Power Requirements 7900GS or 7800GS

[ValJP]

System is listed in signature. After my other topic on this board, have come to the conclusion that video card needs an upgrade.

The TrupowerII has dual 17 or 18A on its rails, but some people say it all needs to be on a single rail.

I know the larger graphics cards are amp hungry and wondered if it would be wise or not to upgrade to an AGP 7900GS(or 7800GS) for quick and easy install and cheapness.

If the power supply won't support a 7900 or 7800, then I might as well replace the motherboard while i'm replacing the power supply.

I'm basically trying to get something better than my 6600, which is giving me 15-20 FPS when I want about 30-45 if possible.

Any help on whether this PS has enough power, or recommendations on motherboards/power supplies would be helpful.

 

[sisq0kidd]

It should be fine.

If you're still not sure or worried, try out the video card and if it doesn't work, upgrade your stuff.

 

[oynaz]

More than plenty

 

[daveybrat]

You'll definitely be fine with that power supply. I'm running an AMD Dual core cpu with a 7900GS all on a Thermaltake 480Watt that only has 18A on one 12Volt rail and my games run fine.

 

[daveybrat]

Text

Might wanna look at that as well. A 7600GT agp card would also be great for your system. It would be a huge upgrade over your 6600 video card and not quite as expensive as the 7900 or 7800 AGP series unless you find a great deal on one of them.

 

[ValJP]

7600GT looks like triple the card for 165$

I had been looking at 7600GS, 7800GS, 7900GS
I was always worried that GT or XT or Ultras ran too hot/unstable?

430W Truepower2 with 17 or 18A is good enough though even for a 7900GS? 🙂 that makes me feel better at least.. was worried a newer video card would need another power supply

I can get 7900GS(4x the card my 6600 is) for 210$
7800GS(3x the card) for 179$
7600GT(3x the card) for 165$
7600GS(2x the card) for 120$

These are just using gpureview
The game in question is called Everquest, a MMORPG with high interaction with other players, having up to 70 moving characters on the screen at once, but supposedly its not a "FPS hungry" game like a First Person Shooter.

Would you still recommend the 7600GT or go with the other two more powerful?
Kinda don't want to upgrade it again for 2years... then I may just jump ship to PCIe by then... when I have more money and time to replace the motherboard.

Would there be any other possible conflicts or problems?
2 DVD drives, 1 Sata HD, 1 floppy, the K8NSC-939, Athlon64 3700, older Sound Blaster Audigy sound card, 2 sticks 1gig dual channel ddr. Microphone/Headset

If you think the power is good and won't be any conflicts I'll probably grab the 7600GT or the 7900GS. The only other issue I have a concern about is dust/heat. My room is a little dusty just naturally, and hope neither of these are heat producing monsters that will burn out quickly.

 

[daveybrat]

I'd go with the 7900GS if you want it to last 2 or more years. And $210 isn't bad for the AGP version. And you won't have any power issues, especially if mine runs it and you have dual 12 volt rails. 🙂

 

[ValJP]

This will probably seem stupid but..
Never really understood the whole dual rails thing...

I have some sata power connections coming out of the power supply, the mainboard ATX connector, and a long single stream of 4pin molex with a 6pin PCIe, and a floppy.

Just not sure where the other "rail" is.. or don't understand the concept.
Hope its not possible to hurt the GS if its hooked up on the same line as all the other devices?
I can look again, maybe I shoved them back up in there somewhere or never saw a second rail... way too many sata power connectors.