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Upgrading graphics and PSU worries

notthemilkybark

notthemilkybark

notthemilkybark

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Joined
6 Nov 2011
Posts
112
I've got my hands on an older AMD based machine I'm looking to upgrade. It's rocking a Gigabyte GA-M61PME-S2P motherboard, pretty old, I know. I'm shoving a Phenom II X4 960T in it, which should boost performance nicely, but I'm a bit torn on graphics.

The power supply is a 400W Corsair Builder series, which I think is going to limit me in terms of what card I can put in. I'm toying with something like a HD6850, but I'm worried that my PSU won't be enough to push that. The alternative would be something like a HD7770- slightly lower price point, cooler, quieter, but slightly worse performance.

What do you guys think?
 
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Nope, the 400W one- it's an older model, it was replaced by the 430W one. (So it's probably going to be even tighter!) There's a review of it here: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/psus/2009/04/27/corsair-cx-400w-psu-review/6

The machine itself is actually an old prebuilt machine from our very own OCUK.

Its also worth bearing in mind that the mobo only seems to have one fan header, so I'm going to be fairly limited in what cooling I can chuck at this card...
 
6850's are relatively cool anyway. You won't need loads of case cooling.

Can you look on the badge and see how many Amps it can provide on the 12V?
 
It still will be close but as it's a good manufacturer of PSU I *think* you'll be fine. If it shuts down when you're gaming (i.e. when the load is high) then you can get a decent 500-550W one and have all the headroom you need.
 
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