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300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card?

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"Leonard M. Wapner"

Usenet Poster
lwapner@roadrunner.com
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 8:32 AM

Post #1 of 12 (27 views)
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300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? Not logged in -   Reply 
If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
suffice?

Thanks again, and again, ...




"Don Burnette"

Usenet Poster
d.burnette@clothes.comcast.net
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 8:53 AM

Post #2 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to "Leonard M. Wapner"] Not logged in -   Reply 
 



"Leonard M. Wapner" <lwapner@roadrunner.com> wrote in message
news:99KdnTDY8L2cV7DanZ2dnUVZ_uCinZ2d@adelphia.com...
> If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
> suffice?
>
> Thanks again, and again, ...
>

Best bet is to check the specs on the video card, and see how much amperage
is required for it, then check the specs on your power supply, paying
particular attention to the amperage provided by the 12v rails, allowing for
your other components as well.

I suspect you will be ok, but better safe than sorry.




--
Don




Vernon Balbert

Usenet Poster
vbalbert@gmail.nospam.com
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 9:16 AM

Post #3 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to "Leonard M. Wapner"] Not logged in -   Reply 
On 11/4/2007 5:33 AM, Leonard M. Wapner went clickity clack on the
keyboard and produced this interesting bit of text:
> If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
> suffice?

The amount of memory isn't a factor in how much power a video card
requires, it's the processor that consumes most of it. I have a
computer with an ATI Radeon 9250 with 256 MB of RAM and that works great
with a 300 watt PS. However, if you're using one of the newer cards
like ATI's X series or nVidia's 7000 series, you should consider getting
a bigger PS. Check the documentation for more details.

--
"Nothing so focuses a man as the prospect of being hanged." - Samuel Johnson



"Ibby (The Artist Formerly Known as Chris)"

Usenet Poster
cjibbotson@tiscali.co.uk
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 11:49 AM

Post #4 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to "Leonard M. Wapner"] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Nov 4, 1:33 pm, "Leonard M. Wapner" <lwap...@roadrunner.com> wrote:
> If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
> suffice?
>
> Thanks again, and again, ...

What card is it?
The manufactures web site should recommend a minimum but even then I
would go higher to reduce the risk of BSODs if there isnt enough power
getting to it.
Remember a lot of PCIX cards require their own power supply so
connected from your psu so there are a few things you need to check.
I had to invest in an 850W OCZ GameXstream SLI psu for my new XFX
GeForce 8800 GTX Ultra XXX which needs two pcix power cables attached.

Ibby




Dallas

Usenet Poster
Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 12:12 PM

Post #5 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to "Leonard M. Wapner"] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 05:33:09 -0800, Leonard M. Wapner wrote:

> If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
> suffice?

I doubt it... it depends on the total power demands of your computer.
Multiply and total these for your computer and you will have the total
wattage needed for your computer.

Motherboard-, 15-30 watts
Low-End CPU-, 20-30 watts
Mid To High-End CPU-, 40-100 watts
RAM-, 7 watts per 128 MB
PCI Add-In Card-, 5 watts
Low To Mid-Range Graphics-, 20-60 watts
High-End Graphics-, 60-100 watts
IDE Hard Drive-, 10-30 watts
Optical Drives-, 10-25 watts

I wouldn't be surprised if your 300 watt power supply was marginal for your
existing computer.
--
Dallas



"Canuck"

Usenet Poster
someone@shaw.com
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 12:22 PM

Post #6 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to Dallas] Not logged in -   Reply 
Here is a calculator http://www.journeysystems.com/?powercalc


"Dallas" <Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> wrote in message
news:4fhewxb0jhh3$.1u76r8jrd3z17$.dlg@40tude.net...
> On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 05:33:09 -0800, Leonard M. Wapner wrote:
>
>> If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
>> suffice?
>
> I doubt it... it depends on the total power demands of your computer.
> Multiply and total these for your computer and you will have the total
> wattage needed for your computer.
>
> Motherboard-, 15-30 watts
> Low-End CPU-, 20-30 watts
> Mid To High-End CPU-, 40-100 watts
> RAM-, 7 watts per 128 MB
> PCI Add-In Card-, 5 watts
> Low To Mid-Range Graphics-, 20-60 watts
> High-End Graphics-, 60-100 watts
> IDE Hard Drive-, 10-30 watts
> Optical Drives-, 10-25 watts
>
> I wouldn't be surprised if your 300 watt power supply was marginal for
> your
> existing computer.
> --
> Dallas




Gregory

Usenet Poster
flightsim.maps@bkwds.comcast.net
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 12:48 PM

Post #7 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to Dallas] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 11:12:57 -0600, Dallas
<Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> brought the following to our
attention:

>On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 05:33:09 -0800, Leonard M. Wapner wrote:
>
>> If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
>> suffice?
>
>I doubt it... it depends on the total power demands of your computer.
>Multiply and total these for your computer and you will have the total
>wattage needed for your computer.
>
>Motherboard-, 15-30 watts
>Low-End CPU-, 20-30 watts
>Mid To High-End CPU-, 40-100 watts
>RAM-, 7 watts per 128 MB
>PCI Add-In Card-, 5 watts
>Low To Mid-Range Graphics-, 20-60 watts
>High-End Graphics-, 60-100 watts
>IDE Hard Drive-, 10-30 watts
>Optical Drives-, 10-25 watts
>
>I wouldn't be surprised if your 300 watt power supply was marginal for your
>existing computer.


