Power supply and video cards

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Guest

If a video cards specifications says that it needs 250Watts minimum to run
and my power supply is 250 Watts output maximum, does this mean that the card
might not run at full speed, or that it might be a strain on the computer?
 
confused said:
If a video cards specifications says that it needs 250Watts minimum to run
and my power supply is 250 Watts output maximum, does this mean that the
card
might not run at full speed, or that it might be a strain on the computer?
Click to expand...

It will strain the power supply. If the computer even starts you will have
problems with using graphics intensive applications. At best you will have
intermittent, lockups, application errors, and reboots. Get a better power
supply. Without knowing what else you have installed I would recommend at
least 400 watts which will leave 150 watts for the rest of the hardware. It
is possible you may need an even bigger one than that but as a 250 watt is
working now your existing hardware must not take a lot of power to run. I
suspect because the current power supply is rated so low you have a
HP/Compaq, Dell or eMachines computer. You may have to buy a special power
supply if that is the case. Those brands sometimes use non-standard power
supplies. A standard power supply won't physically fit in the case.

Kerry
 
You have a woefully under-rated power supply for almost any computer
configuration. Many manufactured computers come with such a supply. It is
meant to be used with the computer configured "exactly" as shipped. If you
add "anything" you will likely be running into problems.

A good power supply for the average to medium power user would be in the
450 - 500 watt range, and from a major player - such as Antec Corp.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Yes, my computer is a compaq. I may need to buy at least 400 watts power
supply if I get a new video card.
 
confused said:
Yes, my computer is a compaq. I may need to buy at least 400 watts
power supply if I get a new video card.
Click to expand...

Confused - Before you rush out and buy a spiffy new video card and power
supply:

1. Check to make sure your Compaq has an AGP slot.
2. Check to make sure your Compaq can take a standard power supply.

Malke
 
Yes, I have an AGP "1.5 volt only" slot. I am not sure if my Compaq can take
a standard power supply or not. I will take it to the computer shop and find
out what power supplys it can take.
 
I would hate to see you get charged or even have to take your computer in to
the shop unnecessarily.. Your AGP 1.5v slot should take a 4x or an 8x card,
the 8x card should dumb down to 4x performance.. The PSU for an OEM (Compaq)
computer should be updated if possible by the original OEM, so Compaq
customer service is the best place to start your inquiry..
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/siteHome?dlc=en&lc=en&cc=us
Hope this can help save you some hassle..
j;-j
 
If a video cards specifications says that it needs 250Watts minimum to run
and my power supply is 250 Watts output maximum, does this mean that the card
might not run at full speed, or that it might be a strain on the computer?
Click to expand...

You'll get better answers if you specify what video card you're
looking at. Not knowing that, I would say that the card probably uses
about 20 watts. Otherwise, they would recommend a larger power supply.

People grossly overestimate the power consumption of computers. Here
are a couple of computers and the inupt power to the power supply:

Pentium 2.4C Northwood
AOpen AX4C Max II
512 MB RAM
eVGA FX5500 256MB AGP
MyHD MDP-120
FusionHDTV II
WinTV 401
1 Seagate ST3200822A 200 GB Hard Drive
2 Seagate St3300831A 300 GB Hard Drives
NEC ND-2500A DVD+/-RW Drive
Floppy Drive
Power Supply: Works W64BF-SBL 400w
Input Power (CPU 0 - 1 %): 152 Watts; PF: .68
(HT CPU1+2 95 %): 170 Watts; PF: .69

Athlon XP 2500+ Barton
Epox EP-8RDA+
512 MB RAM
ATI AIW 7500 Radeon AGP
FusionHDTV II
2 160 GB Hard Drives
CD-RW Drive (48X)
Floppy Drive
Power Supply: Enhance ENP-2120H 200W
Input Power (CPU 0 - 1 %): 123 Watts; PF: .66
(CPU 100 %): 138 Watts; PF: .69
 
I was looking at a MX4000 128MB and 128 bit card. The card I have is a Ge
Force2 MX400 64 MB in my computer now(by the way, is the GE Force2 MX400 a
64bit card or 32 bit?). My computer is a 1.6 Pentium 4 with 40 GB hard drive,
256 MB of SD ram, Windows XP, flopy drive, a 48X(I think) CDRW, 17 inch CRT
monitor. It has a printer, and a scanner pluged into it with USB connections.
It also has a multi function Fax,printer,bla,bla,bla, pluged into it by way
of SCSI (I think) connection.
 
The MX4000 128MB is a directX 8.0 or lower compatible card and I would think
you would want a directX 9.0 compatible model.. Your directX version should
be 9.0c if your up to date..(Windows update)
Get Everest a great diagnostic tool here..Free!
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en
Read the card specs here..
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=GF-MX4000-128MTV&cat=VCD
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ASLM52256&cat=VCD
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=V9800P-256A&cat=VCD
You need to compare this sampling and decide your price range too.. Remember
that an AGP 8x will work only at 4x in your system with some performance
loss. I have a ATI 9600XT AGP 8x, it runs fine at 4x on my Intel D845PESV
mobo..
Have fun..
j;-j
 
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