8800GT PSU issue?

[LxMxFxD4]

I posted this in the video card section but was asked to post this heere instead....


Just as the topic suggests... im running an amd 3800+ @ 2.4ghz with an old enermax 431W supply. I've used the supply for probably 5 years now, runs like a top.

At any rate, today I upgraded my old ati x800 (vanilla) video card to an 8800GT so I can play bioshock, and lo and behold when I got home I realized that the box recommends 26A on the +12 Rails, and I've only got 20A!

I ran a few games (at max settings now) including Counterstrike and WoW and didn't have any issues and got great frame rates. I also ran 3dmark2006 and got a score of 7800 which is apparently consistent with people with my cpu and 2GB of PC3200 ram in winxp pro.

So my question is - do I NEED to upgrade my PSU?

If the card doesn't have enough power, I would imagine the game (and maybe windows) would totally crash....

Or is it possible I'd actually see reduced frame rates?

Thanks for your replies in advance...

Oh and one final thing - if I DO need an upgrade, if you could recommend one that is cheap and QUIET (this last part is key) please do so.

Thanks!

 

[John]

Originally posted by: LxMxFxD4
At any rate, today I upgraded my old ati x800 (vanilla) video card to an 8800GT so I can play bioshock, and lo and behold when I got home I realized that the box recommends 26A on the +12 Rails, and I've only got 20A!

This is a common misconception when it comes to understanding power requirements. The 26A recommendation is for the entire system and not just the video card. The absolute max power that a single 8800GT can consume right now is 150W (75W thru the PCIe slot & 75W thru the 6-pin psu connector). However the actual TDP of the 8800GT is ~110W or 9.2A.

 

[LxMxFxD4]

John,

Thanks for your reply.... I ran the card for a few hours today playing WoW and no issues (no crashing, etc)... so I think its stable. Also, I reran my 3dmark2006 and got 8500 this time (my Raid array was rebuilding when I rand it the first time).

But even still, I wanted you or someone else to comment on whether the following system is probably too much for my 431W enermax:

Socket 939 AMD X2 3800+ @ 2.4ghz
2GB
4 300GB HDs SATA RAID array
2 160GB EIDE Drives
Sound card
8800GT Stock (600mhz / 1800mhz)
DVD Burner
A few case fans & HD fans (3 total)

My enermax has the following:
+3.3v: 38A
+5V: 44A
+12V: 20A
-5V: 2A
-12V: 1A
Total combined: 431W

So I have a lot of HDs in there and I know HDs use both +5 and +12V. Like I said, so far I haven't seen any crashing or issues with my system as is.. plus, when playing games only one core is being used to the max so, I'm sure that helps the power use.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MarcVenice]

I figured john, that his 12v rail can only handle loads of 240w, if his card draws 100w or so, and his CPU draws another 100w, then his 12v rail is getting pushed to it's maximum quite fast. Now, I don't know that much about PSU's, but I wonder if that's a bad thing, or if it doesn't matter at all. Do take into consideration that his unit is 5 years old, and no matter what caps have been used in that unit, I doubt it can still put out 430w, even if it's rated at 50c continuous. He seems to be stable, but for how long? And didn't enermax units used to go out with a puff of magic smoke ?

 

[mpilchfamily]

You mentioned the PSU is 5 years old. That being the case i would highly recomend a new PSU. Right now you a heavly stressing your PSU and being 5 years old it isn't what it use to be. So its not quite able to sustain the kind of output it could 4 years ago. If you stick with that PSU you may end up frying in in a matter of months if not weeks. So i suggest you find yourself a good PSu with no less then 24A on the +12v rail(s). Personally i would recommend Corsairs VX450. With its single +12v rail offering a max of 33A its more then capable of supporting your system and leaves room to grow. Just in case you feel like dropping a second 8800GT in there if your board supports SLI.

 

[MarcVenice]

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2138338&enterthread=y

Get that one if you want to spend 50$ on a qaulity unit. It's overkill, for sure, but you can't beat that price of 50$. And it will easily support sli, hell, tripple SLI.

 

[LxMxFxD4]

Thansk for your replies guys... I did have another enermax supply die with a "puff of smoke".. hmm, I didn't realize that enermax had this issue! It was my old 350W enermax though.. now im kinda scared.

At any rate, I'll pick up a new PSU. Do you guys know if that coolermaster supply is QUIET though? THats important.. my enermax is the "465 whisper" and thats why I liked it so much.

Thoughts on a good quality QUIET supply that'll do what I need?

 

[John]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...16817371006&Tpk=ea-430

 

[MarcVenice]

Is the Earthwatts as quiet as a corsair 450vx or a Seasonic s12 II 430/500w PSU ? I think that's what he is aiming for. Check out the comparison on this page: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article753-page5.html It shows the Corsair 450vx being the most quiet. It does cost a lot more as the Earthwatts 430w though, 60$ or so I think, so up to you to decide wether that's worth it. To bad jonnyguru isn't up, but I bet the coolermaster will also be almost inaudible at 200-300w loads.