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8800 GTS Power

kiltman67

kiltman67

kiltman67

Associate
Joined
2 Aug 2006
Posts
63
Can anyone clarify what kind of PSU is required for the 8800 GTS, on the BFG website they say 400W minimum, but on it's page in the OcUK shop it says a minimum of 500W, while recommending 600W+
 
It depends on the PSU you use.

A good quality 400W (or 380W) would be fine, I'm sure.

The problem is with cheapo PSUs (like Q-tec or 'unbranded'). They quote their power output as the theoretical peak-maximum output, rather than the true sustainable power output. A 600W cheapo PSU could be far less powerful (and more importantly less stable at high power output) than a good quality 350W PSU. So basically, the higher recommended PSU requirements are nvidia covering themselves from the cheapo PSU menufacturers lies (well exaggerations...)

If you've got a PSU in mind, post the model and we'll let you know whether it will be able to handle it.


Also, be aware that the real requirement for these juice-sucking PSUs is a lot of current on the 12v rail. So look at the amperage for the 12v rail on the PSU you want. The 5v and 3.3v rails aren't really relevent - you'll never max those out.
 
could just try it, its a decent make, if fps dips etc itll be from a lack of power so you'll know if you need a new 1, just hope u havnt got loads in ** system guzzling up power?
 
I don't think there's that much there for it to power.

In addition to the MoBo and CPU and chassis fan there's only a couple of SATA HDs, a DVD-RW and floppy.
 
kiltman67 said:
I have an Akasa 400W Paxpower, as far as I can see it's the same as this but without the LED
Click to expand...
I have the exact same psu with the led and it runs just fine. I hope it powers my future E4300 system.
 
peetee said:
could just try it, its a decent make, if fps dips etc itll be from a lack of power so you'll know if you need a new 1, just hope u havnt got loads in ** system guzzling up power?
Click to expand...

If there isn't enough power, you won't get framerate dips. You'll get a hard reboot in the middle of a game or benchmark. Should be fine though, it's a good quality PSU.
 
has anyone had a GTS running on the older 350W Arctic Cooling T1 Case? 350W is not much but I believe the Seasonic's are pretty damn good. Only asking cos I'm thinking of getting a GTS myself and wonderinig if I need a new case.
 
think he did a typo on that one. I think a 350 is cutting it a bit close, even if it is made out of solid gold and made by god himself :)
 
melbourne720 said:
Why don't you just replace the PSU? You can keep the case surely...
Click to expand...

Take it you've not seen a T1 case :)
The case itself is non-ATX compliant and the psu is customised to fit the case.
 
peetee said:
think he did a typo on that one. I think a 350 is cutting it a bit close, even if it is made out of solid gold and made by god himself :)
Click to expand...
not a typo. The old T1 is 350W, the new one is 500.
 
oh, now that puts me off buying 1, is the case actually any good mate?
Maybes you could care to ellaborate, its been a heated discussion in cheap 'spec me' threads, as its a v cheap case+PSU combo..
 
I've never had a spot of bother with mine and I'm running a reasonable spec pc. The case is designed to draw in cool air from the front at the bottom where the psu is and then blow it through the case where there are 2 fans at the top back (where the psu would normally be) to blow the hot air out.

I understand that the Seasonic 350W in the old case was supposed to be particularly efficient and I've never had reason to doubt that. The new 500W psu is unbranded so no idea if it's better than the old one or not.

I just thought that if I'm thinking of going to a GTS, 350W might be pushing it just a bit too much. The old case is also a little restrictive space wise as because the psu is bottom front and there is a hard drive enclosure directly behind that, it encroaches into expansion card territory. The GTS's are longer than the X1800 and I'm not convinced it is gonna fit even if the psu can cope.
 
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