Video Card help

[markfrombrooklyn]

Hello I was told by Gateway that the NVIDIA GEFORCE 7600GS 512MB video card was compatible with my system. Now before i went out and bought it i talked to a friend and he informed me that i need at least a 450w power supply and that my Gateway only has a 300w power supply. Do you think that video card would work even though I only have a 300w power supply? And if i need to upgrade my power supply which one could i use that wouldnt damage my computer?

 

[AMOCO]

Well it might work for a while, but if that graphics card has to run on a 450w psu,than it would be wise to get 1,look at directron.com & newegg.com,also u should not go cheap on a psu.i got lucky & got a apevia iceberg ($115) psu for ($39) & that was new.

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

Well it might work for a while, but if that graphics card has to run on a 450w psu,than it would be wise to get 1,look at directron.com & newegg.com,also u should not go cheap on a psu.i got lucky & got a apevia iceberg ($115) psu for ($39) & that was new.

Yeah but how do i know which is good that it wont damage my computer? Because the Gateway upgrade person told methat i have to be careful what power supply i get because it can damage my computer

 

[AMOCO]

well i've never heard that ,i could be true i guess, but mainly i think gateway told u that because they want u to buy it from them,i've been building computers(custom) for around 2 1/2 years now & never had the problem of a psu hurting my system,if you have any questions about witch psu to buy ,u can call directron's 1-800 number on monday & they will help u pick one that suits your system.

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

well i've never heard that ,i could be true i guess, but mainly i think gateway told u that because they want u to buy it from them,i've been building computers(custom) for around 2 1/2 years now & never had the problem of a psu hurting my system,if you have any questions about witch psu to buy ,u can call directron's 1-800 number on monday & they will help u pick one that suits your system.

Ok thats cool, now the video card says it needs at least a 450w power supply with a 20 amp thing, now with that amp thing does that affect the electricity in my apartment? because my whole apartment takes a 15 amp fuse. and is it hard to install a power supply or should i have a local tech do it for me?

 

[AMOCO]

well if u don't know how to instill ,yes i would get tech. to do it for u,& about the 20amp,you should be ok,be sure u use a surge protector.

 

[JC316]

The minimum is 300W on that card. You should be fine.

 

[tofu]

There is no way a 7600GS would require a 450W power supply.

Heck, for the sake of comparison, I ran a 5950Ultra on a 250W SFX power supply in one of my matx cases.

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

The minimum is 300W on that card. You should be fine.

I went and checked and it said the minimum is 350w power supply with 12V current rating of 20A or more. I believe mine is 300w power supply with 18 amps, do you think i would have problems if i installed the 7600GS?

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

There is no way a 7600GS would require a 450W power supply.

Heck, for the sake of comparison, I ran a 5950Ultra on a 250W SFX power supply in one of my matx cases.

Oh really? cause i did check again and it says Minimum requirements are 350w power supply with 12V current rating of 20A or more. I believe mine is a 300w power supply with 18 amps. Do you think I'd have problems with the 7600GS??

 

[JC316]

I don't think it would cause a problem. What are your other system specs?

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

I don't think it would cause a problem. What are your other system specs?

Well its a brand new computer. I just bought it last week its a Intel Core 2 Duo (Each core 1.86 ghz) 1024 mb DDR2 of ram, 250 gb Sata II. The Video card thats onboard is Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3000 and I've heard i would have trouble playing PC games with that video card. So should i spend the 130 bucks or whatever for that 7600 GS?

 

[JC316]

No, I wouldn't pay 130 for that. Honestly, I think you need a heftier power supply for that system, it will save you lots of money in the long run. I would have at least a 500 watter.

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

No, I wouldn't pay 130 for that. Honestly, I think you need a heftier power supply for that system, it will save you lots of money in the long run. I would have at least a 500 watter.

