Geforce 6800 GT Power Consumption

[GamerAT240]

Hi guys/gals, first post.
Been around the site awhile but never been to the forums.

I've been pondering over whether to get an ATI X800 Pro or an nVidia GF 6800 GT.

I've a 400W Power Supply and here's all the main components in the system.

LG DVD-Rom
Teac CDRW
Floppy
Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm HD
Athlon 2800+ XP
512 DDR Ram 400mhz
Wireless Adapter via USB 2.0
Freecom External DVD Rewriter via USB 2.0
56k Modem
Soundblaster Live

Now I had a Radeon 9700 Pro that every 5 boots wouldn't send a signal to the monitor the the triple MB Beep, a power problem, but the card eventually fried and sent back, so I think it was kinda defective from the Get go.

I think I can get away with an X800 but didn't know if I could manage a 6800GT so though I'd ask you guys, sayin' as it chews more power.
I know there's been posts about "which should I get", but this is really aimed at "I really don't wanna buy another power pack, will this do" lol.

I'm generally a ATI man (I hated NV for makin' the MX440 and distributin' it everywhere in ready built PCs), but if the GT was DEFINATELY better I'd consider it. SM3.0 doesn't really bother me either.

Any advice ?

Info much appreciated,
Thanks

 

[Manzelle]

Is it a cheapo PSU?

 

[thelanx]

I think you should be okay if it's a name brand PSU, otherwise, I'd get a better PSU. How are your rails right now? Did you ever check the rails when you were using the 9700pro?

PS If you hated the GF4MX440, then check out ATI's x300 and x600 series, especially the x300se. I'm dissapointed that both companies have engaged or are engaged in misleading naming schemes for some of their products.

 

[Marsumane]

If your psu is fine, then ud have enough power. I suspect this isnt the case based on what uve said. I think you should get a new psu dispite your final decision. A good 400w antec psu should suit your needs fine. Ive had a bad psu fry a motherboard of mine. Possibly this happend to you with your video card.

 

[nick1985]

if its cheapo, then no. if its a good brand then yes.

id rather have a 250watt awesome brand than a 600watt cheapo.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Doesn't anybody read. The 6800GT doesn't consume much power at all. It barely consumes more than the Pro. Youll be fine dude.

Link

(This will be a good thing to put in my Modern Videos Thread )

-Kevin

 

[Manzelle]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Doesn't anybody read. The 6800GT doesn't consume much power at all. It barely consumes more than the Pro. Youll be fine dude.

Link

(This will be a good thing to put in my Modern Videos Thread )

-Kevin

Be that as it may...I wouldn't even run a Geforce2 MX on a cheapo PSU let alone a 6800GT...

 

[Blastman]

I don?t think Xbit measured the NV 6800 cards power draw properly in that review. They borked something. There is no way the 6800U is drawing less power than a 5950U.

According to THG the 6800U was consuming 24watts over a 5950U ?

http://graphics.tomshardware.com/graphic/20040504/ati-x800-09.html

 

[GamerAT240]

Ok, I'll explain in full so you guys have all the info.

I had the following system

LG DVD-Rom
Teac CDRW
Floppy
Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm HD
Athlon 1900+ XP
512 SD Ram Wireless Adapter via USB 2.0
56k Modem
Soundblaster Live
GeForce 4 MX 440.
300W Max PSU

It was built by a UK company (maybe US based actually, dunno) called Mesh. The PSU said on it "300W Maximum".
I bought a Radeon9700Pro and the mobo gave me 3 beeps and monitor wouldn't turn on. So I disconnected the DVD-ROM and it then turned on 1 in every 2 boots.
I was alittle annoyed cause the manual for the 9700 said recommended 300W, and thats what I had.
So I went and bought a 400W PSU, plugged the DVD-Rom back in and then it booted fine mostly.
To start it booted 80% of the time, when it didn't I press the reset and it goes fine ? Also annoyed, cause now I was 100W over the recommended.
As the weeks went by, say about 4, it booted more and more until it was booting 100% by 6 weeks. I dunno why, I just thought, it's settling in lol.
Then at about 6 months the display corrupted completely in all 3 OSs (triple boot) and in DOS so it went back, and I've had to plug my MX back in.

I'm now buyin' a new mobo,Athlon 2800+ and the DDR Ram. Just pickin' the GFX card. I'm stretchin' my budget to the absolute max cause I don't have much to spend so even an extra £30 for a new PSU pushes me too far.

