450W Video Card on a 430W PSU ... will that work?

What exactly is that video card?

not really sure, but that's not the point here - I am just wondering why the video card specs. don't list peak power requirements (or do they and I don't know where to look). I am not going to drop $$ on 1kW PSU just because the box told me so! that's just BS.


this here: http://www.antec.outervision.com/PSUEngine tells me I need 218W

Sure you can, that 450W requirement is probably the maximum draw that mystery graphics card will draw, so thats why higher rated power supplies are recommended, so you have power to spare when its actually needed.

However in your case, as long as you'll only be sending emails, and surfing the internet you're going to be just fine man.

Of course if you're any kind of a gamer and start pulling that 3D power from that Graphics card to play your favorite game, and your system begins to crash everytime you try to play your favorite 3D intensive game, you'll see why a good supporting power supply, is not an after thought with todays graphics cards.

So let us know how that goes for you? OK

Oh BTW, thats a nice 400Mhz OC on your X3 720, did you allow for the added power draw being used to OC the CPU? Just Curious.

Ditto jsc

If a card has a recommended PSU of 450 it doesn't mean ITS draw is 450, it just means that the power supply recommended for the whole system is 450...and they always exaggerate what is needed.

I told ya'll ... a video card that has 450W in the requirements box I left it out on purpose for the very sake of this thread . Unless you want to tell me that there is a site that lists popular computer components with it's peak power consumption - I don't see a reason why a "what card is it" really matters ...



thanks for the replies.

ROFL DUH !!! That went right over your head didn't it.

Have you ever heard of sarcasm? I guess not.

Saying a GPU requires a 450W PSU is often the manufacturer's way of covering the possibility that the buyer is using a ChokeMax PSU, or some other cheap generic crap that came with a case, that's really only good for 60% of its claimed capacity. On the other hand, an Antec Earthwatts 380 is a quality PSU that can power a 4850.

If the Neopower you have is old, capacitor aging may have reduced its capacity. You don't need a 1kW PSU, but a quality 500W-550W 80+ unit could give you years of reliable service.