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Obiphil   07-09-2008 at 12:26:09 PM

Hi guys, been searching for a while on this one, but i cant satisfy myself with anything iv found so far.

Can my current 500W PSU with 22A on the +12v rail power a 4850? Or, for that matter, a 8800GT? I think im probably going to go with the 4850, but it would be nice to be sure that it will work first.

Thankful in advance,
Phil

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lameness   07-09-2008 at 01:13:24 PM
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Pretty sure you will be ok for 4850.....certainly ok with 8800gt.

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homerdog   07-09-2008 at 01:24:21 PM
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So your 500W PSU only has 22A on a single +12V rail? Although technically enough, that's pretty weak. A weak 12V rail is a telltale sign of a crappy PSU... what is the specific make and model?

Reply to homerdog
outlw6669   07-09-2008 at 02:01:29 PM
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Yeah...
It dosn't matter what a crapy PSU claimes the +12V amperage is. It is still a crapy PSU and will probably fail before you fully load it.
I vote you get a beter quality unit.

------------------------------ If the automobile had followed the same development cycle as the computer, a Rolls-Royce today would cost $100, get a million miles to the gallon, and explode once a year, killing everyone inside.
PSA
 Reply to outlw6669
The_Abyss   07-09-2008 at 02:17:59 PM
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And you could spend less time helpnig out a newcomer rather than typing some malicious attack like that.

Every forum has one - at least we know who this one's is.

Reply to The_Abyss
Obiphil   07-09-2008 at 02:35:46 PM
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Well i apologise for wanting to be sure that something would work, there are so many contrasting opinions around as to whether graphics cards will work, and as for the manufacturers site, they only state a wattage requirement on the PSU itself, which mine would appear to satisfy, but you guys are telling me is probably worth upgrading (Thanks for the useful responses on that btw).

So my PSU is definately one of the crappy, budget ones (manufacturer is someone called WIN-Power lol), which i will probably go ahead and upgrade based on this. Ill ask for recommendations as to a nice, cheap but satisfactory PSU, and i accept that certain forum members will probably take this as an invitation to flame a newbie, but id still like good opinions.

Thanks much guys,
Phil

Reply to Obiphil
homerdog   07-09-2008 at 03:17:59 PM
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MrsBytch wrote :

Sorry, this question is asked 20 times a day out of stupidity. These people want us to do the work for them when they could do it themselves in half the time it takes to make a post about it. Its called stupidity and laziness!


You're way off base there. The lack of standardization when it comes to PSU labeling can make things very confusing; folks shouldn't have to do hours of research to figure out whether or not their PSU can handle a GPU upgrade.

MrsBytch wrote :

He already knows how many amps his psu has, yet he's too lazy (or dumb) to go to ATI's website and see what the requirements of the video card are.
Pure ignorance.


ATI's website doesn't have a minimum amps recommendation. Check it yourself: http://ati.amd.com/products/radeon [...] ments.html

 
  • 450 Watt or greater power supply with 75 Watt 6-pin PCI Express® power connector recommended (550 Watt and two 6-pin connectors for ATI CrossFireX%u2122 technology in dual mode)


That means next to nothing, and by that standard the OP's power supply might be good enough. But I doubt it is.

 

I think these "will my PSU work" questions are totally worth asking, and worthy of a real response.


Message edited by homerdog on 07-09-2008 at 04:12:47 PM
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Bronze Graphics badge EXT64   07-09-2008 at 03:29:16 PM
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Do you know what brand it is? That way we could look up the full specs. That could be enough, but it depends on how much the rest of your system draws. The 4850 draws only 110W, so it is not particularly power hungry. And also, what is the current card? If this is similar in power consumption to that, you'd be fine.

------------------------------ Phenom II X4 940 BE 3.0GHz - 1.25V > GA-MA790GP-DS4H > XFX ATI 4850 1GB > 4GB OCZ Platinum 1066MHz 5-5-5-15-2T > PCP&C 610W
Athlon II X2 250 3.0GHz > GA-MA770T-UD3P > Sapphire ATI 4650 512MB DDR3 > 4GB OCZ Platinum 1600MHz@1066MHz > XP/Win7 Enter 64
 Reply to EXT64
mactronix   07-09-2008 at 03:39:38 PM
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@ MrsBytch,

Can you please help us all out by posting links to these manufacturers sites you have found that state a minimum AMPS requirement.
A complete novice wouldn't even know the AMPS were important due to the way the manufacturers and retail sites keep listing the requirements in Watts.