Sounds like a good exercise for a SPREADSHEET. Smile)


Really tho.. a handy device to measure the wattage of nearly
everything around the house and shop is KILLAWATT.

http://www.google.com/search?q=killawatt

It can sum power usage and report KWH, even report power
factor for inductive loads. We know how much our coffee pot
draws from the AC line.

-G




Dallas

Usenet Poster
Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 1:10 PM

Post #8 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to Gregory] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:48:19 -0500, Gregory wrote:

> Sounds like a good exercise for a SPREADSHEET. Smile)

You'd be proud of me.. I have a spreadsheet to do that.

--
Dallas



"Roger (K8RI)"

Usenet Poster
validaddress@my.com
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 5:52 PM

Post #9 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to "Leonard M. Wapner"] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 05:33:09 -0800, "Leonard M. Wapner"
<lwapner@roadrunner.com> wrote:

>If I upgrade my video card to 256 MB, will my current 300W power supply
>suffice?
>
>Thanks again, and again, ...

Typically 300 Watts is pretty much the bare minimum while most of
today's computers take considerably more.

To get the power required you need the make and model of the video
card, not the memory as that takes very little power.

Dallas had a good rough (rule of thumb) for power requirements and
some where in this thread is a link to a calculator.

The big PCIe video cards can take a lot of power but they also require
a couple of dedicated power connectors which will not be on a 300 watt
supply. So if your new card does not require a separate power
connection and the card does not have a good sized cooling fan you
can probably, maybe, possibly...(long list of weasel words meaning If
you are lucky) get away without having to change the PS.

OTOH you apparently aren't running FSX <Smile)

BTW the important thing when looking at PS ratings is not just the
over all power rating, but how much power "each" 12 volt line (called
a rail) can handle.

Good Luck,

Roger (K8RI)
>



Gregory

Usenet Poster
flightsim.maps@bkwds.comcast.net
Posted on:
Nov 4, 2007, 7:55 PM

Post #10 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to Dallas] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 12:10:25 -0600, Dallas
<Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> brought the following:

>On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:48:19 -0500, Gregory wrote:
>
>> Sounds like a good exercise for a SPREADSHEET. Smile)
>
>You'd be proud of me.. I have a spreadsheet to do that.

Yep.. another suggested exercise is to inventory all your CD, DVD
and VHS cases and put them in a spreadsheet. Use 0.425" width for
each CD, 0.6" width for each DVD, and 1.05 for VHS tapes. BTW if
you still have 8-track cartridges, use 0.9" width for them. Soon the
dimensions of a custom media rack will fall out of survey.

-G




"Roger (K8RI)"

Usenet Poster
validaddress@my.com
Posted on:
Nov 5, 2007, 3:14 AM

Post #11 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to Gregory] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:55:51 -0500, Gregory
<flightsim.maps@bkwds.comcast.net> wrote:

>On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 12:10:25 -0600, Dallas
><Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> brought the following:
>
>>On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:48:19 -0500, Gregory wrote:
>>
>>> Sounds like a good exercise for a SPREADSHEET. Smile)
>>
>>You'd be proud of me.. I have a spreadsheet to do that.
>
>Yep.. another suggested exercise is to inventory all your CD, DVD
>and VHS cases and put them in a spreadsheet. Use 0.425" width for

What kind of jewel cases do you use. I use 0.189" for both CDs and
DVDs. Two fit in the sot for one of the regular old style cases.

Roger (K8RI)

>each CD, 0.6" width for each DVD, and 1.05 for VHS tapes. BTW if
>you still have 8-track cartridges, use 0.9" width for them. Soon the
>dimensions of a custom media rack will fall out of survey.
>
> -G



Gregory

Usenet Poster
flightsim.maps@bkwds.comcast.net
Posted on:
Nov 5, 2007, 6:27 AM

Post #12 of 12 (27 views)
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Re: 300W Power Supply OK for 256 Video Card? [In reply to "Roger (K8RI)"] Not logged in -   Reply 
On Mon, 05 Nov 2007 03:14:33 -0500, "Roger (K8RI)" <validaddress@my.com>
brought the following to our attention:

>On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:55:51 -0500, Gregory
><flightsim.maps@bkwds.comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 4 Nov 2007 12:10:25 -0600, Dallas
>><Cybnorm@spam_me_not.Hotmail.Com> brought the following:
>>
>>>On Sun, 04 Nov 2007 12:48:19 -0500, Gregory wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sounds like a good exercise for a SPREADSHEET. Smile)
>>>
>>>You'd be proud of me.. I have a spreadsheet to do that.
>>
>>Yep.. another suggested exercise is to inventory all your CD, DVD
>>and VHS cases and put them in a spreadsheet. Use 0.425" width for
>
>What kind of jewel cases do you use. I use 0.189" for both CDs and
>DVDs. Two fit in the sot for one of the regular old style cases.
>
>Roger (K8RI)

Hmm.. sounds like the SLIM cases. Let's get the dial calipers out and
check it again. Smile) What does this have to do with the video cards
and power supplies? Guess we've drifted OT as usual.

-G

>>each CD, 0.6" width for each DVD, and 1.05 for VHS tapes. BTW if
>>you still have 8-track cartridges, use 0.9" width for them. Soon the
>>dimensions of a custom media rack will fall out of survey.
>>
>> -G




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