BleepingComputer.com: Upgrading to 9800GT...can my computer handle this???

hello guys...i was wondering if my system could support this 9800GT nvidia video card...i just want to ask if my PSU can handle the load, so here are my specs:

AMD athlon 64X2 DUal core processor 5000+ 2.61GHz
GeForce6100PM-M2 v2.0
2GB RAM
160GB and 500GB hard drive
1 case fan
1 CD/DVD-ROM drives

and here's my 500W 20+4pin generic power supply specs...(i cant understand this one :D)

+5V +12V -5V -12V +3.3V +5Vsb
26A 16A 0.5A 0.8A 22A 2A

i would greatly appreciate your help thx... :D

This post has been edited by gigsaw: 15 August 2009 - 04:31 AM

The 9800 GT requires at least a 400W power supply, so you should be good to go.

ok thx...

That CPU will pull ~90 watts loaded, the 9800gt ~115 watts. Worst case scenario, 17 watts just for those two components. Add in the rest of the 12v system draws, and there might be a problem with a 16 amp 12V rail PSU.

That power supply has big ratings on it's 5v and 3.3v rails, which are next to useless on modern motherboards. Here is a decent 450 watt PSU outputs, +3.3V@20A,+5V@20A,+12V@33A,-12V@0.8A,+5VSB@2.5A. Notice the 33 amp 12V output?

This post has been edited by dpunisher: 16 August 2009 - 06:42 AM

ahh ok...so i really need to change my PSU then...ok thx for the information

i have a question...ive been looking at the Enermax 460wtwin fan EG465P-VE PSU and the Silverstone ST50F PSU...the enermax PSU gives a rating of Output +3.3V@35A; +5V@35A; -5V@1A; +12V@33A; -12V@1A; +5VSB@2.2A the +5VSB was short of what you have indicated in your suggested specs but can this PSU get away with that??? and i was also looking at the Silverstone PSU and found out that it uses 2 12V rails...one for the motherboard and another for the videocard which i think operates at max 19A each... so given that the 9800GT requires 400W and approximately 26A...can this PSU work with 9800GT and how will you do the connection since there are 2 12V rails????