PSU for graphics and soundcard

[JammasterJ]

Hey there, i've done some searching on the forum prior to posting this topic... but couldn't find a similar topic! I don't really know what's going on inside the PC so forgive me for being a noob!

I've recently just purchased a new PC, here's the spec:

PSU: 350 Watt ATX/BTX Delta 120mm AC-Out

Motherboard: Asus P5VDC-TVM TE/S 4.00 mATX i945G LGA775

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 2.13Ghz 4M

Graphics: 128MB ATI Radeon X300

Cooler: INTEL EKL

RAM: 2x 1GB -DDR2-667Mhz Elpida QC SB

DVD RW +/- RAM LG GSA-H44N Black

HDD: SATA II 500GB

MS Windows XP Home OEM UK SP2

So i'm buying a new graphics card and sound card, because the graphics at the moment are pretty poor, and well its onboard sound. So here are the new parts i've ordered

Nvidia GeForce 7600GT 256MB 590MHz DDR3 DUAL DVI PCI-E Graphics Card
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Soundcard

I didn't really think this through, but when i was reading through these forums i saw a post about someones PSU and graphics card. Because i only have a 350w psu will it be okay with a soundcard and a graphics card to run from a 350 psu? as i read that some graphics card require 300w psu minimum... so with an added soundcard will it still work? because the soundcard is PCI as well.

Thankyou for your help in advance!

JammasterJ.

[staffsMike]

The soundcard should take too much power and it's not a particularly power hungry graphics card so it'll most likely be fine.

Can't say i've heard of that PSU though.

[shadowmaster]

Hi,

A good quality 350watt psu should be able handle your current spec + a 7600gt and an xi fi soundcard.

What are the specs of your psu? They should be written on the side of the psu. It will look something like this-

PSU Spec

[JammasterJ]

Hi there, thanks for both of your replys!

Im not too sure where that is located as my PSU is all boxed up, i tried to post a photo but it wont let me... hmm

Is there not a CPU-Z like tool for PSU's i can use instead?

thanks again!

[shadowmaster]

You can upload a photo to an image hosting site-

Image Hosting

And then post the link here, where we can view it

[JammasterJ]

I've uploaded to imageshack but it says i must have 5 posts before i can post a url, to stop spamming. I'll PM you the link, then you could post it for others maybe?

[JammasterJ]

Here we go, sorry about that!

[Lucio]

Given it doesn't even have a sticker on the side to show it's specs, I'd replace it!

This one's a good one Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK, though towards the high end of the price range. That said, it's never worth skimping on the PSU...

[shadowmaster]

I agree with Lucio- it may be worth investing in a better psu.

Tell us your budget for a new psu (if you intend to replace it) and we'll advise you on whats best.

[JammasterJ]

Hmm... would it be advisable? im only a poor student! as long as it will cope with everything perfectly well then im happy. Will it not? If it wont then i'll replace it. My budget would be as cheap as possible really - but i've read not to buy cheap PSU's, so a cheap decent one? if they exist!

[shadowmaster]

It’s perfectly possible that your psu will handle your upgrade easily, and will last for years...

But cheap psu's have more chance of failing, blowing up and taking out the rest of your components, (which is something you don’t want). If you buy good quality psu there is less chance of this happening, and if it does blow, then it’s highly unlikely that it will take out your other components.

It’s all about whether you want to take that risk.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

If you are on a tight budget a standard FSP model will do like this 400w one for 32 quid:

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

or this 350w one for 25 quid:

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

Postage is around 7 quid though.

