Will my PSU handle an 8800GT?

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Krazy Kommando
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Will my PSU handle an 8800GT?

Post by Krazy Kommando » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:11 am

Hey all
ive got an 8800GT on order as an upgrade for my rig to extend its life, but im not sure if my PSU will handle it. so, heres my specs:
CPU: AMD64 3200+ (skt939)
RAM: 2gb DDR400
Mobo: MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
Gfx: Soon to be 8800GT. Currently 6600GT.
HDD: 500gb Samsung, and 160gb Seagate
Optical: DVDRW

and my PSU: Coolermaster Real 350w. you know, the fairly generic grey looking ones that come with coolermaster cases. has the 80mm rear exhaust fan. 16A on the +12V line

so what do ya's reckon, will my humble 350w'er run my soon to be supercharged PC?

Cheers.

HammerSandwich
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Post by HammerSandwich » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:12 am

I think it should work, but 16A on the +12V is low today. Which CPU core do you have? The Winchester and Venice are both quite low power.

FWIW, my OCed Opteron 144 and X850XT pull 180W from the wall under full 3D load.

Krazy Kommando
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Post by Krazy Kommando » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:32 pm

its a winchester core. im certain that 350w would handle it fine, but im concerned about it only being able to pump 16A. additionally, it only has a single 12V rail. i think i read somewhere that nvidia recommends a PSU with 24A on the 12V rail. i mean we all know that they over estimate to cover their arses, but even so...

-edit-
ive just had a look around, and i can pick up a Corsair VX450 or Corsair HX520 for $107 and $143 respectively. as i understand it, these are still amongst the best PSUs on the market today. would it be best to get one of these to replace my current unit?

HammerSandwich
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Post by HammerSandwich » Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:18 am

I HIGHLY recommend the Corsair VX450W. Mine has been just fantastic, and it has plenty of quiet headroom for any system I'll assemble.

~El~Jefe~
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Post by ~El~Jefe~ » Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:31 am

that is a good recommendation.

but, considering the SLOT has a lot of juice, this probably will be fine.

everyone forgets the slot having a lot of juice in pci-e

the rest of his system hardly uses any electricity

HammerSandwich
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Post by HammerSandwich » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:15 am

~El~Jefe~ wrote:everyone forgets the slot having a lot of juice in pci-e
And most of that power comes from the +12V line. See here.

autoboy
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Post by autoboy » Fri Dec 07, 2007 9:40 am

I've run my x850xt and 3500+ on a Seasonic Super Silencer 300 with 18A on the 12V rail and had no problems. Still, I would say you are getting close to the limits of that generic psu.

Krazy Kommando
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Post by Krazy Kommando » Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:41 pm

well i just had a look at a PSU calculator that i found recommended on this site (http://web.aanet.com.au/SnooP/psucalc.php). putting in my specs (but using an 8800GTX instead of the GT because it is not an option to choose), it yeilds the following recommendation:
Max sustained total power consumption while gaming (watts): 211
3.3V / 5V / 12V combined amps while gaming: 1.8/2.8/15.9 (respectively)

so according to that, my PSU should work but i will be pushing it to its absolute limits

this upgrade is getting more and more expensive. at first, it was just the card. then i realised that the longer card wouldnt fit with my old northbridge cooler so i got a thermalright HR05 SLI. then i found out the 8800GT sounds like a jet engine, so i got a S1 cooler for it. and now ill probably have to get a new PSU too :(
it would have been much cheaper if i just didnt buy CoD4 so i never needed a new gfx card lol
ah well, ill have to get a few more shifts at work to cover the PSU i guess

Myth!
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Post by Myth! » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:27 pm

I have to disagree with Hammer.....everyone knows the blue plastic that the pci-e slots are made of generates at least 12amps :idea: :wink:

Zsan
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Post by Zsan » Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:54 am

Krazy Kommando wrote:8800 GTX
That thing uses a LOT more power than an 8800GT. I think you should try it with your old PSU first, run a stress-test or two, and if it works, leave it at that.

PSUs aren't that expensive though, in Europe, the Corsair HX520 costs only 90 euros. That's not too bad.

Krazy Kommando
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Post by Krazy Kommando » Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:41 pm

so, i bit the bullet an got a VX450. its a bloody quiet unit! now the loudest things in my computer are the zalman 7700 cpu cooler and my hard drives. yay!
thanks for the advise everyone

-btw, according to SPCR reviews, my rig now runs at 22db @ 1m :)

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Post by HammerSandwich » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:53 am

Krazy Kommando wrote:-btw, according to SPCR reviews, my rig now runs at 22db @ 1m :)
It's probably quite a bit higher, in fact. You said the PSU (21dBA) is quieter than the HSF and HDs, and all of those noises add up. But this is good news, because it's a lot easier to quiet a louder computer. When you're ready for the next step, pop the 7200.7 into a nice enclosure. Scythe's Quiet Drive is a good value.

Myth!
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Post by Myth! » Tue Dec 11, 2007 9:54 am

just remember...its the journey that counts, as reaching the finish is rare :wink:

Krazy Kommando
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Post by Krazy Kommando » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:48 am

ah true, i guess its probably closer to ~25db. in the SPCR review of the 7700alcu it was measured at 22db at 5v, so with the years of wear and tear its probably put on a few db's. the 7700 is pretty much all i can hear now, but with a feint undertone of the disk drives.
i think i have taken this pc as far its going to go now. my next plan is to save up for a completely new computer in a year or two's time. and this time i will plan the whole thing around passive coolers and nexus fans, instead of winding up with a loud pc and no idea of what to do about it haha

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