Video cards for 400W PSU

GER · 07-10-2008, 02:50 PM

Hi guys I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm need regarding my PSU, here we go:

I was looking to buy a 9800gt, I currently have the GMA950 (i know, it sucks big time), but then I got informed with the issue that it needs a 400w PSU as a minimun. My PSU is 400w but the 12v is quite low its amperage is 12A. here's what it says on the cover ATX 400W P4

+5V=>30 A

+12V=>12 A

-5v=>0.5 A

-12V=>0.8 A

+3.3V=>26 A

5VSB=>2 A

I don't know how many rails there is, can it be known from the above? anyways the question that I'm interested in is what card can I run error-free with this PSU; my system is:

Dual core 3.0Ghz (930 Presler)

2 sticks 512mb 667 ddr2 (thisnking of upgarding to 2 sticks of 1gb)

Intel 945Gz motherboard (gma950 and Realtek audio on board)

LG 20x DVD-RW

120Gb maxtor HHD

2 side fanes 12mm

So what cards can I get for this PSU, i guess there's no way to handle the 9800gt, can it handle the radeon 3850 or 4850? Please note that I don't care about high resolutions for gaming, 1280*600 is more than enough for me considerning my 15" monitor.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Pimp · 07-10-2008, 03:15 PM

I don't think that PSU will have enough juice to power the 9800GT along with a C2D and other stuff in your rig, can't you upgrade the PSU??? a Hiper 580watt costs like £45

Big B · 07-10-2008, 11:32 PM

12A on the +12V? Uhh, no, you don't want to even try to run anything within the past 2-3 years on something like that. Back in 2000, that might've been fine, but not today.

These days, you want something with at least 30A on the +12V if you're running a CPU past the Pentium4/Socket A Athlon era, not to mention a video card that runs off PCIe. AGP might buy a little more room, but even so, that amperage is so little, if you don't want problems, you need to invest in a new PSU.

Here's some brands to check out:

Corsair
Enermax
Thermaltake
Antec
OCZ
beQuiet (Europe)
CoolerMaster
XClio
NorthQ (Europe)
Topower
PC Power & Cooling

Something at least 450-500W should cover this. A good PSU will not be some light box. It may not weigh a ton, but there needs to be some heft to it. Secondly, you do not want to go with the cheapest option. A PSU quality can somewhat be determined by the price. A cheap unit is more likely to not provide your needs and just use the wattage as a marketing tool. A more expensive unit, combined with heft should be filled with better components for a higher quality signal, not to mention better overall lifespan.

Of course, don't forget to look at the amperages.

07-10-2008, 02:50 PM	#1 (permalink) Top
GER Geek Trainee Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 Status: Offline	Video cards for 400W PSU Hi guys I'm new here and this is my first post. I'm need regarding my PSU, here we go: I was looking to buy a 9800gt, I currently have the GMA950 (i know, it sucks big time), but then I got informed with the issue that it needs a 400w PSU as a minimun. My PSU is 400w but the 12v is quite low its amperage is 12A. here's what it says on the cover ATX 400W P4 +5V=>30 A +12V=>12 A -5v=>0.5 A -12V=>0.8 A +3.3V=>26 A 5VSB=>2 A I don't know how many rails there is, can it be known from the above? anyways the question that I'm interested in is what card can I run error-free with this PSU; my system is: Dual core 3.0Ghz (930 Presler) 2 sticks 512mb 667 ddr2 (thisnking of upgarding to 2 sticks of 1gb) Intel 945Gz motherboard (gma950 and Realtek audio on board) LG 20x DVD-RW 120Gb maxtor HHD 2 side fanes 12mm So what cards can I get for this PSU, i guess there's no way to handle the 9800gt, can it handle the radeon 3850 or 4850? Please note that I don't care about high resolutions for gaming, 1280*600 is more than enough for me considerning my 15" monitor. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

07-10-2008, 03:15 PM	#2 (permalink) Top
Pimp Captain of USS Defiant Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 22 Male Posts: 877 Times Helpful: 28 My Mood: Dangerous Status: Offline My Computer	I don't think that PSU will have enough juice to power the 9800GT along with a C2D and other stuff in your rig, can't you upgrade the PSU??? a Hiper 580watt costs like £45 __________________ "Space has no boundary, that is empirically more certain than any external observation. However, that does not imply that space is infinite" - Bernhard Riemann

07-10-2008, 11:32 PM	#3 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 28 Male Posts: 9,636 Times Helpful: 585 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	12A on the +12V? Uhh, no, you don't want to even try to run anything within the past 2-3 years on something like that. Back in 2000, that might've been fine, but not today. These days, you want something with at least 30A on the +12V if you're running a CPU past the Pentium4/Socket A Athlon era, not to mention a video card that runs off PCIe. AGP might buy a little more room, but even so, that amperage is so little, if you don't want problems, you need to invest in a new PSU. Here's some brands to check out: Corsair Enermax Thermaltake Antec OCZ beQuiet (Europe) CoolerMaster XClio NorthQ (Europe) Topower PC Power & Cooling Something at least 450-500W should cover this. A good PSU will not be some light box. It may not weigh a ton, but there needs to be some heft to it. Secondly, you do not want to go with the cheapest option. A PSU quality can somewhat be determined by the price. A cheap unit is more likely to not provide your needs and just use the wattage as a marketing tool. A more expensive unit, combined with heft should be filled with better components for a higher quality signal, not to mention better overall lifespan. Of course, don't forget to look at the amperages. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team\|2CPU

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