Do I need an upgraded PSU?

[MrToilet]

I'm getting a GTX 260 through EVGA's Step-Up program, and I'm wondering if my PSU has enough juice to run this card. My specs are:

Q6600 G0 @ 3.6 gHz
Gigabyte EP35-DS3R
Corsair 4 GB DDR2-800
3 HD's
DVD-RW
GTX 260

My PSU is this exact model:
Enermax Liberty 500W

It's run great for my 7900GT SLI, my 8800GT/GTS, and I'm just wondering if I should get a different PSU for my GTX260. The recommended specs from Nvidia are 36A on the 12V rail, and I guess my PSU only has 34... Is that really going to matter? My gut feeling says I should be OK, since I'm not running SLI...

Thanks!

 

[mpilchfamily]

No it doesn't have enough power and the added load may be enough to kill the PSU. The Liberty PSUs have a bad habit of blowing up after a year or more. So your probably nearing the end of the useful life span of that PSU anyway.

 

[MrToilet]

Is there really a huge power jump from the 8800GT to the GTX260? From Anandtech's review it looked like a 60W difference... I guess that is pretty significant....

 

[HOOfan 1]

I would say that the Liberty would be more than fine, other that perhaps their high failure rate.

 

[MrToilet]

I've had mine for 2 years now, I think, and haven't had any problems... so it should be OK for one GTX260, then? I don't really want to buy another PSU, but I suppose I can if I need to....

 

[HOOfan 1]

might as well try. Most of the ones that failed, did not destroy other components.