I just got an EVGA geforce 8500GT and the box says it requires a minimum 400 watt power supply, however on sites like newegg and EVGAs own site, it lists only a minimum of 300w. Which should I believe? here is the link to EVGA, and if you scroll down it lists 300w:
http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?pn=256-P2-N740-LR&family=23
2007-07-29 17:40:37 · 7 answers · asked by Ketchup 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
heres the system:
300w psu w with 19 amps on +12volt rail
athlon 64 x2 5000+
2 gigs ram
400 gb hdd
1 16x dvd/cd writer
2007-07-30 06:46:31 · update #1
The card itself only uses about 40W, so 300 is just fine when you factor in the rest of the system. Now if you are asking because you currently have a 300W and you want to know if you can run the card, the answer is yes. Now if you are shopping for a new power supply and want to know how big you should buy, go at least 400W, probably 500W, because they are not that much more expensive and they are better for the future.
2007-07-29 19:11:52 · answer #1 · answered by mysticman44 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That card will draw only about 3.5 amps on the +12V rail. The other component that will have large power draw on the +12V rail is the processor. Most new processors (including C2D) are just 65 watters (5.5 amps). A good 300 watter w/ 15 amps on the +12V rail may be able to power up the 8500GT.
However, if you have a Prescott or high wattage dual core processor that draws 9-10 amps on the +12V rail, The 8500GT may overload the +12V rail. Same thing could happen to a 400 watter w/ weak +12V rail.
Get a power supply complying with ATX V2.01, V2.2 or 2.3. It would surely have a strong +12V rail.
2007-07-30 08:54:48 · answer #2 · answered by Karz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, according to custom pc magazine this month, the 8500GT's peak load is 164Watts.
However you've got all your other components, so take account
You'll need 15-30 watts for each hard drive, 15 watts per gig of Ram, 50-100 watts for the motherboard, about 100-125 for that particular graphics cars, 80-125 watts for a dual core cpu, 20-30 watts for any optical drives(CD/DVD),3 watts for each case fan and around 5watts for a speaker.
(For more precise measures, see http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp )
Then you'll see what power supply you need, and its always nice to have 50+ watts more just for added safety, and for future upgrades you may want.
2007-07-30 03:10:04 · answer #3 · answered by ChrisW 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the minimum from NVIDIA, it is:
300 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt rail(s) current rating of 18 Amp Amps.)
You can also test your video card to see what it scores and compare it to similar computers. If you see it score drastically less, then the power supply may not be enough. The power supply not being enough would provide symptoms that lead the video card to run slower than intended, or produce blue screens.
2007-07-30 00:53:26 · answer #4 · answered by COOLQF 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend going with a 400watt PSU but if you have a high quality power 300watt supply made by e.g. Antec or Thermaltake or a high brand company in general, then you MIGHT be able to get away with it but i wouldn't guarantee it.
Get a 500watt, they are cheap enough these days anyway.
2007-07-30 00:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Regardless if its 300w/400w minimum requirement, you should have a 400w or better in your computer for everything to run nice and be able to upgrade hardware later on that draws power.
2007-07-30 00:43:44 · answer #6 · answered by crypticn1nj4 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
believe the box. if NVIDIA says so, do so.
2007-07-30 00:46:05 · answer #7 · answered by Hayden 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