Help!! Urgent!!

[steadyeddie]

Hi all.
My son wants a new graphics card for his PC and wants it for his birthday on Friday
I've done a bit of research and have narrowed it down to a Nvidia 7600 or AtiX1650 AGP (budget of £50-60).
I was just about to buy but then read I may have a problem with the power supply.
AFAIK my sons system has a 300w power supply although I'm not too sure about this, I dont have a manual and I'm not sure of any other way to check.
The system is a Acer Aspire SA80 Pentium4 3.06ghz, 1GB RAM, SiS 661fx/gx 64mb Mirage graphics.
The motherboard I think is an Acer E661 GXM, Bios Phoenix Tech. R01-C3.
It states AGP version 3, 8x.
I've found similar versions of this PC on the net and some of them state 250/300w power supply.

1. Is there a way I can find out the systems power supply?
2. Will the cards mentioned be ok?
Any help or advice is appreciated.
Jeff

[jackvdbuk]

well PSU's i dont know much about in terms of amperage, rails e.t.c but to find out your PSU just take the side off and look at the labelon the PSU, usually the PSu is in the top left hand corner!

good luck

[vicar]

Download PCwizard 2007 and it will give you the detail of every item on your son's computer.

http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php

[steadyeddie]

I've had the case off the PC and it is definitely a 300w supply.
Does this mean I cant use these cards as they state a minimum 350w supply?
If so, what are the alternatives?
Thanks
Jeff

[ikonia]

don't go against the manufacturers recommendations.

Any problems and you'll be voiding your warrenty.

[steadyeddie]

The warranty has just ran out

[-N!CK-]

everest is a good program for finding out all the specs of the computer you need to know.

out of those 2 graphics card i would pick the 7600gt/gts

if you could stretch the budget, i would get a x1950, they are cheap on ocuk.

what resloution will he be playing at?

[jackvdbuk]

everest is a good program for finding out all the specs of the computer you need to know.

out of those 2 graphics card i would pick the 7600gt/gts

if you could stretch the budget, i would get a x1950, they are cheap on ocuk.

what resloution will he be playing at?

dude... a 300w psu on a x1950?

[steadyeddie]

He wont really be playing the latest games and i'm sure he wont be too fussed about high resolutions, just so long as things run smoothly.
I noticed that, with these particular cards, the manufacturers state minimum 350w power supply (assuming fully loaded system). He hasn't really got anything else attached to the system (printers etc.) its just a basic set-up.
So, a couple of questions.
1. Is it worth taking the risk?
2. Would I be better going for something like the 6600 which states minimum 300w.
Jeff

[this_is_gav]

I'd grab a 7600GS (it should cope) and then assuming the PSU is a cheapy no-brand one replace it with something decent as soon as possible - 330W Seasonic as an early Christmas pressie perhaps - it'll cope with a lot more than a 7600GS.

[cptwhite_uk]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/vid...e_6.html#sect1

If you're worried about power the 7600GS looks like an excellent option. As you can see from the first bar graph it consumes considerably less than a 6600GT. While this...

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphi...=722&chart=318

(look at the blue bars towards the bottom)

...shows it is considerably better performance.

There is one here for £47. Make sure you spend an extra £3 to qualify for free delivery.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...uct_uid=127244

[steadyeddie]

Cptwhite (and others)
Many thanks for all your input.
Just out of interest, what is likely to happen if the power is too much?
Is it best to go for the silent pipe one here http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...prodID=1321290
Or this one with silent pipe and DDR2 memory http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/116162
Im so confused

[GoNz0]

fans shift more heat, unless you have very good case cooling get a card with fan+heatsink

if the PSU blows it can take the rest of the pc with it.

[cptwhite_uk]

Yes Gonzo is right, however what's more likely to happen is the PC fails to boot, or crashes irregularly during use.

Given the small power requirements of the 7600GS ~ 25W (compare it to a X1950XT which I believe takes about 125W) it's a very efficient card!

Also, the second link you posted - no stock. Finally they all have DDR2 memory anyway (at least the ones linked too above)

[steadyeddie]

I'm still a bit confused about heatsinks and fans!
Which one of these should I go go for, regardless of price, which should be safer?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...e-21/ref=nosim
http://www.lambda-tek.com/components...c=y#productTop
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/127244
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/119716

[-N!CK-]

would the 7600GT not be better?

it can be had for 60 like:
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/106578