Will it work...

[Nightoddity]

I just bought a new system and was putting it together when lo and behold I notice on the EVGA GeForce 9800GT Box that it requires 26A on the 12V Rail.

I checked my Antec Sonata III Case with a EarthWatts 500 PSU and it has 22Amps on 2 X 12V Rails.


My question is: Since I am using just one graphics card, will it work with this PSU or do I have to buy another PSU?

If I do have to buy a new PSU, anyone have suggestions for one that's inexpensive?

 

[x_2fast4u_x]

Well you might just want to put the system together then run a CPU stress test as well as a GPU stress test at the same time perhaps a HDD benchmark as well. doing so will make the card and the CPU and HDD run at max performance making them take max power. if no crashes then your in the clear.

I choose these parts because they use the most power. Also this is that you will encounter running games, IE. simultaneous HDD read/writes/CPU stress/GPU stress,.

 

[JAYDEEJOHN]

Im guessing thats 22amps per rail, which is fine. Does it say 12 volt rail 1 at 22 amps AND 12volt rails 2 at 22 amps? Is so, youre ok

 

[SpinachEater]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=84&threadid=2167846&enterthread=y

Anand is the best forum to look up PSU questions.

From the jonnyGURU himself:
When a graphics card company tells you you need "22-28 amps" for a particular graphics card, they're telling you that you're going to need this much power FOR THE ENTIRE PC. NO graphics card NEEDS 22A. That's 264W!

"Mechanically" you can't even deliver over 150W to the card (75W through the slot and 75W through the 6-pin). Never mind 264W! In reality, you're probably only going to need 6 or 7A of power to the card. Everything else is gravy.

So don't sweat it... your PSU is way more than enough for your proposed graphics card upgrade.

 

[dieseldre2k]

u sure it says 22amps? this picture says its 17A on each rail:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=17-371-007-04.jpg&Image=17-371-007-09.jpg%2c17-371-007-03.jpg%2c17-371-007-04.jpg%2c17-371-007-05.jpg%2c17-371-007-06.jpg%2c17-371-007-07.jpg%2c17-371-007-08.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16817371007&Depa=0&Description=Antec%20earthwatts%20EA500%20500W%20Power%20Supply

anyway, GPU manufacturers overestimate how many amps u need because there are alot of ppl that have dell, hp, or just plain crappy PSU's in their computers. its also an estimation for the entire system, not just the GPU. regardless, my gf has had her 4850 on her earthwatts 500 for over a month now so u should be fine.

 

[Nightoddity]

Thanks for clearing it up for me.

My PSU is actually a 500D, which is a newer model that has 22A on each 12V rail.

Thank you all for your time.