Will I need a new PSU?

[V4NT0M]

Going to be upgrading my graphics card in a little while but seeing a lot of information that i need at least a 450w PSU to run some of the better cards... The PSU in the PC is a 330w Tagan as it was not originally made to be gaming.

Surely I don't need a whole 120w extra watts just to use a new GFX card? Will my Tagan cut it?

 

[jak731]

it will depend on the graphics card you are planning to buy.

 

[V4NT0M]

Probably a 3850 or an 8800 GT

 

[akakjs]

it depends on what other stuff in your current PC However 330w doesn't sound like enough for a current mobo/cpu + hdds + gfx.

akakjs

 

[jak731]

i would say you would, if your 330W does power the card it will most likely be running at 90%+ it capacity and that is not a good idea

 

[decto]

You're going to need a new PSU.

The overall wattage rating isn't really a good measure of PSU performance. In your case the 300w unit can supply 18A @ 12V so a total of 216W is availiable to run the CPU, Graphics card, Hard Discs, Optical Drives, Case fans etc. The spare 114w virtually goes unused.

Compare this with the newer PSU's eg. the Corsair 520 (40A / 480w @ 12v) and Corsair 620 (50A / 600W @ 12v) and you see that they can provide the majority of the overall rated output (92 - 96%) to 12v devices wheras your older design tagen is limited to 65%.

Regards

AD

 

[Darkwave]

I agree with the above, your PSU isn't going to cut it with 18A on the 12V rail. Look for something with 30A or higher total these days, something from a well-reputed brand too that isn't woefully inefficient.

The Corsair PSUs are darlings at the moment.

 

[Lonewolf]

I was using a 4 or 5 year old Levicom 550W and upgraded my PC which included n 8800GTS. Once I switched on the PC it whined like a Banshee. Phoned OcUK support and they suggested a new PSU, thank's to the guy's on these forum's I had no hesitation in purchasing a Corsair 520W. My PC is now whispering to me

 

[Duke]

I'd recommend changing to a Corsair VX 450W, or ideally a Corsair HX 520W.