Ive been having problems with GeForce 8800 Graphics card. i thought it would run with a 550 watt power supply, it didnt. it kept dying, so i thought the comp was overheating cause of no proper ventilation. now im back to the conclusion that its the power supply which it too weak to handle the video card. the computer only dies when i play a game. it dies about 5-10 mins into the game.
what do i do? what do i get? do i need a better power supply? is it really the ventilation? i really need help...
2007-08-30 18:25:15 · 5 answers · asked by djfighter2 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
8800GTS draws up to 9amps on the +12V rail, GTX, up to 11 amps and Ultra up to 14 amps. If your 550W power supply has dual +12V rail and capable of 30amps total or higher on the +12V rails, it should not have any problem with the GTS and GTX. In case you have the Ultra, better have not less than 35 amps total on the +12V rail. Processor, fans and drive motors also draw from the +12V rail.
My guess is that your power supply is 550W (peak) and its continuous rating is much less. +12V rail could also be weak, resulting to unstable conditions under heavy load.
For high powered PCs, focus more on the +12V rails and less on the total wattage. Strong +12V rail is the key to current PCs stability under heavy load.
2007-08-30 19:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by Karz 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people think that wattage is all that counts in a PSU. It isn't. It's the +12v rail amperage too. There are 600watt power supplies for 19.99 on Ebay and nobody buys them yet they pay 100 for a 500 watter. Look on the side of your PSU and see what amperage it has on +12V - Also see it if has a +12V1 +12V2 etc which would mean it has multiple +12V rails. If you have multiple +12V rails on your PSU and your video card has 2 6pin connectors you want to hook each up to a different rail from your PSU. If you have a single 6pin connector on your card with a splitter that you hook up to 2 power supply tails plug one from a different rail into each. If you hook up a video card that requires 26 amps to a rail that only has 18 youre gonna have problems so you hook each connector up to a different 18 amp rail because, together they have 36 amps versus the 18 youre feeding the card off one rail. Each rail is usually bunched in a separate group of cables coming out of the psu or out of different ports if its modular. About a month ago I replaced one 430watt PSU with another 430watt PSU to power a customers new video card. Althou both had the same watts one could run the card and the other couldn't because of the higher amps on the +12V rails. Corsair makes great PSUs. I just bought the 520watt that has 3 18amp +12V rails and you would have no problem running your card with it even thou its rated at less watts at the 550 you have. There's also a 620 watt Corsair too. You can get the 520watt for 79.99 at buy.com if you use google check out. They want 114.99 for it at newegg.
2007-08-31 01:59:19 · answer #2 · answered by s j 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
700watt minimum. You do need good ventilation for that type of card.
It also depends on what else you have running. But I'd say a 700watt would be adequate.
2007-08-31 01:29:06 · answer #3 · answered by George W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
buy a 750Watts power supply. but make sure that u buy a good brand power supply bz many power supplies are marked with a value that is incorrect
2007-08-31 01:49:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ocz have some nice moderately priced lines ... 600w for 99bux canuck ect check for them
2007-08-31 01:31:09 · answer #5 · answered by Billy James 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