what should i do?

OOAgent · May 14, 2005, 03:29 PM

i just bought a new 6800Ultra. it hasnt come in the mail yet but i was just looking over it again and when i bought it i must of accidently looked over the minimum/recommended PSU requirements. i bought a tower with a 400W PSU, and the card says 450W is highly recommended. you think that i'll be ok with a 400W?

CDsDontBurn · May 14, 2005, 05:29 PM

well, first of all, look at your 12v rail(s) on your PSU. If it's under 20 amps and under i say get a new PSU. More than 20 amps, then keep it.

how many hard drives and optical drives do you have in your system? More importantly, what kind of PSU do you have? If it is some generic PSU that came with your case, then i would recommend you get another PSU. If you have something like an X-Connect is alright, Enermax, Antec, OCZ ModStream/PowerStream, PC Power & Cooling, etc. are some of the better PSUs out on the market that come to my head right now.

My 520w OCZ PowerStream cost me $140 when i bought it. It might be a little bit cheaper now since i bought it like 3 months ago or so. The only other PSU in it's class that is better than mine would be the 510w PC Power & Cooling. The only differences between that one and mine, is that it has 10 watts less than mine, but has 2 more amps on the 12v rail (33a on mine vs. 35a on the PC Power), and mine cost me $120 less than the PC Power & Cooling. So the OCZ PowerStream is the best bang for the buck PSU. So for neglible power output, i saved $120

. But if you want bragging rights, then you want to spend that extra benjamin and jefferson

.

The easiest way to compare a good PSU vs. a cheap PSU, is simply the weight test. If one 400w PSU weighs more than the other, then the heavier one is definately better than the lighter one. Also, the heavier PSU will also cost more than the cheaper of the two. The reason for this is because the heavier PSU is using better quality components in their PSUs than the cheaper one of the two. If you're looking for a cheap PSU to power that 6800Ultra of yours, you'll be looking for a 600w PSU around $65 or so

.

Dave · May 14, 2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

well, first of all, look at your 12v rail(s) on your PSU. If it's under 20 amps and under i say get a new PSU. More than 20 amps, then keep it.

how many hard drives and optical drives do you have in your system? More importantly, what kind of PSU do you have? If it is some generic PSU that came with your case, then i would recommend you get another PSU. If you have something like an X-Connect is alright, Enermax, Antec, OCZ ModStream/PowerStream, PC Power & Cooling, etc. are some of the better PSUs out on the market that come to my head right now.

My 520w OCZ PowerStream cost me $140 when i bought it. It might be a little bit cheaper now since i bought it like 3 months ago or so. The only other PSU in it's class that is better than mine would be the 510w PC Power & Cooling. The only differences between that one and mine, is that it has 10 watts less than mine, but has 2 more amps on the 12v rail (33a on mine vs. 35a on the PC Power), and mine cost me $120 less than the PC Power & Cooling. So the OCZ PowerStream is the best bang for the buck PSU. So for neglible power output, i saved $120

. But if you want bragging rights, then you want to spend that extra benjamin and jefferson

.

The easiest way to compare a good PSU vs. a cheap PSU, is simply the weight test. If one 400w PSU weighs more than the other, then the heavier one is definately better than the lighter one. Also, the heavier PSU will also cost more than the cheaper of the two. The reason for this is because the heavier PSU is using better quality components in their PSUs than the cheaper one of the two. If you're looking for a cheap PSU to power that 6800Ultra of yours, you'll be looking for a 600w PSU around $65 or so

.

yeah ocz powerstream rules! also ocz tech support is awesome! my psu decided to kick the bucket last month for no reason. went to ocz support forum and contacted a representative. he said for me to send the psu to ocz and he would ship me a new one while i sent the broken one in, got my psu the next day.

OOAgent · May 14, 2005, 07:44 PM

its the PSU that came with the case. actually, i havent gotten any of my computer parts yet because i just bought a whole new comp, but the case is by Linkworld, see, i dont want a case with all bright neon lights and stuff because i like to play games with as little disractions as i can, and that case was pretty plain and nice looking. in the picture of the PSU it say that it has a 16A for the 12V connectors. i've been without a computer for a couple weeks (the one im using now is the "family" computer made back in like 99 or something O_o) and i really want to play my games again. Sigh... idk. i guess i can try to see if the PSU can hold up for a few days until i can get a new one (its coming in on monday). on the computer will have one 300gb hard drive and 2 cd/dvd drives (which i can use a power splitter for), and of course the video card. ill probably need the PSU when those PhysX cards come out, but i wont really need to buy one until next year when UT07 comes out. well, thanks for your help guys and ill do some investing into a new PSU.

Dave · May 14, 2005, 08:12 PM

16Amps is not going to be enough for amd 64 never mind a 6800 Ultra.

OOAgent · May 14, 2005, 10:24 PM

i bought a 500w PSU. im not going to say which because you guys may or may not flame me.... but i shouldnt have any problems with it.

Edit: it's 26A

CDsDontBurn · May 14, 2005, 10:54 PM

well, say which one you got anyways. So long as the PSU has over 20 amps on the 12v rail of your new PSU, it will be fine.

TJ- · May 14, 2005, 11:18 PM

i got 400w thermaltake PSU with 6800GT, i havnt noticed any problems, how do i find out how many amps it is?

CDsDontBurn · May 15, 2005, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [zi0n]aXe

i got 400w thermaltake PSU with 6800GT, i havnt noticed any problems, how do i find out how many amps it is?

look on the sticker that is on the PSU. There should be some kind of chart showing you all the voltages and amps for each rail. Follow the 12v rail down to it's amps, and that is how you find out the amps for the PSU you have, or are looking at purchasing.

TJ- · May 15, 2005, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

look on the sticker that is on the PSU. There should be some kind of chart showing you all the voltages and amps for each rail. Follow the 12v rail down to it's amps, and that is how you find out the amps for the PSU you have, or are looking at purchasing.

well i cant check at the moment, but i dont seem to be having any problems atm, increasing the ps wouldnt gimme more frame rates so i dont see the need in purchsing another...