8800GT Power Requirements

[mt_100]

Just bought an 8800GT and wondered if my PSU would be enough for it. I have 30amps on the 12V rails and don't run RAID.

Config:

AMD 4600+
3GB DDR2 800 (2x1GB and 2x512MB)
Hitachi SATA HD
Hauppague tuner card
Lite-On DVD drive
QPack case

Will I be ok?

 

[Hagrid]

Depends on the brand of the PS. Good name brand ones usually will be ok. If its a no name then it could be 1000w and still not power it.

What kind of PS do you have?

 

[kumquat]

Do you have the stock QPack PSU?

If so, that thing is "unsafe at any speed."

 

[mt_100]

Stock QPack PSU running at the moment with the config above and an ATI 1900GT in it so I should be ok.

 

[kumquat]

Stock QPack PSU running at the moment with the config above and an ATI 1900GT in it so I should be ok.

The stock PSU that comes in the QPack *really sucks*. I had one die completely and the replacement started ticking before my system started rebooting randomly.

Here's a link to jonnyguru's review of it:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/AspireXQpack/420W.html

You should be thinking about replacing it with something else.

 

[mt_100]

I am going to give it a shot and see. If it doesn't work out I will get a Coolmax and run it.

 

[bigk]

I am going to give it a shot and see. If it doesn't work out I will get a Coolmax and run it.

I wouldn't recommend even "giving it a shot". You do more damage under powering your rig than you would overpowering it.

In my opinion its better to be safe than sorry.

Grab an Corsair HX*** or something similar.

 

[Bio-Hazard]

8800GT super clock only requires a:

Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 22 Amp Amps.)

http://www.evga.com/products/moreinfo.asp?pn=512-P3-N802-A1&family=19

Although you don't need anything super large, something better that the stock QPack might be a bit better of a choice. I had the QPack at one time and althought the case is fine, the PSU is basicly a POS, mine really didn't last all that long.

I wouldn't risk a nice card on that PSU, but you don't really need to go overboard either if you're in a cash flow problem.

 

[Optimummind]

Just bought an 8800GT and wondered if my PSU would be enough for it. I have 30amps on the 12V rails and don't run RAID.

Config:

AMD 4600+
3GB DDR2 800 (2x1GB and 2x512MB)
Hitachi SATA HD
Hauppague tuner card
Lite-On DVD drive
QPack case

Will I be ok?

I agree with the rest here that you should get a name-brand and high-PFC, stable, power supply. I learned my lesson in the past where a cheap, high-wattage PSU can cause lots of trouble in the short-term and the long-term and affects everything from PC stability, overclocking ability, ability to run extra motor-based components like extra fans, waterpumps, etc.

My last PSU purchase was an Antec NeoPower 480W (MaximumPC gave it a Kick-Ass Award of 10 back then) and it keeps the entire system stable, overclocks are stable, and has proven to be pretty future-proof allowing me to run the 8800GT plus all the other components in my sig.

-Optimummind

 

[Gautama]

For reference, theres a guy running a 8800gt and a C2D on the 250w Shuttle PSU fine.