Quick graphics card/PSU question
 

Currently on an Antec EarthWatts 430W PSU, running just my CPU (E4500), 2GB RAM, 1 DVD drive and a single hard drive. Oh, one fan, too.

I'm getting a new card soon to replace my 9800GT, which just died, and I'm settled on the HD5750 as it's the right price for me. However, the site mentions a 450W PSU as recommended (Same for GTS 250, GTX 460, the GTSomething 450, HD5770) and I'm reluctant to replace my PSU as that adds another £50 to the cost.

Toms Hardware UK has the HD5750 listed as taking no more than 235W, which is less than the 9800GT, so should I be fine using it with my current PSU? Thanks!

From my rich experience in that respect, I can only advise you not to save on the PSU. Weak and underpowered power supply is cause of many problems with the computer. I've learned this myself a couple of times.

BTW, I'm currently using the same graphic card as you did (9800GT) and had to upgrade my, then brand new, Fortran Blue Storm II 500W because it wasn't powerful enough. Right now I'm using OCZ 700W PSU and all is working OK. Well, most of the time, but this is another story. I'm using this system for way to many purposes (as my personal recording studio, among the other things). Lately I had some Windows problems that leads me to suspect the PSU again, but since it's not too old and the brandless one, I'm guessing that the rather unstable power in my neighbourhood is the main culprit. I'm contemplating to buy an UPS which has an AVR function.

I'm not familiar with newer ATI cards that much (had used Nvidias for a long time now), but despite the official specifications, I would still invest in more powerful PSU. Maybe the card itself doesn't draw that much power, but you always have to consider other components in your system as well as the USB-powered peripheals.

Am I allowed to dislike you for that, terhard? :p

Aside from my hardware, I've got my Sidewinder X3, Logitech G15, often one of my iPods (Touch 4G or Nano 2G), my Sennheiser headphones and rarely a 360 controller.

My PSU is, as far as they go, pretty good in my opinion - It's Antec, it's an EarthWatts, it's 80%+ rated and it's given me no issues. It was fine with my 9800GT, so... Ah well.

Sounds like my DVD drive is on the fritz, too. This is typical -_-

Antec are a good quality PSU brand, brushing shoulders with Corsair/XFX. And the good news is that the 5750 is one of the best performance for low power consumption cards you can get. It only uses 1 x 6in PCIE connector(alone supplies 75w), and needs a Maximum board power of 86 Watts . Your Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E4500 only needs 65w at full load, and you are using a minimum practical amount of drives, which dont use that much power themselves. And using a PSU Calculator I would conclude your PSU is good enough on this occasion :)

Amazon.co.uk have this card, which is similar to the one you're looking at, but it's a HD5670. According to one reviewer, it's doesn't require any PSU power - it gets it from the PCI-E port.

I'd probably buy this myself, but I doubt my PCI-E slot is powerful enough. It requires a 16x/2.1 slot and I have 16x/2.0. :frown:

Oh man, now I need to find out what mine is. Knowing my luck I'll be unable to run it.

It doesn't say (Or specify) on the website, so I'm going to guess it's not. :(

To add on to this topic, I've been thinking about getting a new graphics card for my XP, yet I've been told that new cards might not work. I'm not very technological, so I'm not sure what to get. Any advice? I also have to buy another 1 of RAM, since I only have one now. Do I really need to buy a whole new computer?

Gazzoid, I did some research and a 2.0/2.1 card should work in an older slot.

I think I'm going to have to go with the HD5670. Fits my budget, slightly better than my ol' 9800GT and I can get one locally for a good price.

Thanks for the advice, all :)

Cool. That's good to know. I may look into getting it at some point then. :) Also, zooming in on the box on amazon, it's says PCI-E 2.0. 'Course, that may be an error, though.
The only thing I'm worried about is getting it and finding out it only makes a slight difference to what I have now. It's happened to me before. :shifty:

However, my current card is a 9400GT - older than what you had. So if this one is better than a 9800GT, then...

What processor do you have? If you're only on 1Gb RAM, and need a new graphics card, a new PC might be worth considering.

I have an Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 CPU. 6420@ 2.13 Ghz, 1 GB of RAM. And my graphics card is a GeForce 7600 GS. The computer is 32-bit. And that's all gobbilty gook to me. ;) Any help would be really appreciated. Thanks, RLacey!

Not really. A 9800GT is simply a rebranded 8800GT, so I kinda guess mine is older :p A HD5670 would be quite a nice boost for you, though.

Fantasysci5; Your CPU isn't bad, so really you just need the extra 1GB of RAM and possibly - if your motherboard is PCI-e (Might require some Googling) - a HD5670, and it also depends on your power supply and if it's capable of running the card. I'd say buy based on what your situation is, really. If you have the funds for a new PC, I would say get one. XP's support is coming to an end next year (I think?) and I'm guessing by the age of your rig you've had it a number of years, so it might be worth buying new just for the sake of ease. Assuming your power supply is fine, you might be looking at less than $150 for the upgrades mentioned - Not sure what it's like in the US for prices, though.

Oh. Well, I certainly hope so. I'm starting to think I'll get some bottleneck because of my CPU and/or PSU, though.

Whatcha got?

I bought the system in 2009 from Dell and have never changed them. I have an AMD Athlon Processor LE-1660 - 2.8GHz, and as for the model of PSU... I have no idea. All I know is that it's roughly 300W.

If the card can run without additional juice from the PSU it should be fine, right?

I wouldn't use the card for the latest and greatest games - that's what my 360 is for - but it sounds great for the games I have from around 2004-06. The new Sam & Max, Back to the Future and Tales of Monkey Island games would probably benefit from it too.

Not necessarily. Your PSU sounds a bit on the weak side - I think the HD5670 has 400W as minimum - And as it's a Dell one I wouldn't take the risk.

Damn. :frown:

Okay, I'm now in the same boat as you, Dwagginz. :P I'm considering upgrading my PSU and getting an Antec, though I'm stumped as to which one. :crazy: I was thinking of 500W, 20-24A on a 12V rail, but... would that be sufficient.

It's not like I'll be upgrading my card regularly nor will I be getting the latest and greatest card(s)...

EDIT: Would this be alright, maybe?

Seems OK to me, although I don't know much about PSUs.

I was gonna go for an OCZ Modular PSU (~500W), but I've forgotten which one.

Neither do I. Hopefully someone who's more tech-savvy can point us in the right direction.

Two things I do know: the PSU I've linked to has 3 12v rails ranging from 22-25A and that the amperture is more important than the actual wattage.

I've contacted my local computer shop and asked the guy to look into for me and possibly order it. :)