Is my powersupply and computer set up good enough

[shoryuken36]

Hey everyone, I'm not very knowledgeable in the computer department as most of you are. I have a question about running a certain videocard on my computer. I'm planning to upgrade my old video card to a new evga one like this: http://www.evga.com/products/m....asp?pn=512-P3-N847-A3

or this one

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130072

I just wanted to know if either of these videocards would run with my current set up. SLI and non sli.

here are my specs.

19' viewsonic (using resolution of 1280x1024)
antec true power trio psu 550w
Fatal1ty AN9 32X mobo am2 socket with atholon x 5000+
2 gig of ram ocz
300 gig hd maxtor
1 dvd drive
1 dvd drive burner
4 case fans
scorpio case full tower

i'm also planning to add another hard drive like a 750gig seagate sata or a 1 tb

 

[MarcVenice]

Non SLI yes, SLI perhaps, the gtx not, the gts might, but I wouldn't try. Btw, if you ask me, you are looking at the wrong videocards. Check out the MUCH cheaper 8800gt, or the HD3870 X2, which outperforms the Ultra, and is cheaper too.

 

[shoryuken36]

are you suggesting running the 8800 gt sli or non sli? how does the cheaper 8800 gt evga outperform the more expensive ultra version?

 

[MarcVenice]

The HD3870 X2 outperforms the Ultra, check the first post for reviews: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2147532&enterthread=y and it's cheaper. With some better driver optimization the HD3870 X2 will only perform better and better, and the Ultra is a bit faster then the GTX, just so you know. Anyways, it seems that the anandtech review shows that 2 8800gt's outperform the HD3870 X2, and thus an ultra as well, but 2 8800gt's will cost 460$ or so at the very least, will require a SLI motherboard, and a heftier powersupply. So in the end, if you want the best card, get the HD3870, it's the most powerfull videocard you can get, and SLI is usually a nightmare because it doesn't always scale that well. Whereas the HD3870 X2 seems to scale pretty well in most games.

 

[shoryuken36]

would my current psu support two of those evga 8800gts?

 

[MarcVenice]

Your powerdraw will rise to roughly 400w I bet, I wouldn't do it personaly. Did you get my message btw ? When not running at a bigger resolution then 1280*1024, you have no need for 2 8800gts's. How old is your true power trio? If you want to run two anyways, I suggest a 600w PSU, like a Corsair 620hx, 650tx, a Cooler Master Real power pro 650w, or something like that.