6800 Ultra AGP power requirements?

[Mattazuma]

I'm trying to upgrade the video in my Dell 8300. I'm looking for a Dual DVI adapter because I have 2 LCDs already.

There are a bunch of 6800 Ultra's on EBay. I want one but I'm worried that the power supply in my Dell isn't going to be able to hack it. I think it is only 300W. I have 2 HDs and 2 optical drives.

How big a power supply should I have for a 6800 Ultra?

Do you think a 6600GT would work with the 300W power supply?

Thanks,

Matt

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Mattazuma
I'm trying to upgrade the video in my Dell 8300. I'm looking for a Dual DVI adapter because I have 2 LCDs already.

There are a bunch of 6800 Ultra's on EBay. I want one but I'm worried that the power supply in my Dell isn't going to be able to hack it. I think it is only 300W. I have 2 HDs and 2 optical drives.

How big a power supply should I have for a 6800 Ultra?

Do you think a 6600GT would work with the 300W power supply?

Thanks,

Matt

I wouldn't suggest anything lower then 450w, those Ultra's are power suckers, and it will leave you some room to grow. You must also take this into concideration as well. Some or all of Dell's have a proprietary power supply connectors. Make sure you have someone with experience check that out. PC Power & Cooling has one: Turbo Cool 425 for Dell and many more!

 

[Wolfshanze]

If you're sticking with your current PS, 300W should be able to handle a 6600GT (if it's a half-respectable PS), but I sure wouldn't overload the PS with a 6800U. You're askign for trouble there.

If you do go with a 6800U, I agree, you need at least a 450W PS from a quality manufacturer (don't get the cheapest 450W).

Out of curiosity, how much are 6800U's fetching on E-Bay these days... what's the average price?

 

[moonboy403]

ultra takes a lot of power!
more than the 7 series
at least a 400watt psu with respectable amp on the 12v rail

 

[CKXP]

Originally posted by: Wolfshanze
If you're sticking with your current PS, 300W should be able to handle a 6600GT (if it's a half-respectable PS), but I sure wouldn't overload the PS with a 6800U. You're askign for trouble there.

If you do go with a 6800U, I agree, you need at least a 450W PS from a quality manufacturer (don't get the cheapest 450W).

Out of curiosity, how much are 6800U's fetching on E-Bay these days... what's the average price?

i've seen them go as high as 340-350, i've seen them go as low as 275, usually the higher bid goes to the seller with the highest feed back.

if you can get an 6800u for well under 300, i would say go for it, but just like everyone has already advised make sure get a quality 400w+ psu to go with it.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Youll be fine with a quality 350 Watt PSU! I personally would shoot for ~420 Watt PSU though, just in case you feel like adding some things later. I doubt under peak load you will break 350 though.

Dont listen to these guys telling you that you need a 450 Watt PSU or something, thats just pure BS.

-Kevin

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Youll be fine with a quality 350 Watt PSU! I personally would shoot for ~420 Watt PSU though, just in case you feel like adding some things later. I doubt under peak load you will break 350 though.

Dont listen to these guys telling you that you need a 450 Watt PSU or something, thats just pure BS.

-Kevin

I had a 6800ultra before and the most important thing this card needs is a good 12v line, the more amps the better, anything over 18A should be fine for a 2hdd, something around a p4 3.2ghz system (my system back then), fans etc.

I had it running on a 350 watt psu for a week, and tell u what i never had that psu run as hot as then.

 

[Killrose]

I'm running a 6800U with a 350watt Antec True Blue PSU and a 2500+ Barton Mobile@2.4gig, no problems, but I would not expect lower than that. I did run it breifly in a system that had a 235watt AOpen PSU :shocked: but only for a few benches.

 

[thegimp03]

I think the 8300 has a 350 watt psu. Dell under-rates their psus so it'd be closer to 400w. You should check on the Dell forums.

 

[amenx]

Heres what it says in my Nvidia 6 series manual:

"At least 300W system power supply. To better overclock, 480W or higher is recommended for the 6800Ultra card, 500W or higher for the 6800GT Pci-e card"

Also you need 2 molex connecters to plug into the card if its AGP (dont know about PCI).

One thing I agree with is a QUALITY PSU. Frankly, I'd rather have a quality 350W unit than a generic 500W one.

 

[remagavon]

I ran a 6800U in a Dell 8300. It was slow (not due to the PSU), but it worked fine as far as I remember.

 

[Wolfshanze]

I doubt under peak load you will break 350 though. Dont listen to these guys telling you that you need a 450 Watt PSU or something, thats just pure BS.

A couple of things here worth noting... everyone is saying get a quality PS, not a cheap one, so good rails is important we all know that.

On the wattage... you may not break 350watts on peak useage... but anyone who knows jack-squat about PSUs knows that you don't ever want your peak useage to MATCH your peak wattage... don't listen to these guys telling you your peak useage should be matching your maximum wattage. You're going to shorten the life of your PSU and/or your system in the long-run if your peak useage is matching your peak wattage.

YOU ALWAYS WANT SOME SPACE BETWEEN PEAK USEAGE AND MAXIMUM WATTAGE.

Anyone telling you to get a 350w PSU when you expect to peak at 350w doesn't know what they are talking about.

Do you want to risk it, or do you want to know you're safe... good rails are most important (quality manufacturer), but you need some headroom on the maximum wattage, so you DO need something over 400w (preferably 450w or more).

As for the people who say "I have a 350w PSU and it runs okay with a 6800U"... yeah, that's just like the guy who says "I take the RPMs in my engine well into the red everyday and my car still runs". That doesn't exactly mean it's a good idea for everyone to do that.

Get a 450w PSU from a quality manufacturer if you're going to get a 6800U... why test fate?

 

[bamacre]

I would highly recommend a Radeon X850 XT PE instead of the 6800 Ultra. I know for a fact the X850 will work in an 8300 and should also have dual DVI.