Video Card + Power Supply Question

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 by LittleBearJason | Discussion: PC Hardware

I just bought an EVGA e-Geforce FX 5200 128MB Light Edition and it said requires min of 300 watts for the power supply. However my research on the web showed that a majority of the FX5200 cards sold today only requires a 250 watt power supply. My supply is 250 watts.

I played NHL 2005 on full detail (minus the antiailsing I dont use that anyways I mean if it plays without it , it plays without it right ? ) And ... I encountered no Lockups.

Inside my tower .. I have one AGP Slot and 3 PCI Slots. One slot is being taken up .. the AGP slot .. of course by the video card. And one slot is being taken up by my Dialup Modem

I dont plan to use the 2 slots as I have plenty of USB ports and firewire ports built into the computer, plus I only need 2.1 sound so I use the built in sound and dont plan to upgrade to a PCI sound card.

Do you think EVGA is stating the minimum "Reccomended" Power supply as opposed to the "absolute" minimum power supply required?

Im lost here.

I havent encountered any problems so far , what is everyones take on this.
26 Reply 9 Referrals
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yrag
Reply #1 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 9:58 PM
If it was an 'absolute', it wouldn't be running. The 300w is based on the 'average' computer voltage usage. It's not only the watts you need to look at, but the rails. +3.3V = 26A ,+5V = 40A,
+12V = 16A are fairly representative of the minimums you want to be getting from your PSU and for that you will need a 350w or better brand name. While all your hardware in use may not exceed the total watts (250), it will not meet the rail requirements. If you want to know how your present PSU rails compare, look on the side of the PSU. The PSU is not something you want to ignore or take the cheap route. Besides determining the performance of your machine, it can, in a heartbeat, destroy it.

LittleBearJason
Reply #2 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:11 PM
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

I dont understand the math.

But I found this on my power supply

+5V & +3.3V = 165W MAX
+5V & +12V = 218W MAX.

Hrrm ... Im wondering whether I should return this for a card that fits the specifications.

yrag
Reply #3 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:20 PM
Hrrm ... Im wondering whether I should return this for a card that fits the specifications.


No, you have it backwards...get a PSU that matches your system specs....

The numbers you're looking for on the side are Amps.

LittleBearJason
Reply #4 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:33 PM
Cant afford to do that, when I have a 2 yr extended warranty from Compaq. Dont wanna trash the PC , I removed the card and are gonna send it back for something with a 250w Power Spec

Here is the supposed Rails you are looking for

+12 = 14a
+5v = 25a
+3.3v = 18a
-12V = 0.8a
+5VSB = 2A (Peak 2.5A)

yrag
Reply #5 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:45 PM
Yeah, that's about the amp age I expected. I understand about the warranty. Look at the GF 4600 series and you'll get the same performance (probably better) and use less voltage.

Good luck

LittleBearJason
Reply #6 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:51 PM
So you are saying that this 300w min requirement card could kill my machine?

yrag
Reply #7 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:58 PM
No...what I'm saying is that it's a cheap PSU and they can...repeat..can do strange things like surge and what not. They, as a rule, have no built-in protection as the better brands do. I would only, at this point, be concerned about it under powering your computer, not destroying it. The former is much more likely then the latter.

Is this the card you have?: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-151&depa=0

LittleBearJason
Reply #8 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:03 PM
No its this one

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-210&depa=0

yrag
Reply #9 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:08 PM
Close enough...keep the card. There's no fan and no molex connector...you won't find any card that uses less voltage. Trust me..this card is not going to make or break anything in your computer. You're good to go, so put the case back together and let the games begin...

LittleBearJason
Reply #10 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:15 PM
Thanks alot!!!! Youve been very helpful.

You should be awarded a medal for your helpful PC Knowledge.

I cant get a damn person to reply to my posts in EVGAs forum, everyones so damn crazy about the 6800 series that they could care less about us 5200 users

yrag
Reply #11 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:17 PM
I know what you mean...the hell with 'em...when ever you need something just come here...

Glad I could help..

LittleBearJason
Reply #12 Tuesday, February 15, 2005 11:40 PM
NHL 2005 plays with no slowdown at 800x600 in Full detail

Better then the gamecube , ps2 and xbox version. Plus no load time.

Koasati
Reply #13 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 12:03 AM
Hey Gary! He's right, you should get a medal............ they could pin it to your straightjacket.

How do you type wearing that thing anyway?


LittleBearJason
Reply #14 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 12:39 AM
My Logitech X230 Speakers come in tomorrow

Im gonna rock da house!

yrag
Reply #15 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 12:42 AM
How do you type wearing that thing anyway?


s-l-o-w-l-y....

kona0197
Reply #16 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 2:17 AM
Good thing I have a 450 watt PSU... hehe

LittleBearJason
Reply #17 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 3:09 AM
And I just got done playing another few hours of NHL 2005. No lockups. Had one graphical glitch tho that didnt go away from exiting the game and restarting it. Rebooting the machine took care of it.

Yraq I am taking your word for this!

I trust you.

Of course I cant hold you liable for any advice you give me that goes bad

craeonics
Reply #18 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 3:40 AM
450W is overkill. Only necessary if your machine is filled to the brim with hardware. 300W should be more then enough for the average user.

The 300W indication for the video card is just a recommendation so they have an excuse to not support people with lesser power supplies. Wouldn't worry about it too much though.

kona0197
Reply #19 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 2:24 PM
450W is overkill. Only necessary if your machine is filled to the brim with hardware. 300W should be more then enough for the average user.


Hey it might me overkill but it's what came with the tower I bought. I don't use alot of hardware myself.

Kevin_C
Reply #20 Wednesday, February 16, 2005 4:05 PM
I'm with kona on this one, I'd rather have too much power available to my components than not enough. I've had a PS that couldn't provide enough juice to my system and it did some really strange things for a few days before I could replace it. I'll take my changes with my 530W PS..

+3.3V 32A
+5V 40A
+12V 24A

Total Output 530W Max

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