New video card, new power issue.

[The Happy Friar]

it only requires a 400w PSU?  My ATI x1950 wanted a 500w, min.  I needed that anyway with all the HD's I got, but i thought that was on the lower end of newer card PSU requirements.

[console]

Yeah I think I'm going to cough up a couple hundred bucks and go grab an 8800.

I think you'll be pleased with that decision.  I wasn't going to mention it since you already had the 8600... but I bought an 8600GT on impulse a couple months ago, and returned it the next day, after reading reviews that it was actually slower than my two year old overclocked 7800.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/07/24/hd_2600_and_geforce_8600/page2.html
http://digg.com/hardware/GeForce_8600_GTS_tested_and_loses_to_last_gen_ATI_cards

So with this newer model I should be looking for a PSU that has the connector as part of it or keep this one and go for an adapter to change the pin setting?

I can only echo what others have said about avoiding generic power supplies.  (Also, 400W seems on the low side for an 8800 system)


Regards,

quadz

[jägermonsta]

it only requires a 400w PSU?

(Also, 400W seems on the low side for an 8800 system)

It seems low but 8800 GTX and Ultra minimal requirements are 450Watt. A 450Watt PSU will definitely run the 8800GT (In fact 450Watt is the minimal for the 8800GT in SLI AKA 450Watt can power two of these cards at once). However I am not a fan of "minimal" anything. It leaves room for things to go wrong. If I were purchaing this card and a new PSU I would rock at least a 500W if money was tight given it's only $20 or so more.

Always read reviews before buying computer parts otherwise you may was a lot of money.

[X'tyfe]

is that 450 just for the card alone? or are you considering other devices?
this is why i said that it couldnt possibly be enough

[jägermonsta]

is that 450 just for the card alone? or are you considering other devices?
this is why i said that it couldnt possibly be enough

Other devices are already considered when they make those requirements... If you're going to run more then two hard drives then that's just common sense, christ.

450W IS ENOUGH FOR TWO CARDS NEVER MIND ONE!!! READ THE FREAKIN EVGA WEBSITES FOR MINIMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE 8800GT CARD!

[X'tyfe]

well i run 3
SO THERE

[[BTF]Sigma]

Ok so I'm thinking go with a 8800GT to go with my rig.

I have:

Pentium D dual core 3.2ghz
2x 1Gig 667mhz DDR2 sticks of RAM

I should have some faster ram too though, wouldn't you think?


*edit Jager: yeah it's the card... something must have happened to it between transfers. I tried it back at his rig and same thing.

[DeanRW]

Did you plug in the 12v +4 Pin connector from the Power Supply?

Also I think the 8800 requires a 12 v 30 Amp Rail. Is your PS a single, Double or triple rail configuration? Read the chart that comes with it.

[The Happy Friar]

you can get a 6 to 4 pin converter (I have one) but have read that if the connection isn't good you can short the card out.

[[BTF]Sigma]

It's great to have got all these incites into what I should be looking out for.

But, shit, out of stock.

I'll pick it up when I head to Palm Springs for the Holidays. Technology from across the line is become a pretty good option what with the dollar sitting where it is.

Sorry for the anti-climax.

[The Happy Friar]

you'll save enough $$ to buy a new PSU. 

[R1CH]

I can only echo what others have said about avoiding generic power supplies.  (Also, 400W seems on the low side for an 8800 system)

Remember, they have to cater to those people who bought "SUPER 450W GENERIC PSU" ( ). Compare the 12v on the generic 450w PSU to the Corsair 450w. Max of 18A vs max of 33A. The generic PSU is marked 450W by supplying silly amounts of current like 50A at 5v (compared to 20A on the corsair), and hardly any components use the 5v rails these days, it's all 12v. It's essentially just padding the specs - sure it's 450w on paper, but the Corsair can do 396W @ 12v compared to the 216W of the generic supply. Which one would you want powering your system?

[X'tyfe]

its like hard drive space
what is advertised is not always the case