IS 240 WATTS ENOUGH POWER?

[Rick61]

Hello,I have a lenovo pc,Intel(R) core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8500@3.16GHz with 6 GB ram, 32bit operating system. My question is can I install a ATI Radeon 4800 graphics card with only a 240watt power supply. I do not have anything else that draws power other than the hard drive that is 240 gb. and a cd/dvd drive. No dvd burner or any other power draws, other than the fans of course. I have had some say the power supply has to be increased and some say it does not. What is your opinion. I would like a better graphics card for AutoCAD work.

 

[Helltech]

There are many different 4800 cards, the 4830, 4850, 4860, 4870, 4890, 4850x2, 4870x2....

The 4850 pulls 295w at full load, and the 4870 pulls 359w.

I'm thinking you need an upgrade to your PSU, but is there any reason you are choosing this series of card for this task? Surely there are better options.

 

[iam2thecrowe]

id say at best you could run an ati 5550, but really, just upgrade the PSU. Is it a low profile PC? if it is, it may be difficult to find a better psu for it.

 

[purple stain]

Agree.
You need to upgrade your Power Supply to run any of the cards from the 48xx series.They are power hungry cards.

 

[wa1]

No need 4800 series, GT240 or HD5570 is more than enough for AutoCAD.

 

[Rick61]

Thank you all for your input. I am happy there are people that are willing to share their know how

 

[Rick61]

id say at best you could run an ati 5550, but really, just upgrade the PSU. Is it a low profile PC? if it is, it may be difficult to find a better psu for it.

It is a standard size box. I am just new to the work part. Not a builder but as I need to learn alot more than I need to spend $, I will most likely just get a 500 or 600 watt power supply and a better card. The one that came with my pc is a ATI Radeon 3470, and autocad does not even recognise it.

 

[purple stain]

Here's a good deal on a quailty PSU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

 

[JoshWS]

Hi, Just noticed you said you had a 32bit operating System, with 6gb of RAM. The problem is that 32bit OS's can only support upto 4gb of RAM, with only about 3.5gb usable after IO reservations.

 

[mavroxur]

There are many different 4800 cards, the 4830, 4850, 4860, 4870, 4890, 4850x2, 4870x2....

The 4850 pulls 295w at full load, and the 4870 pulls 359w.

I'm thinking you need an upgrade to your PSU, but is there any reason you are choosing this series of card for this task? Surely there are better options.

You need to double check your numbers. Those sound like total-system loads, not video card loads. The 4850 consumes around 90 and the 4870 is around 130. Recommended PSU's for those cards are 450 and 500 respectively.

 

[purple stain]

Yes defnitly sounds like total system draw not idividual power consumption.
If i think the PSU i linked is more than suffient.It is also capable of handling a crossfire setup.

 

[mirrion]

Either way, 240 watts is likely:

1) An old PSU and no longer providing peak power
2) Insufficient for most modern hardware combinations.

I would recommend upgrading, yes. Unless your PSU is magically still working at it's full capacity, you're going to encounter issues until full load, which, even if it works through it with performance drops, will slowly kill your PSU (usually resulting in spontanious reboots).

 

[AlienIsGOD]

My system with 2 4850s in Crossfire pulls just under 500 watts. Thats with a Q9450, 4GB of ram and 4 HDD.

 

[Rick61]

Hi, Just noticed you said you had a 32bit operating System, with 6gb of RAM. The problem is that 32bit OS's can only support upto 4gb of RAM, with only about 3.5gb usable after IO reservations.

I had this pc built for me through a company that suplys pcs to gov. types as I was injured and I got it through a program to go to school. I got my Autocad operators certificate, but as far as autocad goes the card does not even register. The ram was in it when I got it. I was unaware that had more ram than it can use. I suppose some one there thought if they put enough ram in it, it would make up for the other things that they did not put in it, ie; a decent power supply.

 

[tunedout]

I had this pc built for me through a company that suplys pcs to gov. types as I was injured and I got it through a program to go to school. I got my Autocad operators certificate, but as far as autocad goes the card does not even register. The ram was in it when I got it. I was unaware that had more ram than it can use. I suppose some one there thought if they put enough ram in it, it would make up for the other things that they did not put in it, ie; a decent power supply.

I would have to say to go with a 500 watt PSU, they are not that expensive, i only recently upgraded from a 500 watt B/C i got a second 4870....power hungry little things.

on another note, you can pick up a copy of windows 7 64 bit home premium for around 129.99 i believe. The 64 bit version will allow you to run your 6Gb of ram.

Good luck!