300W PSU enough for 6800GS?

[Unfocused]

My specs:

PIV 2.8Ghz
768MB DDR RAM
Radeon 9550@9600~pro
2xDVD drive (one of them a recorder)
40GB HDD & 160GB HDD (ATA)

300W PSU

My PC is stable as it is now.

I'm planning to buy a 6800GS but am not sure if my PSU could take it.

What if I unplugged one DVD drive?
What if I unplugged one DVD drive and one HDD?

 

[Saketi]

no u need a much better PSU, and there not expensive neiether & also really easy to fit.

Look for one with as name to it, something like TAGAN

U will benefit in the long run if u get asomething like a 500w or more wattage psu too.

 

[giant384]

find a 450w psu with at least 20amps on the 12v rail then you will be able to run all the stuff you wanted to unplug including the graphics card

 

[Asus]

You would be very close to the limit if not over running a 300Watt PSU with a 6800GS. I'd replace the unit.
Antec and Enermax are the top 2 PowerSupply brands for desktop PCs. Others would be Fortron, Thermaltake etc.

Personally, I'd get a 400-450Watt unit. That way if you ever build a new machine you might be able to use the new unit and throw the old 300Watt back in the old machine. Unless of course you go Crossfire/SLI.

find a 450w psu with at least 20amps on the 12v rail then you will be able to run all the stuff you wanted to unplug including the graphics card

Yeah, 20 amps on the +12v rail is a very good idea. Check the specs of the Power Supply.

 

[Unfocused]

I'm asking if it would work if I unplugged one DVD drive and one HDD, cause if yes, then I could first buy the video card, then save up some more money, buy a better PSU and plug the drives back in.

I don't have a job, so my income is rather low - I get some money from my parents + I'm earning some now during my holidays before I go to Uni. So once I'm done saving up for the video card in, say, two weeks, I'd like to buy it and upgrade my PC with it, rather than wait some more before I can afford a PSU to go with it.

 

[The Brick]

By unplugging the hdd and the dvd drive you can save up to about 40W, which can just do the trick. I'd get the card and try if it works. If not (or not properly), disconnect the hdd and the drive and try again. If that fails, put the old card in and get a new PSU.

 

[Unfocused]

Looks like I was mistaken. The PSU is actually 350W

On the other hand, I just read a bad review on it . It's been working for 4 years with maybe 4 unexpected resets total. When the PC crashes, it's software related. Looks like I'm lucky or can it explode any moment? oO

I've never actually cared about PSU's until recently when I've read a topic in which people shared their experiences with crap PSU's exploding and taking half the PC with them.

 

[giant384]

just buy a cheap $30 rosewill psu from newegg it has done me well with my specs

 

[The Brick]

Check by filling in your exact computer specs.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

 

[Unfocused]

Thx for the link, but the page doesn't load for some reason D:

If it turns out that 350W is not enough (or the PSU can't actually handle 350W) what will happen? The PC will simply not boot?

 

[ComradeBadger]

The PSU may blow, which can cause a fair bit of damage to connected componants.

 

[Unfocused]

The PSU may blow, which can cause a fair bit of damage to connected componants.

So I'll have to make the cables longer and place the PSU in the opposite corner of the room? ;P

 

[DreadLord]

So I'll have to make the cables longer and place the PSU in the opposite corner of the room? ;P

Ace plan.

 

[giant384]

So I'll have to make the cables longer and place the PSU in the opposite corner of the room? ;P

LOL "blow" means that it will fry and possibily short out some one your compnents. it doesnt mean it will littereallly blow up

 

[Unfocused]

LOL "blow" means that it will fry and possibily short out some one your compnents. it doesnt mean it will littereallly blow up

I know. I'm not afraid of it blowing next to me. I'm afraid of it blowing (or whatever) next to my components

 

[ComradeBadger]

Although I've seen a bolt of electricity come out the back of a PSU, followed by a bit of dust/smoke, and the smell of melted capacitors.. fun funfun

 

[giant384]

I know. I'm not afraid of it blowing next to me. I'm afraid of it blowing (or whatever) next to my components

your not getting the point. when a psu blows it will possibly short out some of your components no matter how far you move it its still connected to the computer

 

[Unfocused]

your not getting the point. when a psu blows it will possibly short out some of your components no matter how far you move it its still connected to the computer

OK, I get what you mean now.

 

[3ssence]

Although I've seen a bolt of electricity come out the back of a PSU, followed by a bit of dust/smoke, and the smell of melted capacitors.. fun funfun

I had a seasonic 600W go bang on me once. Pc was on my desk, and the resulting bang, accompanied by a large flash from the back of the pc was somewhat alarming !!

 

[Unfocused]

I'll go with the Fortron Source FSP 400 PFN 60. I've found it really cheap on a Polish equivalent of Ebay and it's got good results on tomshardware, so I'll get it.

I don't want to risk frying half my PC upon booting with a new GPU