300W PSU Power a 7800GT?

Randomletters

Im buying one next week and Im afraid to ask but now i have to. I read the 7800gt isnt a power hog consuming 75-80w currently my system is consuming 151w at the maximum. So I SHOULD be able to run it in this system? Im paying an arm and a leg for this computer and refuse to purchase a psu for it too Id rather(really dont want to) bring it back.

Im hoping I get the answer I want to hear.

Drakon

I think at least a good 450watt psu would be suitable just to be on the safe side

Sandok

But you can run it with ur current PSU. THe thing is that hte 7 series uses LESS power than the high end 6 series so you should be okay, but as drakon said, for safer working enviroments, buy a bigger PSU.

Randomletters

Ok thanks for your input guys I still have some thinking to do but at the moment im leaning towards picking up the card and trying it, monitoring power lvls. My other option is leaving PC gaming and picking up a 360 core system but even that will require an extra 60 dollars for 1 game.

Sandok

Stick with the PC. IF you get a 7800GT, ur set for a LONG time.

Randomletters

It seems a long time in PC terms is 6-8 months though. Played CoD2 on a 360 today at my local ebgames, dam its beautiful, and no stuttering. I fear even with my current system and a 7800gt the game will still stutter and in 6 months ut2k7 will bring my system to its knees while the 360 will play it and probibly 2k9 without a hitch.

soloz2

COD2 ran beautifly on my system at 1280x1024 (max my monitor can display) with everything maxed out. your 7800GT should do fine.

A word of caution... some of the 7800GT's like my evga 7800GT CO come factory overclocked and consume quite a bit more power than the reference cards.

you may be able to get by with your current PSU... but I would highly suggest that you upgrade your PSU with your new card.

Randomletters

Im not questioning weither or not the 7800gt will play it, it ****ing better for 300 dollars, if it didnt then the switch to the 360 would not be a problem.

The thing is I cannot upgrade the PSU and buy the video card and pay the monthly computer bill which is why I posted this, If I bring this computer back, and pick up the 360, Ill not have any payments to make or have any doubts on weither or not it can play the newest game and look as good as possible

The_Neon_Cowboy

You need 26A on the 12V rail so you need a decent 450W or better

Randomletters

Thanks for the info, I hate getting conflicting answers everywhere i turn, hard ocp says 350, you say 450, Trusted reviews says 300w . Isnt there a standard somewhere for information, why is it fluctuating so much., others say the 6800gt uses more power then a 7800gt. Ill just pick up a PC for web browsing and make the switch to the 360.

nitrousoxide52

Played the 360, funny, the graphics aren't that amazing, nothing i've not seen on the PC. It looks worse then HL2 does on my system with a 9600xt, and all of the launch games suck, and the games cost 60 dollars. However it comes with a 20gig hd which is a horrible move on microsofts part, it's begging for piracy, however for the consumer it's well good . Still, I would stick to the PC because 360 games, or console games for that matter will never be as good as PC games.

Randomletters

The thing is, 80% of what you said is opinion. To me, CoD2 looks incredible, PC games cost a whopping 10 dollars less but to actually play the games you need a system 3x+ more expensive then a console, Im not trying to get in a debate because either way I dont really care, But the 360 is the MUCH cheaper gaming alternative.

Randomletters

Another question, So if the 7800gt uses less then 6800gt I need a 500w PSU for the 6800gt?

pr0digal jenius

my 6800 GT is on a 470 along with 2 HDDs, 2 Optical Drives, 2 processors, and the usual array of PCI cards and fans...so no

To be honest, past the 300 watt mark, the quality of the PSU has a lot mroe to do with it then the simple wattage. I'd get a GOOD 350-400 Watt long before i got a cheap 500

Randomletters

I think I may just go with a 6800gt, 512mb more ram, and a 500w PSU thatll actually even out to the price of the 7800gt, give it a couple months and sell the 6800gt for a 7800gt and hope they still have the free mobo offer, then just give this computer back and build my own

Randomletters

found a 6800gt on craigslist for 220 picking it up in a couple hours. My plan:

purchase 1 part a week for the dell, (mobo and cpu will be last ofcorse as ill have no need to throw em in the dell) keep all stock components once I have enough peices return the dell with stock peices and build my own

Quick question I currently have 2x256 RAM, If i purchase a 512 stick will i have any problems using it in conjuction with the 2x256 (given the fact theyll be the same specs of corse) or should i just go with another 2x256

bstef9950

That 360 X Box thing is really a matter of opinion.I saw it on a plasma 42in Samsung monitor playing COD2 and i thought it looked awsome.and im PC allthe way.PC will be able to enhance it even more!

soloz2

Hey, if you're thinking about getting a 6800GT you should really take a look at the GS. It's only about 200 and it performs basically the same as the GT. They just came out a week or so ago... but that's my advice

Randomletters

Just picked up a gt for 220. Need to find my Quake 4 Prince of persia: Sands of time is no competition