as the 8600GT.

The 8600GT should be ok for those games but the 3850 would give your system more headroom for newer games like COD4, etc.

Its no problem you computer has 1 PCI Express x16 slot so your good.

Look in the manual or on hp's site first to ensure you can fit a new video card/ psu. Next, take of the side of your case and look at the label on the psu for how many amps you have on the 12vrail.
You have a few choices

If you cannot fit a new psu/ video card in your case, your outa luck unless you want to buy a new case.

If you can fit a new video card/psu...
2. If your psu has over 20a on the 12v rail you can go with your 8600t, you should be fine. Not the best option though, 8600gt isnt the greatest card.

3. if you have under 20a on the +12v rail(s) you need a new psu before you can buy a new vid card. This is a good psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371006
you can than get a new video card. I would recommend a 8800gt or pic one from your price rang using this guide, I prefer nvidia. http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/1 [...] hics_card/

As others here have said, the 8600GT is not a good gaming card. The ATI HD3850 is much better. It comes in 256MB and 512MB versions. The 512MB version is only ~$20 extra, so that's what I recommend.

You will definitely need a new PSU for the HD3850. These are some good models to consider:

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN ATX12V 450W
SeaSonic SS-400ES ATX12V/V2.2, 400W
Antec Basiq BP500U ATX12V Version 2.01 500W

8800GT = Best performance for the dollar imo

basic GTX Performance (minus 5-10fps) for 250-300 bucks

Ok What i see on my psu is this
300W MAX
Output +12v / 19A / -12v
300W MAX / +5v/ 30A / +5vSB

please respond

I thought HPs had non-standard power connectors to the motherboard and/or are not phsycially the same size?

HP uses Asus boards So power connectors are fine

19 Amps will run a surprising amount..... Thats more like what most 350-400 watt PSU's offer.....The 3850 does not take allot of power to be honest.....

If you do decide to get a new psu look for an 80+ model since it will save you power and run cooler and quiet.....

Just so you know i ran a E6600 + X1900(power hungry) off a PSU with 18 amps MAX with no problems......

Yeah to reiterate that......
I have a E6600 Stock X1900XT 1 hard drive 1 CD/DVD drive 2 gigs of ram - 402 watts from the wall[Prime + 3d Marks](PSU Antec TP 380s)

My Q6600 @ 3.0 with a 8800GTX + 6 hard drives + 1 DVD/CD + WinTV + Audigy 2zs - About 330 watts at the wall[Prime + 3dmarks](PSU OCZ GSX700) This is why i say that 300 can be allot of power with enough 12 volt amps on it.... 19amps @ 12 volts is 228 watts

Looking at a FSP Zen 300(85% efficient @ the 130-150 I need for my A64 system)

Just remember to touch any metal part of the case occasionally so you don't cause any damage to your components from ESD ( elctro static discharge)

My antec PSU has a low efficiency(its old, thats why)....VERY low....and my OCZ(FSP) 700 watt has a higher efficiency.

So in other words my Antec 380 takes close to 20% more power to make the same output.....And i think the G0 helps too . My Q6600 runs on 1.2 volts vs the 1.3 for the E6600

Weird, but I don't think that's much of a problem these days. I can't say for sure though because the only motherboards that I ever see come from Newegg.

I grabbed some examples from SPCR

Antec TP 380s - DC Load 150watts AC Load 220watts | 68% efficient
Antec SP 2.0 450(The psu everyone hates ) - DC Load 150watts AC Load 186watts | 81 % efficient
FSP Zen 300 - DC Load 150watts AC Load 179watts | 84% efficient

Note: Efficiency changes with load. Most power supplies reach there max efficiency around 50-60% load....

http://www.silentpcreview.com/ does some good test on PSU's and other computer items.

Yeah.... but how do i get rid of esd? anything that has to be bought?

Packardbell! My first computer. Wow that thing powned back in the day. They went belly up right after I got it though.

If you HP is shot length wise and hight wise it can be a pain to change things in there. Especially the PSU. Lots of obsticles in the way.

Don't worry about a PSU upgrade yet, your total system draw is likely to be around 100-150w under load. The 8600gt is a fine card, as long as you spent under $100 for it. In that price range it can't be beat. It plays games fine if you don't have a 20+ in monitor, which I'm sure you don't. Quake 4 and CS:S run beautifully. Crysis even plays well at 1024 X 768. Save up for now and ebay that card when you can afford an 8800gt. At that point you can use the money from the card to buy a better PSU.

I believe its actually the whole length (front to back) of a whole standard sized motherboard. (ATX)