380w PSU with which graphics card?

[niggyg]

I'm looking at getting a NSK 2480 for use as a HTPC, the PSU that comes with it is 380w (http://www.silentpcreview.com/article591-page5.html). It has 32a on the 12v rail.

I'm not going to have loads of other hardware in this machine. What graphics card could I use with this power supply?

Would a 5770 be the best bet?

 

[wakayoda]

A green Gpu low power great performance

 

[manic111]

I think it should cope with a 5770, in which case that's definately the way to go with it.

 

[niggyg]

Is anything more hungry a no-no?

4850/4870/4890/260/275?

 

[PinkFloyd]

Wouldn't risk anything higher on a 380.

I've just bought a 5770 to use on my 400W powered mATX setup, whilst I've ran a 4870 off of a 400W psu it was working to its limit providing enough juice for both the card and my quadcore and was just a case of waiting for it to die

What processer have you got? Imagine if you have a low end dual core you might be able to get away with more, but I doubt you'll be able to get anything that offers significant performance over the 5770.

 

[niggyg]

An e6700, infact thats the only component of this HTPC that I have so far...

 

[krooton]

The max draw on my machine is 265w (see sig), and the HX520 has 40A on the 12v rail.

 

[gav2pac]

im using an enermax 400w powering a 4850 and e6600 oc'd to 3.4 no probs, max it uses is 250 odd wats if i remember correctly

 

[gav2pac]

thats good to know, thought a 4870 would have required more power than that

 

[niggyg]

In that case I'm thinking a second hand 1gb 4870 would be a lot cheaper for me than a 5770. 5xxx's are pretty new so I doubt there will be many going second hand. I haven't made enough posts to use the MM yet too

 

[PinkFloyd]

I think a new one is cheaper than a 5770 too?
For me the benefits of the 5770 more than outweigh the money saving (despite being pretty much strapped for cash - the 5770 I've ordered is an early xmas/bday present)

 

[krooton]

thats good to know, thought a 4870 would have required more power than that

It just has an annoyingly high idle draw

I was quite shocked when I plugged in my meter thingy, thought it would draw much more. I idle at around 190w.

 

[Bradmax57]

I had a 260, q6600 a couple of hdd and opticals + 4 case fans running fine of a antec 350w

 

[Martini1991]

Get a 5770 over a 4870 on a 380w

 

[gav2pac]

im idling at 135, think a 5770 is on the cards soon, or i might wait until i finish my assignments or they wont get done!

 

[niggyg]

What about a 4770?

 

[niggyg]

What about a 4770?

Actually having looked at some reviews IMO a 4770 isn't powerful enough for a gaming machine at 1080p.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Actually having looked at some reviews IMO a 4770 isn't powerful enough for a gaming machine at 1080p.

Depends what games you are playing really......

I play L4D2, COD4, Crysis Wars (albeit medium settings), X3 Terran Conflict all fine at 1920x1200 on my ATI 4670. I'm not running with maxed out AA in any of them but for a budget card it copes well.