Is a 250w PSU enough for a PIII and 9500pro?

[Keysplayr]

I just bought a Radeon 9500 pro and installed it into my PIII 1GHz rig. I had winXP pro running. I previously had a GeForce4 MX420 in there. I removed all of the drivers with driver cleaner and followed all the instructions so as to completely remove old drivers. So I installed the new card with drivers and CP.
Really poor performance.
Artifacts, poor frame rates, lagginess. And this was with Unreal Tournament (not 2003). So I reformatted and reinstalled using Windows 2000 pro.
The performance was only slightly better but still had major lag and artifacts. I am using the Cat 3.1 drivers. And yes I did remember to connect the power cable directly to the card.
My system is as follows:

ASUS CUSL-C Intel 815 chipset
1 GHz PIII
256 MB PC133
13 GB IBM HD
SBLIVE 5.1
250w PSU
Realtek 8039 NIC
Radeon 9500 pro 128MB

Please help if you can.

Thanks,

Keys

 

[Budmantom]

It should be fine as long as it's a quality psu.

 

[Keysplayr]

It seems like its ok. (I havent put a multimeter I mean). But if it is ok, why am I getting such bad performance.
My GF4MX 420 blew this things doors off. I know this cant be right though. What can I check?

 

[SickBeast]

250watt seems FAR too low IMO. Get a brand-name PSU like an Enermax. I paid $65CDN for my 350watt Enermax. It's worth it in the end; your system will be more stable, and if you ever add components or a faster CPU, you'll be sure that your system can handle it.

 

[jiffylube1024]

The 250W might work, but in the long run it will probably compromise stability and may be prone to crashing in times of high power usage. I'd really recommend getting a 300W+ power supply, a quality 350W PSU would be great (like the Enermax).

 

[308nato]

At the very least, borrow a higher output ps if you can to try it. If that solves your problem, you will know. If not, at least you know you can look elsewhere for your culprit.

250w is less than desirable though IMHO.

 

[faye]

i've tried a very similar setting.

i bought the ATI 9700 pro and i have a P3-933 230w or 250w psu.

when i plug in the card and turn on the computer. my computer won't have screen.

however, i can still hear the fans are running though.

blank screen.

i guess u need a more powerful psu.

 

[Keysplayr]

Thanks for the info everyone.
I am going to borrow a PSU from my friend and check for a difference.
If it works, I'm off to the PC store for a new 350w PSU..

Keys