Installing new GPU, do I have the power for it?

[Zurtex]

I'm upgrading from a 2600XT to the new 4850.

I have a Xilence 420 Watt PSU, Xilence have always been good to me in the PSU department.

Other components are:

1 Gigabyte motherboard with a nForce 570 SLI chipset
1 AM2 4400+ X2 CPU (65 Watt TDP)
1 Wireless Card
2 Hard Drives
1 CD Drive
1 Floppy Disk Drive


Is it doable? I have another PC that will take it, but I'd really like to fit it in to this one.

Also if it's boarder line, is it safe to try testing it by installing it and running some GPU benchmarks for some time?

 

[mpilchfamily]

Well i can't find any information about the unit. How many amps does the unit provide on the 12V rails? If it can't offer 30A or more you'll need a new PSU.

 

[Zurtex]

13A on 12V1 and 14A on 12V2 so only 27A in total .

And unfortunately, checking my older but "more powerful" PSU it offers even less ampage on the 12V rails, never mind, will just have to get a new PSU :/.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Actually it will probably be closer to 22A or 24A. The ratings per rail are just the rated amout of power each can handle. The label may or may not mention the total wattage to just the 12V rails. That total wattage divided by 12 gives you to max amperage availible to the combined 12V rails. But none of that really matters since the PSu needs to be replaced. Good news is you don't have to spend allot on the replacment.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371007

The 430W version of that PSu has enough power for your system but the 500W is currently cheaper so i'd go ahead and get that one.

 

[Zurtex]

Unfortunately I don't live in the U.S, checking my 2 local shops for PSU:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products...onents/Power+Supplies/
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/p...ister.aspx?n=2,10&n=75

I can't spot that model, so these are more expensive but would they be good enough?

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products...m+PSU+?productId=29090
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/(...-500W-PSUATX-Form.aspx
http://www.aria.co.uk/Products...n+PSU+?productId=27930

 

[mpilchfamily]

If those are your best 3 potions then go with the OCZ. Coolermaster is good but you need to get one from tehre Real Power Pro line.

 

[Zurtex]

Well I'm really trying to look for an adequate solution at the cheapest price. I don't really know if they are the 3 best solutions or not.

The cheapest Real Power Pro series I see is £70 ($130) so significantly more expensive.

But thanks for all your help . Very much appreciated.

 

[Zurtex]

Oh I found the manual for that OCZ PSU: http://www.ocztechnology.com/drivers/OCZ500SXS.pdf

Says 18A for 12V1 and 18A for 12V2, so 36 in all.

 

[RallyMaster]

No, the +12V rails do not simply add up. You need to take the total power output in watts and divide by the voltage of that rail in order to figure out the amperage.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: Zurtex
Oh I found the manual for that OCZ PSU: http://www.ocztechnology.com/drivers/OCZ500SXS.pdf

Says 18A for 12V1 and 18A for 12V2, so 36 in all.

No...like he already told you, you cannot usually just add those number together. Unfortunately FSP who makes that unit doesn't feel like saying what the actual value is.

In fact, usually if you can just add them up then the PSU is often crap.

get this

PC Power and Cooling Silencer 500W

 

[Zurtex]

Oh I see what you mean now, I was confused given the way I'd read the specifications on the side my current PSU as to why that was actually any different. The current PSU in the computer labels the power for 12V1 and 12V2 separately and just calculates them as amps*volts.

Thanks for your help guys, it may just have to wait a couple of weeks before I end up putting this GPU in a computer, but at least I know what I'm looking for now.