What is the best Graphics card my PSU will power?

[crt129]

I am looking to upgrade my existing GPU (7600GT) to something a bit better, mainly because the fan on the card has broken and performance now sucks!

However, I'm not sure what my existing PSU will be able to power. I currently have a ColorsIT 500U which is a 500W power supply with 20A on the 12V rail and it does have a 6pin PCI-e connector

I was considering getting a 9600GT or a 8600GTS but am not sure whether the power supply will cope so if anybody could help me out it would be appreciated!

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

I'd probably get an ATI Radeon 4890 (preferably the SAPPHIRE Vapor-X HD 4890 2GB), it will run nicely on your PSU. Which brand/model is it, by the way?

Check it out -->> http://www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?psn=000101&pid=298

 

[crt129]

The PSU is a ColorsIT 500U. I'm not sure the card you suggested would work with it as it requires 2 PCI-e 6 pin connectors and the PSU only has one, plus I'm pretty sure that card would require more than 20A on the 12V rail.

 

[MARSOC_Operator]

The PSU is a ColorsIT 500U. I'm not sure the card you suggested would work with it as it requires 2 PCI-e 6 pin connectors and the PSU only has one, plus I'm pretty sure that card would require more than 20A on the 12V rail.

The videocard comes with Molex to PCI-E 6pin adapters, you will be fine. ATI states on its website that any 500W PSU will run any 4xxx videcard series in single GPU configuration.

 

[crt129]

Cool, although I'm still a little surprised it will power a card like that and to be honest I don't really have the money to pay for it! Does anyone know whether it will be good enough to power a 8600GTS as I've seen one of those at a price I can afford!

 

[OvrClkr]

My suggestion would be to upgrade/replace that PSU before you buy any GPU. You can get a decent 500w PSU for around 60.00$. This in turn will give you more headroom as far as the GPU sellection.