This 400W cost me £30, and on the side it says

"Mercury - Empowering you PC"
"400W Switching Power Supply"
"Frequency 50-60Hz"
"Pentium 4 Board Support"
"PFC Compliant"
"www.kobian.com"

Even if the GT will run on it, might still get the X800, cause I can get it about £30 cheaper. And I don't know why really, but subconsciencly I just like ATI more. I like my image quality and in the past they always had the advantage in this area (though maybe not now, I dunno).

Thanks for the advice,
Cheers.

 

[Rage187]

Unless its Antec, Enermax or Sparkle, I wont touch it with a 10 foot pole.

 

[Codec666]

The new thermaltake PSU are also very reliable. U can pick up a 420w PSU for pretty cheap (~$50)and it is much better deal that the overpriced antec (~$90-100) solutions. I'm not gonna argue that antec and enermax PSU aren't top-notch, but there really isnt enough of a performance gap to justify the price difference in my opinion.

Here's some reviews:
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=0&item=17-153-005

and extremeoverclocking.com had an indepth review to, although that was awhile ago

I have :
6 80MM case fans
90MM CPU fan
2 x 74Gb Raptors RAID 0
2.6c @ 3.4ghz
Geforce 6800 flashed to Ultra specs
and other stuff like neons and what not and all my voltages are perfectly stable.

 

[GamerAT240]

When you won't touch them, is it because they will let in too much power, or not supply enough? Which is it that worries you?

For example, I can get a ThermalTake 450W for £40, or an unbranded 550W for £20. Now I imagine that even if it won't reach 550W it'll still manage the ~400W that I need ? Is it the fluctuation that can damage components?, surely you could claim the price of the computer back from the PSU supplier or distributer if it did that (though alota hassle).
Basically if I needa shell out £40 for a PSU I can't afford the X800/6800GT and no longer need the PSU.
Catch 22 :-(

 

[SickBeast]

Originally posted by: GamerAT240
When you won't touch them, is it because they will let in too much power, or not supply enough? Which is it that worries you?

The problem is that cheap power supplies rarely live up to their specs. If they say 350w, they are usually in fact 230w units. For the sake of $40 (or 20 "pounds" in your case) you should definately invest in a good PSU.

Originally posted by: Rage187
Unless its Antec, Enermax or Sparkle, I wont touch it with a 10 foot pole.

Agreed. I'm not so sure about Sparkle though. IME Enermax PSUs are amazing.

 

[GamerAT240]

I'm lookin' around, but seems maybe we over the water are gettin' ripped off. Cheapest 'Branded' PSU I can find is a ThermalTake 420W at £35.
The Enermax 430W is £70.99 ! !

Don't suppose there is any site that rates a multitude of PSU's so I might find a reliable lesser known one ?

Also, if I ring Mercury/kobian.com, is there any chance they'll actually admit whether the PSU will output the stated 400W ? Especially if I tell them I'm buying the components and if they don't work I know they'll have been lying ?

 

[Codec666]

The main problem with cheap PSUs is that the voltage in the rails fluctuated so its bad for overclocking and overall stability of the system. But most people dont need a good PSU if they arent overclocking.

Codec666

 

[Childs]

Get the Seasonic Super Tornado or Super Silencer series. Otherwise, Antec, Enermax, Fortran, etc, should be fine. Your power supply will probably outlast the other components in your system, so don't be cheap about it.

 

[GamerAT240]

Thanks, I don't overclock at all, not any of my components and I don't buy factory o/c'd either.

If the voltages fluctuate, do the fluctuate below the stated, or above and below? And if the latter this could damage the components ?

Also, if a 350W actually only outputted 230W, surely this breaches several TradeAct laws etc ?, and would be sue-able (by someone who had the money -> not me for sure.)

Finally, I may have the money for a dearer PSU later, but not now, so my PSU won't/need to, necessarily outlast the other components. If I buy the PSU now, I'll have to downgrade my CPU from a 2800+ to a 2400+ or lower :-(

EDIT:
ok, scratch the top sentance.

I just found a BFG 6800 GT O/C'd outa the box for £30 (~$55) cheaper than I can find the cheapest X800. I should def' buy it ya's think ? From what I've seen the BFG O/C'd version beats the X800 and matches the X800 XT in alot of areas.
I've never bought a O/C'd card, so thats why I'm askin'

Thanks again.