300W Sufficient for 8800GT?

2008-06-25 17:03:13

#1

Ryan: Member; +1,230|7112|Alberta, Canada

I was reading around on another forum, and I read that people were running their 8800GT's and GTS's just fine on 300W PSUs, even 250W PSUs did the job nicely.

The minimum is 400W, is that absolutely necessary? If it isn't then I could save alot of money buy forgetting about a new PSU and just grabbing the 8800GT for $180.

2008-06-25 17:06:35

#2

max: Vela Incident; +1,652|6837|NYC / Hamburg

theoretically it should be enough. You'll be running the PSU at nearly constant load of 100% and that won't be good. Also most PSU suffer from voltage fluctuations at 100% which could cause your PC to become unstable. And there's always the risk of the PSU going up in smoke and killing your PC. If you have a high quality PSU, you can give it a shot, if you don't, don't.

_{once upon a midnight dreary, while i pron surfed, weak and weary, over many a strange and spurious site of ' hot xxx galore'. While i clicked my fav'rite bookmark, suddenly there came a warning, and my heart was filled with mourning, mourning for my dear amour, " 'Tis not possible!", i muttered, " give me back my free hardcore!"..... quoth the server, 404.}

2008-06-25 17:07:47

#3

Ryan: Member; +1,230|7112|Alberta, Canada

It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.

2008-06-25 17:08:39

#4

NooBesT: Pizzahitler; +873|6738

Ryan wrote:
It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.

If I were you, I wouldn't risk it.

Last edited by NooBesT (2008-06-25 17:09:15)

2008-06-25 17:09:27

#5

Ryan: Member; +1,230|7112|Alberta, Canada

NooBesT wrote:
Ryan wrote:
It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.
If I was you, I wouldn't risk it.

But how come other dudes are running theirs just fine at 300, even 250? They said they have had the card for several months, no problems.
edit: well on tigerdirect.ca, they have 400W PSU's for like $30-50. That's not too bad, and they are aftermarket, so they are good quality.

Last edited by Ryan (2008-06-25 17:12:57)

2008-06-25 17:59:43

#6

Stimey: +786|6389|Ontario | Canada

Ryan wrote:
NooBesT wrote:
Ryan wrote:
It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.
If I was you, I wouldn't risk it.
But how come other dudes are running theirs just fine at 300, even 250? They said they have had the card for several months, no problems.
edit: well on tigerdirect.ca, they have 400W PSU's for like $30-50. That's not too bad, and they are aftermarket, so they are good quality.

I got my 600w psu for 49.99 CAN
They were discontinueing it, just looks for deals like those.

2008-06-25 18:10:38

#7

NooBesT: Pizzahitler; +873|6738

Ryan wrote:
NooBesT wrote:
Ryan wrote:
It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.
If I was you, I wouldn't risk it.
But how come other dudes are running theirs just fine at 300, even 250? They said they have had the card for several months, no problems.
edit: well on tigerdirect.ca, they have 400W PSU's for like $30-50. That's not too bad, and they are aftermarket, so they are good quality.

Well if you don't even know what brand the PSU is... It could be able to handle it but you never know.

2008-06-25 18:31:08

#8

DSRTurtle: Member; +56|6955

Ryan wrote:
I was reading around on another forum, and I read that people were running their 8800GT's and GTS's just fine on 300W PSUs, even 250W PSUs did the job nicely.

The minimum is 400W, is that absolutely necessary? If it isn't then I could save alot of money buy forgetting about a new PSU and just grabbing the 8800GT for $180.

The minimum power supply is there for a reason. It's to provide enough power to run all components of the computer and keep it stable. As one of the other guys, you can run a smaller one but at the risk of harming your cpu and/or motherboard. I wouldn't risk it. I had to return a 500w power supply today because it didn't have the right connections i need to protect my motherboard and cpu. I'll be spending double what I had orginally budgeted.

2008-06-25 19:27:22

#9

Brasso: member; +1,549|6900

Most likely no.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

2008-06-25 19:35:13

#10

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6422|what

You need at least 450w. I just bought a 8800gt 512mb and had to replace my PSU.

Recommended is 400w, but 450w is just as cheap and better for you and was needed as my 8800gt came factory overclocked anyway.

Also if you do run a 300 or 250w psu then you won't be getting enough power to the 8800gt so it will run less than it should be. You won't get the most out of the card and may as well just have bought a lower end card.

If you do risk using a lower psu then you can easily have your pc fry itself. If the psu is supplying power to your fans and cooling system imagine what happens when the fans lose power.

You shouldn't risk your whole system to save a few dollars.

What brand 8800gt have you bought?

I got a Gigabyte card, and that comes overclocked already, so the usual 400w wasn't enough. If you plan on overclocking at all, get more than 400w.

Last edited by TheAussieReaper (2008-06-25 19:38:52)

2008-06-25 19:40:22

#11

Computer_Guy: Member; +54|6966

TheAussieReaper wrote:
You need at least 450w.

