good card for 300w power supply

[beefhole]

I just got a new comp, an HP Pavilion a1610n.  I was kind of in a bind and needed a comp fast, so this was it.  It has a top of the line processor (AMD Athlon Dual Core 4200+) but it needs a vid card (comes with Nvidia 6150LE integrated, 256mb shared RAM).  I was all set to buy a 256mb 7600GT, when I noticed in the reviews on Newegg that it required a minimum 350w power supply, and I've only got a 300w.

How stringent are these minimums?  For reference, I was running an eVGA Nvidia GeForce 6800GT 256mb (I would be using it currently, but it was AGP and the new comp only has PCI and PCI-E) on a 250w power supply on my old computer, and I didn't have any problems.  I tried to look it up on eVGA's website but it appears they don't carry the card anymore.  Thanks

[DizZa]

I have a 350watt power supply, but people have been known to run X1900XT's on it

I say a 7600GT will probably work, however I would buy a new power supply to be on the safe side. Look at the HIPER type R and X850XT's over the 7600GT.

A fairly fast card which works on 300watt power supplies is the X850pro.

[ctjoyce]

You went to staples yesterday didnt you? How's the 19" that came with it?

Anyway, The 7600 or anything running a G70 / R5xx core is going to need at least a 400W PSU to function esp if you are thinking you want to overclock the card. As DizZa noted, I presonally recommend by all means that you put a Hiper Type R in. Its a 580W PSU with some pretty decent rail voltages to keep your system stable. Ontop of that it is modular. Meaning you only put in the cables you need, and not have a huge hunk just lying inside your case.

On the side of the card, I would look at a 7900GS. For $200 you can get quite a punch out of that card. With the 4200+ x2, and the GB of RAM in the comp, you would actually be able to play FSX (though at 15FPS) on high settings. If you don't really have the cash for a $100PSU + a $200 GPU a 7600GT or X1650 would surfice.

Cheers
Cameron

[beefhole]

I'd really prefer not to replace the psu, that's the one thing with computer hardware that I haven't done yet.

The 6800GT I was running had a 'minimum' at least 50w above what I had in my previous computer-I had forgotten that my buddy is running two 7600GTs in his new machine, I'll borrow one of them and see how it goes.  Apparently there's a good chance that the 300w rating is just an average, and it can actually put out as much as 345w.  I'll post back once I test it.

[Gunny04]

I ran a 6200 AGP on a 250 watt PSU for a few weeks before.... and the PSU's in those HPs are no joy to replace, (I've done it 8 times probably, testing and such) Basically unscrew it, slide it back, and jimmy it out in the HPs. On my new acer they gave me about 2 inches to just pull it out!  So I can see why you dont want to pull the PSU and replace, cut your hands up a bit  ;D

Gunny (You can get a 7600 to work in there with that PSU just fine, but you may want a bigger one for future upgrades etc)

[beefhole]

Thanks for the advice Gunny-I do know how to take the psu out, I've built machines before, but I haven't wired them.  That's the concern, as it seems nearly every wire in the computer comes out of there.  I'm picking up my friend's card tonight, I'll post back.

[cheesegrater]

You can get a card with passive cooling like 7600GS. It will use less power.

It is a good idea to get a new PSU though. You don't have to spend a lot of cash on an expensive PSU. You can get a good one for $42. However, I wouldn't go lower than this one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817104953

For a micro ATX HP with a 7600GT it will be enough. 70% efficiency and 34 amps on the 12 volt rails. Very good for a 400W. My 460W has 30 amps and I payed $60 for it.

Upgrading a PSU is easy. Just disconnect the plugs. Unscrew the PSU from the back. Take it out. Screw in new one and reconnect everything. Much easier than installing a CPU.

[beefhole]

Well, it's a 7600GS, (not GT) but it runs perfectly.  Thanks for everyone's help

[Viper22]

I have a 350watt power supply, but people have been known to run X1900XT's on it

I say a 7600GT will probably work, however I would buy a new power supply to be on the safe side. Look at the HIPER type R and X850XT's over the 7600GT.

A fairly fast card which works on 300watt power supplies is the X850pro.

Is that 350W PSU running your current rig in your specs right now??!!!! Because thats a little low for what you have

[cheesegrater]

Is that 350W PSU running your current rig in your specs right now??!!!! Because thats a little low for what you have

On a 350W it wouldn't even boot.

[DizZa]

Would this work?
Pentium 4 650
Intel 925xe mobo
4x512mb DDR2-533 Dual Channel
X850XT PE
160gb Harddrives
Audigy 2 ZS

Would it work on a 350watt PSU? Well, it does, and will. Managed to heavily overclock the X850XT PE too. On a 350watt he'll be fine, though, I wouldn't advise it to run things that close.

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

I hate OEM PSU's...My HP came with a 250W crappy PSU...I then got my 6800GT which required at least 300W...After a year of waiting, I finally got a Hiper Type-R PSU...Threw the old one in the trash

[ctjoyce]

Would this work?
Pentium 4 650
Intel 925xe mobo
4x512mb DDR2-533 Dual Channel
X850XT PE
160gb Harddrives
Audigy 2 ZS

Would it work on a 350watt PSU? Well, it does, and will. Managed to heavily overclock the X850XT PE too. On a 350watt he'll be fine, though, I wouldn't advise it to run things that close.

Check your voltages. I'm willing to bet your PSU is slowly cooking itself to death.

Cheers
Cameron

[DizZa]

Check your voltages. I'm willing to bet your PSU is slowly cooking itself to death.

Cheers
Cameron

The voltages are OK. Wouldn't call them bad, but they're not great either.