An HD3870 in my Antec Fusion case?

[BrokenVisage]

So I need to get a new video card for my HTPC. Will obviously be used mostly for HD purposes and very light gaming. I came across the HD3870 for $75 and think it's a good choice, but I want to get opinions on if it's compatible with my PSU before I buy it.

I'm using the PSU that came with my Fusion case, which is a 430w Antec model. The card recommends 450w according to the specs. Would I be pushing it being 20w under this rating even though I don't plan on OC'ing or gaming heavily? The computer is pretty bare bones, not many perhiperals or other cards to share power with, so I'm hoping I can do this without getting a lesser card or upgrading the PSU. What do you guys think? Thanks.

 

[brblx]

earthwatts 430?

you'll be fine. their 450w recommended spec is basically for generic power supplies that overrate by large margins.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: brblx
earthwatts 430?

you'll be fine. their 450w recommended spec is basically for generic power supplies that overrate by large margins.

Great, that's what I figured, thanks for the input. Here's an additional question to help put myself at ease on the card I plan to buy.

I'm now considering the HD4850 for about $25 more, even though it's GDDR3 and has slower clock speeds. Heat will likely be an issue because of where my case is, so would getting the newer/slower card perhaps be more benefitial if I don't plan on pushing either of them too hard? The GPU is the big difference I seen between these (also 800 vs 320 shader processors?).. do the RV770 cards generally run cooler or hotter than the RV670?

For reference:
SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
vs.
HIS Hightech H485FN512P Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Thanks again.

 

[California Roll]

My system in my sig uses 220-240W of power at load. You'll be fine with 430W.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: California Roll
My system in my sig uses 220-240W of power at load. You'll be fine with 430W.

Sounds good to me. How are you liking the 4850? Does it get noisy? Any heat issues so far? Thanks.

 

[California Roll]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage

Originally posted by: California Roll
My system in my sig uses 220-240W of power at load. You'll be fine with 430W.

Sounds good to me. How are you liking the 4850? Does it get noisy? Any heat issues so far? Thanks.

I think this is the one I have: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?Item=N82E16814102770R (link to open box, can't find link to new)

No complaints with it. I got it back in January. It lets me run COD4 and WOW at 1920x1080, max settings with no problems. I wouldn't call it noisy by any means but it's not silent. I try to run a quiet system and the GPU fan and CPU fan are the only things I can hear (during load).

I have it overclocked per my sig and temps are between 40C (idle) to 60C (load). From what I read in reviews when I bought it, 4850s are all on the warm side in general. I think the newer ATI equivs to the 4850 are supposed to run cooler.

Personally, if I was building a new HTPC I would probably get an AMD matx mobo that had integrated ATI graphics to keep it cool and quiet. If I had a mobo already I would probably go with something cooler/quieter than a 4850.