Power supply...

[Wii]

Thinking of getting a new video card but almost all of them run on 350w+ and I'm not sure if my computer runs on a 350w power supply and I was just wondering how do you figure out what power supply wattage you have...

[a1]

doesn't it say on the side of your current power supply?

[Wii]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....all I have is a huge cord running from my computer, to the surge protector and NOTHING on anything says something. My dad suggests taking the case off and looking inside but I REALLY don't want to do that. It's a "power saving computer" so watch it run on 50watts  :-X

[MWISimmer]

LOL.. We all have large cords running from our PCs.
The only way to find out is to open her up and read the side of the PSU.

[Wii]

http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=519260&N=265489&An=browse
That's my system. Now, why wouldn't they be nice enough to tell the wattage rating? I want to by an nvidia geforce 8500GT or 8600GTS (depending on how much I can find it for) but I was concerned about the power supply. So, you know the exact model, any way you can tell me without me having to pull my system apart.

[MWISimmer]

You don't need to take your system apart, just take the side panel off.
One screw, that's it.

[Wii]

I thought I saw something that said 350watts somewhere...
(offtopic: I'm a resident! I officialy don't have a life)

[ozzy72]

Undo the screws at the back holding the left side panel (as you're facing the front of the machine), there'll be one or possibly 2 screws.
On the side of the PSU (that is the big shiny bit at the top in the rear where the back fan is located) there'll be a sticker with all the information about the PSU on it.
However you'll need to upgrade to a 500 watt PSU to keep everything running smoothly if you do change the card

[Fozzer]

I recently installed an nVidia 7800GS AGP card, (from a 6600GT card), and I needed to upgrade my power supply from 500 Watts to 700 Watts to cope with it!.
...and that Power Supply Unit cost me close on

[NickN]

350 watts for a power supply went out in 2004-2005


I think you better check that again. The viodeo card specs may say min 350 is required but thats OLNY for the video card and those specs are usually 150-350 watts OFF because they do not take into account the rest of the system.


Most modern video cards which are not the top of the line play best at about 500-600watts, The better cards require more depending on the tower and what else is running. I would not even try to run a quad core on a modern system with a good video card on less than 750

[Wii]

350 watts for a power supply went out in 2004-2005


I think you better check that again. The viodeo card specs may say min 350 is required but thats OLNY for the video card and those specs are usually 150-350 watts OFF because they do not take into account the rest of the system.


Most modern video cards which are not the top of the line play best at about 500-600watts, The better cards require more depending on the tower and what else is running. I would not even try to run a quad core on a modern system with a good video card on less than 750

Mine is a 250w. I'm looking into something like 500w.

[a1]

Tanking the panel off isn't all that hard or dangerous if you don't touch any components inside.


I have an 800 Watt PSU runnin gmy 8800GTS.

[Wii]

Tanking the panel off isn't all that hard or dangerous if you don't touch any components inside.


I have an 800 Watt PSU runnin gmy 8800GTS.

Yeah I did. It seems that SLI is when you have 2 cards running so I don't NEED a power supply that is SLI ready but I think I will get the 500w SLI ready power supply I am looking at right now...it's new...it's specs are awesome, but no reviews...http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341012