2008-06-25 19:40:57

#12

san4: The Mas; +311|6958|NYC, a place to live

A overburdened power supply can cause a wide variety of problems that are a bitch to diagnose.

I think the 8800GT requires 26A total on the +12V rails. If you get a new psu, make sure it has that.

2008-06-26 00:32:08

#13

jaymz9350: Member; +54|6847

Ryan wrote:
edit: well on tigerdirect.ca, they have 400W PSU's for like $30-50. That's not too bad, and they are aftermarket, so they are good quality.

aftermarket doesn't mean quality. I personally wouldn't run my rig off of a $30, $40, or probably even $50 PSU. Remember that the PSU is the only thing in your computer that can destroy every other component if it fails so it is not the place to save a penny.

2008-06-26 00:39:14

#14

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

Ryan wrote:
NooBesT wrote:
Ryan wrote:
It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.
If I was you, I wouldn't risk it.
But how come other dudes are running theirs just fine at 300, even 250? They said they have had the card for several months, no problems.

'cos they got lucky.

As others have said, it is possible, but it is not advisable.

2008-06-26 00:47:56

#15

Defiance: Member; +438|6940

No, you can get a good 5-600W for not too much cash these days. Better to have a good buffer, especially with electricity.

2008-06-26 02:05:07

#16

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6763|N. Ireland

It's more to do with amperage than wattage. Find out how many amps your combined +12V rail has and then see if the 8800GT fits comfortably in that for amp requirements (leave leeway though, other things run on those rails)

Try running a PSU Calculator

2008-06-26 02:10:57

#17

Scorpion0x17: can detect anyone's visible post count...; +691|7035|Cambridge (UK)

kylef wrote:
It's more to do with amperage than wattage. Find out how many amps your combined +12V rail has and then see if the 8800GT fits comfortably in that for amp requirements (leave leeway though, other things run on those rails)

Try running a PSU Calculator

But amps is linked to watts....

Some further reading:
Joule's Law
Ohm's Law

2008-06-26 02:22:03

#18

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6763|N. Ireland

I'm aware of the correlation, I'm just saying many people mistake "is this wattage enough" when in reality, the amperage matters just as much - if not more

2008-06-26 07:03:26

#19

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6723|The Twilight Zone

NO, not enough, 8800GT needs 400Wmin, for SLI 450W.

https://www.shrani.si/f/3H/7h/45GTw71U/untitled-1.png

2008-06-26 07:16:48

#20

Agent_Dung_Bomb: Member; +302|7005|Salt Lake City

Not all PSUs are equal, and some can't even make their rated spec. I read most of the PSU reviews over at [H]ardOCP, and many times they find that a power supply can't make 100% of it's stated rating, and many begin having issues providing clean/stable power beyond 75% load. An el cheapo PSU that came with a case is likely to fall into this category.

A good PSU should be able to run at its fully rated capacity. Really good PSUs can do so and stay at 80% + efficiency.

And because efficiency of any PSU starts to reduce towards 100% load, I tend to buy my PSU based on my needs not pushing the PSU beyond 85% of it's rated capacity.

2008-06-26 07:18:13

#21

jsnipy: ...; +3,277|6792|...

NooBesT wrote:
Ryan wrote:
It came with the computer, it just says it's an ATX 300 Watt Power Supply.
If I were you, I wouldn't risk it.

2008-06-26 07:32:55

#22

CC-Marley: Member; +407|7098

No, not enough.

2008-06-26 07:55:40

#23

DUnlimited: got any popo lolo intersting?; +1,160|6733|cuntshitlake

No. AND DO NOT BUY 8800GT for $180!!!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … p;CatId=28
+
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … CatId=1079

main battle tank karthus medikopter 117 megamegapowershot gg

2008-06-26 07:56:58

#24

.Sup: be nice; +2,646|6723|The Twilight Zone

DeathUnlimited wrote:
No. AND DO NOT BUY 8800GT for $180!!!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … p;CatId=28
+
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … CatId=1079

Don't buy that either unless you are going SLI.
HD4870 right guys?

2008-06-26 08:48:47

#25

Brasso: member; +1,549|6900

.Sup wrote:
DeathUnlimited wrote:
No. AND DO NOT BUY 8800GT for $180!!!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … p;CatId=28
+
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … CatId=1079
Don't buy that either unless you are going SLI.
HD4870 right guys?

Yep, good PSU though, I have the 600W version recommended by kyle. What a silent beast of a PSU.

"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"

BF2S Forums 300W Sufficient for 8800GT?

Ryan wrote:

NooBesT wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Ryan wrote:

NooBesT wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Ryan wrote:

NooBesT wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Ryan wrote:

TheAussieReaper wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Ryan wrote:

NooBesT wrote:

Ryan wrote:

kylef wrote:

NooBesT wrote:

Ryan wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

.Sup wrote:

DeathUnlimited wrote:

Board footer