@ Obiphil,

My advice would be to get a better PSU with more AMPS if you can afford it. just trying the card could leav eyou with a shorted card or whole system.
Having said that the subject of the 4850 running or not has been asked before and on one of those discussions the attitude that if the power supply has a dedicated PCIE cable and not something cobbled up from two molex connectors, then similar to a card with no power leads needed it should run as the required power should be there.
In other words a PCIE slot has a required wattage that it (should supply) 75 Watts. The PCIE cable is meant to supply 75Watts also. Thats 150 Watts total for a card that runs about 110 at full load.

Mactronix


Message edited by mactronix on 07-09-2008 at 03:40:28 PM
Reply to mactronix
judgedredd   07-09-2008 at 04:15:50 PM
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Also when looking at power supplies people that are not in the know of tiers and what nots will think price is their guide...if there is a 900w PSU for 50 bux and a 700w PSU for 140 bux...which one works better? Am I getting a deal on the 900w PSU or getting ripped off on the 700w PSU? Am I buying junk for $50 or buying WAY over priced junk at $140? Then toss in rails and 6 or 8 pin connectors...modular...EPS...SFX...TFX...BTX. Also you can't always judge by the label since there are tiers within product lines under the same label...or relabeled in some cases I am sure. Just because a label says the PSU will give so many amps does not means you will get it how you need it. I am pretty sure there are some of these labels stating those levels just before failure type use....like engine specs on trucks. 200hp at 8000rpm...8000rpm?!? Or better yet PMPO ratings on speakers...yeah you can get 200w of sound from those $9.99 speakers...

Is there a updated sticky somewhere if this has been asked sooooooo many times? Hell I know I would read it to guide my buying dollars.

Reply to judgedredd
jtt283   07-09-2008 at 04:48:57 PM
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One of the "stickies" on this is the PSU listing at http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiere [...] gs?t=anon. The problem with that list is that it is become more dated all the time.
From the OP's posts, if I had to guess, his "WIN-power" PSU is a tier-5 sparkler that will detonate if loaded to 60%-75% of its claimed capacity for more than 10 minutes. While he doesn't need a monster PSU for a 4850, a QUALITY unit capable of actually putting out 450W-550W should be fine.
As important as it is, it seems entirely reasonable that a PSU might be 10% of the rig's cost. Sometimes there are deals, but if I were building a new rig today, I'd expect to spend at least $90 on the PSU; I think the last one I got was $110.

------------------------------ There is ALWAYS a drone. Exactly where, or how many drones you will encounter may vary, but that there will be at least one will not.
 Reply to jtt283
homerdog   07-09-2008 at 05:05:33 PM
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Recommendations, either will do:

XCLIO STABLEPOWER 460W - Solid CWT built unit, good price

Corsair VX450 - Better quality, higher price

Reply to homerdog
Obiphil   07-10-2008 at 03:03:45 AM
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Thanks for the good replies guys, and for the support in knowing i wasnt just being a fool in not knowing what i didnt.

Ok so here's everything i know about my current PSU: http://s158.photobucket.com/albums [...] C00443.jpg

Im currently running an E6300 processor (soon to be upgraded to a Q6600) with an LG DVD Rewriter, 2gb of ram, 2HDDs, a Audigy 2 sound card and an X1900GT, as well as a couple case fans.

Im looking at that corsair VX450 now and it seems to be good, but if you can think of any problems that i'v overlooked, feel free to clue me in.

Thanks very much for all your help guys!
Phil

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Obiphil   07-10-2008 at 03:17:45 AM
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Ok, so i'm almost understanding, just not quite yet... The XClio PSU homerdog links to has its 12v rails rated at 18A and 16A, so would my current PSU be fine to run the card (with its 12v at 22A) if it werent a dodgy make? I think this is what mactronix is saying as well, but i just want to be sure.

Cheers,
Phil

Reply to Obiphil
homerdog   07-10-2008 at 03:20:00 AM
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Obiphil wrote :

Ok so here's everything i know about my current PSU: http://s158.photobucket.com/albums [...] C00443.jpg


Ouch

Obiphil wrote :


Im currently running an E6300 processor (soon to be upgraded to a Q6600) with an LG DVD Rewriter, 2gb of ram, 2HDDs, a Audigy 2 sound card and an X1900GT, as well as a couple case fans.

Im looking at that corsair VX450 now and it seems to be good, but if you can think of any problems that i'v overlooked, feel free to clue me in.


Good choice, the VX450 will serve you very well.

Reply to homerdog
mactronix   07-10-2008 at 08:28:45 AM
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Yes i agree with the Corsair. I looked at that unit myself the other month but ended up getting a good deal on an Antec case with bundled PSU.
As you are going to get a Quad in the near future I do think that it is the best idea to upgrade the power supply.
Mactronix

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