Upgrading graphics card

[precursoris]

I currently have a Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 graphics card, but I'm looking to upgrade it. Here are my computer specs:

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Quad CPU Q4800 @2.66GHz (4 CPUS) ~2.7GHz
Memory: 8GB RAM DDR2
Video Card: Nvidia GeForce GTS 250

This is my power supply information (click the image to enlarge):

Here are the cards I'm considering:

GeForce GTX 460: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX30252
System Requirements: Minimum of a 450 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amps.)

GeForce GTX 560: http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX33583
System Requirements: Minimum of a 450 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 24 Amps.)
PCI Express or PCI Express 2.0 compliant motherboard with one x16 graphics slot.

Can my computer handle these cards? Which one do you recommend for my computer?

 

[fuggles]

http://images10.newegg.com/BizIntell/tool/psucalc/index.html

 

[fuggles]

No

You don't have enough ppower

 

[ringzero]

That PSU you've got looks a little sketchy and even if it IS able to pump out the power it claims, it's the bare minimum those cards need. I would definitely upgrade your power supply to 550W, either Seasonic, Antec, or Corsair. And get the 560, it's a better card.

 

[fuggles]

I don't recommend either.

You can't power them anyway

 

[inzone]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fastest-graphics-card-radeon-geforce,3085-7.html

This chart will give you an idea of where the various cards fall in order from best to worse. The GTX 560 is according to this list one level above the 460 so it is the better card. However to power supply that you have is not agood quality so it would be questionable if it could consistantly power either of those cards.
Do you have a budget amount in mind that you are working with. A good quality psu that you could consider is;

SeaSonic M12II 650 SS-650AM 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Semi-modular Power Supply
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151106

Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-620 620W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
$74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
$94.99 amd a $10 rebate makes it $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Either of these will do the job.

 

[precursoris]

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/fastest-graphics-card-radeon-geforce,3085-7.html

This chart will give you an idea of where the various cards fall in order from best to worse. The GTX 560 is according to this list one level above the 460 so it is the better card. However to power supply that you have is not agood quality so it would be quetionable if it could consistantly power either of those cards.
Do you have a budget amount in mind that you are working with. A good quality psu that you could consider is;

SeaSonic M12II 650 SS-650AM 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Semi-modular Power Supply
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151106

Antec High Current Gamer Series HCG-620 620W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V v2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
$74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371048

CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX650 V2 650W ATX12V v2.31/ EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC High Performance Power Supply
$94.99 amd a $10 rebate makes it $84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139020

Either of these will do the job.

Thanks for the reply. I'll look into those.

I'm just wondering though, why can't my PSU not handle the 460 even though it has 36A on the +12V? My current GTS 250 has a requirement of 22A and I can run it just fine with my PSU.

 

[inzone]

The minimun requirement for those cards is 450w , now do you really want to get one of those cards and run it on the minimum required psu? I'm not saying that the card won't work but when you are using the computer in a normal manor there is no stress on the video card , but when you are playing a game the video card will require varying amounts of watts during the game and there could be a time when it will exceed the watts it can provide and the video card will shut down , crashing the game , BSOD. All I was recomending was to give yourself a little breathing room. When it comes to a power supply it's always a good thing to have too much than too little , so the choice is yours to make and most likly the 460 will work but it will be close.

 

[monsta]

^+1

 

[precursoris]

Best answer selected by precursoris.