Oh ok. Then I'll upgrade my power supply. Now can i use any 500w power supply for my Gateway system or does it have to be a certain one? Cause the Gateway Upgrade sales chat person told me that I have to be careful because I could burn my computer out

 

[JC316]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817171018

That seems to be a decent power supply on a budget.

This is also a VERY good power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

Then I would get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130073

 

[JC316]

Oh ok. Then I'll upgrade my power supply. Now can i use any 500w power supply for my Gateway system or does it have to be a certain one? Cause the Gateway Upgrade sales chat person told me that I have to be careful because I could burn my computer out

They are full of shit. what are the specs on that PS?

 

[JC316]

Actually for $130, I would get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130077

 

[zekrahminator]

Well, if Gateway says that it's a bad idea to upgrade the power supply, he's probably right . A while ago, Dell had propreitary power supplies, which meant proprietary mainboard connectors. My friend tried to upgrade his Dell PSU, with fiery/smoky results . The reason behind this is because one plug was supposed to go somewhere and it was wired to go somewhere else...what a mess. Your best bet is to not bother with pre-made computers and to go custom .

 

[JC316]

Well, if Gateway says that it's a bad idea to upgrade the power supply, he's probably right . A while ago, Dell had propreitary power supplies, which meant proprietary mainboard connectors. My friend tried to upgrade his Dell PSU, with fiery/smoky results . Your best bet is to not bother with pre-made computers and to go custom .

Whoops, my bad. I never even knew about that. What kind of crap is that????

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

They are full of shit. what are the specs on that PS?

Yea my friend told me they are full of shit and they're just trying to get me to buy their stuff. Here are the specs i got from the gateway website for my 300 Watt Power Supply uATX/BTX Non-PFC:

General
Temperature Operating: 5° to 40° C
Non-operating: -40° to 70° C

Relative Humidity Operating: 5% to 85% (non-condensing)
Non-operating: 5% to 95% (non-condensing)

Safety Certifications CB(EN60950)
UL
CUL
NEMKO or TUV or VDE
CE

Current Nominal Maximum: 8 Maximum: 4 Amps
VIN Frequency Minimum: 50
Maximum: 60
Minimum: 50
Maximum: 60
Hertz
Output Voltage Values Unit
+12V1 Minimum: 1A
Maximum: 18
Amps
+12V2 Minimum: 1
Maximum: 18
Amps
5V Minimum: 0.3
Maximum: 22
Amps
3.3V Minimum: 0.3
Maximum: 17
Amps
-12V Minimum: 0
Maximum: 0.3
Amps
5Vsb Minimum: 0
Maximum: 2
Amps

 

[JC316]

Thats a good powersupply, but I would read what Zek wrote above.

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817171018

That seems to be a decent power supply on a budget.

This is also a VERY good power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

Then I would get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130073

Ok cool.. and all of these would be compatible with my system?

 

[markfrombrooklyn]

Well, if Gateway says that it's a bad idea to upgrade the power supply, he's probably right . A while ago, Dell had propreitary power supplies, which meant proprietary mainboard connectors. My friend tried to upgrade his Dell PSU, with fiery/smoky results . The reason behind this is because one plug was supposed to go somewhere and it was wired to go somewhere else...what a mess. Your best bet is to not bother with pre-made computers and to go custom .

LOL yea i hear that. But i just bought it and they told me that they have a 500w power supply that is compatible with my system thats why i think they're bullshitting when they say i have to use certain ones, but do you think i should just buy what they are selling? its only 57 bucks

 

[JC316]

LOL yea i hear that. But i just bought it and they told me that they have a 500w power supply that is compatible with my system thats why i think they're bullshitting when they say i have to use certain ones, but do you think i should just buy what they are selling? its only 57 bucks

Probably, I would hate to see a fried computer. I would ask them WHY nothing else is compatible and see what they say.

 

[TUngsten]

I just took apart an old Gateway system I had from 5 or 6 years ago (p4 1.4ghz socket 423)and was suprised to see the MB and PSU were basically riveted in. What's weird is that it was a 350w psu.