[Solved] Is my PSU enough for this?

This graphics card I just bought needs a minimum 300W power supply (which I have), but then it says minimum 12V current rating of 22A. I checked my PSU label and it says:
OUTPUT +12V / 19A, +5V / 30A, +3.33V / 28A.
+5V& +3.33V 180W MAX. +5V & +12V 288W MAX.
So will it work or not?

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Reply to EnvyX2

Not proparly i think, whats the gpu and other specs of your system ?

Reply to robjordy

I bought a Zotac GeForce GT 440 because it was $42 off and my current one is crap. My specs are:
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz
4GB Ram (3GB usable)
This card uses a PCI Express (I have this) or PCI Express 2.0, I am pretty sure I have all the requirements it needs, it needs Intel Pentium 4 or higher, 200MB hard drive space, 1GB memory (2GB recommended) and Win7 or Vista.

I can buy this if it doesn't work: http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0277108
And this is the GPU: http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0371741

Message edited by EnvyX2 on 09-05-2011 at 12:17:04 AM

Reply to EnvyX2

I'am afraid it can create problems, the 12V rail amperes are the most important, need to be stable and enough. Also depends on what quality psu, but still, even with a real good one i'm afraid it really needs 22A to run stable. On the other hand you will run a 2.0 card in a 1.0 slot so it could be that the card isn't used to it's full potentionel and doesn't need the full 22A . . . I don't know enough about that. Maybe just try and if the system becomes unstable buy a new psu, risky bussiness though, when your psu dies it can take your cpu with him i heard. Try to get a bit better psu than the one you linked, maybe this one ; http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0257451
What do you use your pc for btw ?

Reply to robjordy

Oh, even better ; http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0340516, it's 80+ certified, really worth the money imo.

Reply to robjordy

Gaming and things such as browsing internet, watching videos, etc.
Also, how do you check if it is 12v and 22a? Is it in the load range area? Like for the first link you gave me this is the load range description.

+3.3V@20A;+5V@20A;+12V1@10A;+12V2@13A;-12V@0.3A; +5VSB@2.5A

My PSU:
http://i54.tinypic.com/1idctj.jpg

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Message edited by EnvyX2 on 09-05-2011 at 01:14:11 AM

Reply to EnvyX2

Any more help?

Reply to EnvyX2

EnvyX2 wrote :

Gaming and things such as browsing internet, watching videos, etc.
Also, how do you check if it is 12v and 22a? Is it in the load range area? Like for the first link you gave me this is the load range description.

+3.3V@20A;+5V@20A;+12V1@10A;+12V2@13A;-12V@0.3A; +5VSB@2.5A

My PSU:
http://i54.tinypic.com/1idctj.jpg

The one posted in here has 23 A you add the values of both 12v rails to get your amperage. +12V1@10A;+12V2@13A. Just remember though all of your computer is running on the PSU if that goes it can bugger your whole system its good to buy a high quality PSU to avoid this problem.

Message edited by vigilante212 on 09-05-2011 at 04:31:47 AM

Reply to vigilante212

EnvyX2 wrote :

This graphics card I just bought needs a minimum 300W power supply (which I have), but then it says minimum 12V current rating of 22A. I checked my PSU label and it says:
OUTPUT +12V / 19A, +5V / 30A, +3.33V / 28A.
+5V& +3.33V 180W MAX. +5V & +12V 288W MAX.
So will it work or not?

Your current PSU will not supply sufficient current as 22 amps are required.

The Coolermaster 460W should work but understand that low priced PSUs are also low quality and it may fail on you down the road if it's under heavy load a lot.

Message edited by beenthere on 09-05-2011 at 04:41:50 AM

Reply to beenthere

Ok, math time. TDP of the GT440 is 56W. C2D at 2.66 means you have the E6700, which has a TDP of 65W. This puts the two biggest users of the 12V rail at a combined 121W. Add 50W for the board and some headroom, and your system uses around 175W of 12V power. If you have 19A on your 12V then you have a total of 228W, which should handle 175W just fine. Bestec isn't the best, but its not the worst either. You'll be fine.

Quote :

you add the values of both 12v rails to get your amperage. +12V1@10A;+12V2@13A

No, you don't. My Antec EA500 PSU has 12v1 @ 22A, and 12v2 @ 22A. It does NOT have 44A total. It can supply 34A total. You almost never just add the rails together.