This Antec 380W PSU is also not not bad for 34 quid including Super Saver postage from Ebuyer:

Antec EarthWatts 380W 80%+ Efficiency PSU - 80mm Fan 4x SATA PCI-E - Ebuyer

[moogle]

Hmm... would it be advisable? im only a poor student! as long as it will cope with everything perfectly well then im happy. Will it not? If it wont then i'll replace it. My budget would be as cheap as possible really - but i've read not to buy cheap PSU's, so a cheap decent one? if they exist!

if your current one can't handle it then try this
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

its £30 ish and it's a good company that makes it, comes with 1 pci-e connector if you ever need it. although 7600gt's dont require one its good to have the option should you want to upgrade.

oh wow, looks like catty beat me to it
i'm getting slow

[Pob255]

Given it doesn't even have a sticker on the side to show it's specs, I'd replace it!

The sticker is probably on the top not the side, it's often the case with OEM units.

If the make is Delta, then they are ok, above your el-cheapo on a par with the low cost FSP models.
(Delta make PSUs for HP and you'll find there name on quite a few laoptop power adaptors.)
Please remember than many manufactors produce both low cost models and higher quality expensive models in the same power bracket. (why I always say it's make&model)

Getting the PSU out to check is pritty easy, it'll be held in by 4 screws at the back. no real need to unplug it just to check for stickers (weight is often a good estimate of PSU quality but not a garranty as some less reputable makes have had added weights)

That said you may be around the limit of a 350w psu here, while it works now it might not in a year or two (as PSUs age they lose power)

I'd do the following:
1- take that PSU out, find the sticker for full details and feel how heavy it is (if it's about 1kg or less without wires, then dump it and get a new one)
2- if it's a halfway decent PSU, then stick in the 7600gt and see if it can cope, if it can all well and good (although you may want to consider replaceing it at some point in the not too distant future)

Things to watch out for are: instability, heat, electrical buzzing or high pitched whissleing noises, voltage performance under load (the +12 tends to be the one to keep an eye on, esp when gameing, if it's dropping below 11.5v then replace that PSU ASAP) I find speedfan is a good program to monitor voltages.


PS personally I'd of gone for something a bit better than the 7600GT but if you've already ordered it's a bit late
EDIT:
You might want to add a rear case fan while you're at it, a good quite 120mm fan will be around £6-7 and will help as the PSU will not be the only fan extracting hot air from your case.
(I'd advoid the really cheap ones as they tend to be rather unbalenced and vibrate alot which actually makes them rather noisey)
Something like one of these would be fine.
120mm Silverstone FN122 Black Fan Extend bearing design Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK
120mm Sharkoon Sys. Fan Silent 21dB(A) Case Fan Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK (or the midrange version, slightly louder but more air flow, just not the Power version, it does pump out a heck of a lot of air but sounds like you've got a jet engine inside your pc)
120mm Sharkoon 2000 "Golf Ball" Quiet Case Fan Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK (or the 1000rpm version for less noise)
120mm AK-183-L2B Akasa Amber Case Fan Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK (I do quite like these, just don't go for the Asaka blue or grey value fans, they are quite bad for vibration buzz)

[JammasterJ]

Sorry for this late reply i've been away the past few days!

Well i took my PSU out to check the label, had more trouble getting it back in than taking it out!

My camera is so bad it couldn't take a clear enough picture of the label so i wrote down what info was on the label, here it is in order it appeared on the label:

Delta electronics inc.

model - GPS-350EB - 200A REV
input - 115V ~ 8A, 230V ~ /5A
50-60HZ S/N: ASWD0736147891

output
continue max +12V1 = /10.0A +12V2 = 15.0A

power 300W +5W = /21.0A + 5?(unsure of my handwriting here) = /2.0A

peak power 350V +3.3V = /22.0A 12V = /0.3A

+5V & +3.3V output can't exceed 130W
+5V & +3.3V + 12V1 & + 12V2 output can't exceed 290W

where i use "=" it represents a symbol which looks like this:

Hope this helps! thankyou all once again.

[Blitzen]

Combined 12V of a tad over 24A.
(Max output = 290W: 290/12 = 24.16A)

The only thing that would concern me is the 12V1 can only deliver a maximum of 10A whereas the 12V2 can do 15A

The power switching there seems off to me and i wouldnt trust it tbh.