I am ready to buy a video card for my computer (2 years old) but it requires 350 watt of power. How do I know if my computer has enough? I used CPU-Z and it says my voltage is currently at 2... so what does it mean?
please help, thanks!
2007-06-14 05:13:48 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Other - Hardware
Open the case...and look on the power supply...generally speaking they all list power specs....
2007-06-14 05:19:48 · answer #1 · answered by troubled1367 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm assuming you mean that your PC requires a 350 watt power supply, because there is no way a video card will needs 350 watts.
You need to make sure you get a power supply with the same footprint dimensions (4 mounting bolt holes: measure the distance between the horizontal holes and the vertical holes. That will be the mounting hole footprint.) You should also measure the size of the power supply housing. i.e. Length X Width X Height.
Make sure the one you buy will fit in the space defined by the power supply you currently have as seen by the L X W X H dimensions you took.
I think I'd opt for a 400 watt power supply. Power supplies are not expensive so go for the little extra potential should it ever be needed.
Look for a power supply with a decent warranty. The longer the warranty is usually an indicator of reliability and quallity. I'm not sure if you'll find them with more than a year or not.
Hope this helps.
2007-06-14 05:27:20 · answer #2 · answered by Dick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well to be honest the power supply will shut down if their is not enough power to supply the computer, so theoretically you could install the video card and see if it works. Though I would simply open the computer and physically look on the side of the power supply and you will see a sticker that will say 250W or 300W or 500W or what ever it may be.
Side Note: odds are you have a 350W or higher power supply already in that system seeing that it is only 2 years old.
My video cards require 550W but that is because I am running SLI/Crossfire so I can understand why it would say it needs 350W
2007-06-14 05:22:46 · answer #3 · answered by SlompOchomp 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your gonna have to crack open the case and look at the power supply, should be some bigger numbers indicating the wattage.
Most computers built in the last 2 years will have 350 watt power supplies.
If you need a new power supply they are fairly inexpensive from dwcomputers.ca anitec.ca or ncix.com
should be on the side like on this picture http://www.rackmountpro.com/prodimages/ss400w.jpg
2007-06-14 05:19:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