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------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
Reply to 4745454b

4745454b wrote :

Ok, math time. TDP of the GT440 is 56W. C2D at 2.66 means you have the E6700, which has a TDP of 65W. This puts the two biggest users of the 12V rail at a combined 121W. Add 50W for the board and some headroom, and your system uses around 175W of 12V power. If you have 19A on your 12V then you have a total of 228W, which should handle 175W just fine. Bestec isn't the best, but its not the worst either. You'll be fine.

Quote :

you add the values of both 12v rails to get your amperage. +12V1@10A;+12V2@13A

No, you don't. My Antec EA500 PSU has 12v1 @ 22A, and 12v2 @ 22A. It does NOT have 44A total. It can supply 34A total. You almost never just add the rails together.

Thanks for the help. But would it be safer to buy a better PSU? I don't want any bad things happening. If so, could you please recommend a fairly good but cheap(ish) one from Microcenters or Frys if it doesn't bother you that much. Thanks again.

Edit: Can you tell me how to calculate the amps as well? Thanks.

Message edited by EnvyX2 on 09-05-2011 at 05:36:36 AM

Reply to EnvyX2

Best answer

Again, you should be fine. You have a spare 50W, which in this case is nearly 20%. Running your PSU at 80% of max load is fine. You got nothing to worry about.

If you do want a better PSU look for the Antec 380W Green. Great PSU, lots of power, and usually $40 or less if there is a rebate on it. Another good PSU would be the Corsair 430W.

Figuring out the amps can be tricky. On a single rail system it's easier, 12V @ XA. On a multi rail system you need to find a statement that says "12v1 and 12v2 not to exceed XXXW." Using the formula W = V * A, 408W / 12V = 34A. (that's how I know my "44A" 500W PSU can only output 34A.) If you are looking to buy a PSU that does not have this info on it, PASS ON IT! If they are hiding its output numbers, you don't want it.

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
Reply to 4745454b

4745454b wrote :

Again, you should be fine. You have a spare 50W, which in this case is nearly 20%. Running your PSU at 80% of max load is fine. You got nothing to worry about.

If you do want a better PSU look for the Antec 380W Green. Great PSU, lots of power, and usually $40 or less if there is a rebate on it. Another good PSU would be the Corsair 430W.

Figuring out the amps can be tricky. On a single rail system it's easier, 12V @ XA. On a multi rail system you need to find a statement that says "12v1 and 12v2 not to exceed XXXW." Using the formula W = V * A, 408W / 12V = 34A. (that's how I know my "44A" 500W PSU can only output 34A.) If you are looking to buy a PSU that does not have this info on it, PASS ON IT! If they are hiding its output numbers, you don't want it.

Thanks again, I appreciate all of the help. Is this one any good?
http://www.microcenter.com/single_ [...] id=0295037

Reply to EnvyX2

No. Do you see that little red switch above the AC plug? That means at best its based on an older inefficient design, and at worst its a piece of junk just waiting to explode on you. You want something like this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ntec%20380

Lookes like the price has gone up, its up to $47. If you want to try the rebate game, the 430 Corsair is cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] sair%20430

Message quoted 1 times

------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
Reply to 4745454b

4745454b wrote :

No. Do you see that little red switch above the AC plug? That means at best its based on an older inefficient design, and at worst its a piece of junk just waiting to explode on you. You want something like this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ntec%20380

Lookes like the price has gone up, its up to $47. If you want to try the rebate game, the 430 Corsair is cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] sair%20430

Thanks! I just ordered the 430 Corsair, I hope it works. This will *probably* be my last question, are there any requirements for like the PSU to be compatible to my computer?

Reply to EnvyX2

The requirements are that it can supply the power needed, that its of good enough quality that it won't fail on you, and has the connectors you need. If your video card needed an 8 pin PCIe plug, you would have needed a different PSU. Corsair and Antec (current generation at least) are of good quality so no issues there. And because you need less then 200W its pretty hard to find one that won't have enough power.

There are other things you can consider such as fan noise, efficiency, etc. But the three I listed above (along with maybe physical size though they are mostly universal.) are the real "requirements".

------------------------------ The voice of REASON
Do NOT feed the TROLLS!
Always a DEMON!
Reply to 4745454b