Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > [Advice] Power supply strong enough?
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aethix   07-06-2008 at 10:26:22 PM

Hey guys, first off I would really like to avoid getting a new power supply if it's at all possible.

I currently have three power supplies the one that came with the computer originally (300 watt ), one that came with a bare bone I built a while back(400 watt) and a thermal take (430 watts). Those are the ones I can pick between, but would like to stick with the 400 watt one as it's the one currently in the PC.

http://i30.tinypic.com/sevtq1.jpg - bare bone one. ( 400 watts )
http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/17-153-023-03.jpg - Thermal Take ( 430 watts)


The first one is the one currently in the PC while the Thermal Take is in another PC and I'd rather not have to swap them around. Unless I have to of course.

I just recently bought a new EVGA 512 8800GT (overclocked) and it said the minimum suggested requirements is a 400 watt power supply. Obviously I hope to get the most out of it, so I'm not sure if either of the power supplies I currently have will be large enough, or if it would be a good idea to say plug the video card directly into the 400 watt power supply, and use the 300 watt power supply for the rest of the computer, or what.

[url]

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/h [...] 33898.html[/url] - This is the actual computer I have. I've swapped out the ram for 2 gigs of corsair , other then that there is nothing new to it. ( All though my keyboard, mouse and an external USB drive are all hooked up to it via USB )


So what do you guys think? How could I do this without having to invest into a new PSU? :(



http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130319 - The Video card

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dagger   07-06-2008 at 10:52:17 PM
- 1 +

By specs, the first bare bone psu is stronger than second one. It should be enough.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
zloginet   07-06-2008 at 10:55:09 PM
- 0 +

I highly recommend the Thermaltake. That powersupply offers a 5 year warranty I believe and it is also a brand name. That 8800gt will be fine with either one by far.

Message quoted 1 times
------------------------------ Gateway FX P-7805u (Laptop) (2x WD Black 320GB)(4GB DDR3)(9800M GTS 1GB GDDR3)
 Reply to zloginet
dagger   07-06-2008 at 10:58:43 PM
- 0 +

zloginet wrote :

I highly recommend the Thermaltake. That powersupply offers a 5 year warranty I believe and it is also a brand name. That 8800gt will be fine with either one by far.


The problem is 18 amps on a single 12v rail may not be enough, brand name aside. A tractor made by BMW is still just a tractor.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
aethix   07-06-2008 at 11:20:35 PM
- 0 +

Thanks for the advice Dagger. It's what I wanted to hear and hopefully it's correct. :p

I got the card shipped via the UPS 2 night option so hopefully it'll be here Tuesday some time so I can put it in and see what happens. =x

Reply to aethix
aevm   07-06-2008 at 11:22:46 PM
- 0 +

Dagger is right IMO. Stick with the 400W one, it's stronger than the other one. Not a lot more, mind you, it looks like 230W/12V i.e. 19A instead of 18A, but still better.

IIRC nVidia recommends 22A for systems with an 8800GT. If you have a single HDD and not many lights and fans you might be fine anyway. You'd better invest in a new PSU when you can. Even if the one you have works, it's a bad idea to push it so close to max.

Reply to aevm
icecold2974   07-07-2008 at 03:37:56 PM
- 0 +

I have a question related to Aethix's problem.

I recently bought an antec basiq 500w dual rail psu. It has 18 amps on both the 12v rails. I was wondering if this would be enough to run a card from the 8800 series.

And looking at how my psu has a lil more wattage, yours might need to be upgraded ~ Im not even sure if my psu can handle it. (this is to Aethix xD)

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to icecold2974
Aurora18   07-07-2008 at 03:41:31 PM
- 0 +

relating to your 8800 you can check the box or the booklet that came with it and the info is almost always in one of those two locations if not well thats what google and these forums are for

Reply to Aurora18
dagger   07-08-2008 at 02:14:43 AM
- 0 +

icecold2974 wrote :

I have a question related to Aethix's problem.

 

I recently bought an antec basiq 500w dual rail psu. It has 18 amps on both the 12v rails. I was wondering if this would be enough to run a card from the 8800 series.

 

And looking at how my psu has a lil more wattage, yours might need to be upgraded ~ Im not even sure if my psu can handle it. (this is to Aethix xD)


It's enough.

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
aethix   07-09-2008 at 02:53:25 AM
- 0 +

So I just got my new card installed it and everything has booted up fine. I'm installing the drivers right now so that I can test it out. What are some things to look for to make sure it's working properly? The computer has three fans ( including the one on the video card and all three are working. Anything else to check for?

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to aethix
dagger   07-09-2008 at 02:55:50 AM
- 1 +

aethix wrote :

So I just got my new card installed it and everything has booted up fine. I'm installing the drivers right now so that I can test it out. What are some things to look for to make sure it's working properly? The computer has three fans ( including the one on the video card and all three are working. Anything else to check for?


Stress test:
http://www.ozone3d.net/benchmarks/fur/

------------------------------ Q6600@3.6ghz, GA-EX38-DS4 motherboard, 8gb 800mhz ddr2 4-3-3-12, 8800GTS(g92)@780mhz, 1TB + 1.5TB hdds, 850watt psu
 Reply to dagger
aethix   07-09-2008 at 03:07:39 AM
- 0 +

Thanks a lot dagger. You're awesome! Did great with stability and well with benchmarks. Time to go test it out on some games! :)

Reply to aethix
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