420W PSU ok for a 8800gt or 4850?

[Squirrely]

As I am thinking about getting a new gfx card, I was wondering if my Thermaltake TR2-420w would function well with it. As I have a device which I am able to monitor the power consumption at the outlet, I will be using that. When I stress my computer with 3dmark06, it max's at around ~240-250w. Also with other stressing utilities (ATI Tool, Everest), it maxes at around the same power consumption.

My 8600gts I think consumes around ~85w. (It can't be much higher than the PCI-E power rating of 75w, since a 8600gt does not require a 6 pin power connector) But, does a 8800gt consume more than that? It can consume up to 150w, because of its PCIe power connector which is rated at 75w and the PCI-E slot. Bur, does it use all of its available power? The same question with the 4850. Would my PSU be able to handle either one comfortably, or would it be pushing my 420w PSU? As I know that PSU's can't spit out that many watts when their internal temps go up because of the higher load, so just wondering.

I'll probably wait until the 9800gt's come out though to make a decision, since they are based on the cooler, less power consuming g92b core.

Also, would a vf900 would well for a 8800gt/4850? As I currently have one on my 8600gts.

Thanks.

 

[ShadowFold]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023

That one? If its that one then I wouldnt trust a 8800GT with it.. If its a channelwell one then it should be ok.

 

[Squirrely]

Nope. Here is it off the Thermaltake website: http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?C=1247&ID=1537

It has 25A on the 12v rails. (Dual rails, one 15A, the other 10A)

If mine doesn't work out. I will proably just get a Corsair 650W PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005) or a PC Power and Cooling 610w (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005), since both are Seasonic's rebagged.

 

[ShadowFold]

That should be enough for a 4850/8800GT, but I would get some extra watts eventually tho!

 

[Squirrely]

Ok, thanks.

Might just pick up the Corsair PSU though.

Also, would my vf900 work well on a 8800gt? On the 4870, I'll probably have to pick up a few extra sinks for those VR's though.

 

[ShadowFold]

vf900 is that Zalman heatsink right? I think that fits the 8800GT but im not sure! If you want to I will sell my 8800GT to you for 140$.

 

[Mussels]

for an 8800GT get the accelero S1 cooler.
I dont think your thermaltake will handle it... grab the corsair or PC&C you mentioned.

 

[Squirrely]

Ok, thanks.

Also, is Evga's dual-slot coolers a marketing ploy? You would suspect they cool better, but do they? If they are worth it, might pick this one up: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130359

It's free shipping as well. If I buy the PSU and the gfx card, it will be free to ship.

Thanks again.

 

[Mussels]

odds are it'd just be a little quieter, but around the same temps.

No matter what card you get, i'll really suggest the accelero S1 - my load temps are under 40C most of the time here.

 

[Squirrely]

odds are it'd just be a little quieter, but around the same temps.

No matter what card you get, i'll really suggest the accelero S1 - my load temps are under 40C most of the time here.

Yeah, but I already own a vf900, from my 8600gts which I am using now.

 

[btarunr]

I'll put it this way: A total of 30A on +12V should be sufficient.

 

[DaMulta]

I installed a 8800GT on one of those cheap case's(30USD) psu the other week and it worked just fine.

 

[Mussels]

I installed a 8800GT on one of those cheap case's(30USD) psu the other week and it worked just fine.

i've done it with PSU's upto 500W, even original antec trupowers... and sooner or later they always crashed. No damage was ever done, but there was intermittent (but at least daily) GPU driver crashes, and the occasional freeze/restart.

 

[MKmods]

I have run 2 8800GTs (and 9600GTs) on my 400 watt NorthQ PS with my 6400 at 3.5.

Like DaMulta mentioned its possible, but so is an explosion.

1 card should be fine.

 

[DaMulta]

The Thermatake 420w will be a little stonger than what they put inside of those cases.

Na not an explosion. just the PSU will die after a while on the chepo ones. Normally at least.

 

[MKmods]

LOL, I had an SunbeamTech that popped a cap (sounded like a bomb to me) I was never so freaked out.
Been using Good PSs since.

 

[DaMulta]

LOL, I had an SunbeamTech that popped a cap (sounded like a bomb to me) I was never so freaked out.
Been using Good PSs since.

Haha

 

[Mussels]

well how about he tries it, but at the first sign of instability he buys a new one. that should cover it.

I have a very, very poor opinion of early TT PSU's... i've seen generic ones come with a case run systems that a TT couldnt. (this is the <500W models i speak of, not the new models)

 

[ShadowFold]

LOL, I had an SunbeamTech that popped a cap (sounded like a bomb to me) I was never so freaked out.
Been using Good PSs since.

The PSU in my moms old HP did something like that. I was showing her how to do something and next thing we know something starts screeching then a pop and it shut off

 

[Squirrely]

LOL, I had an SunbeamTech that popped a cap (sounded like a bomb to me) I was never so freaked out.
Been using Good PSs since.

That is what I am afraid of, , if I put too much load on it. I bought this PSU a while ago (~1.5-2 years ago I think), so not sure if the capacitors have aged a bit, and their max power isn't as high as it used to be. I also bought this PSU when I really didn't know what I was doing. It was ~$50, and *enough* watts (well for my currently system, didn't really think about expansion). My current PSU is a Channelwell, but I am still not comfortable with it. (Even though my wall power meter says otherwise.) I would just be much more comfortable with a Seasonic PSU, such as this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 Also the efficency is much higher and it has Active PFC.

But that's also another $100 I might have to shell out. Might just get it though, as I know it will be worth it.