Power Supply Wattage? (Newb question)

[Deady]

Hola,

Right now I have an SLI motherboard with 2x 7600GS cards. I am upgrading my system to a new motherboard and I'm going to replace my cards for a single 8800GTS. Question is, is that my power supply is a 420w standard and I doubt that it'll cut it for the 8800GTS. whats the lowest wattage I could safely go for with that card? Keep in mind i DO NOT want to SLI it at this time, just one 8800.

Thanks.

 

[peterhuang913]

It all depends on the number of amps on the +12V rail, not the wattage. What the PSU model number?

 

[Sora]

the wattage isn't as important as the amperage coming off the 12v rails. Look at the side of the PSU and tell me what the 12v's read.

 

[veg1992]

Hola,

Right now I have an SLI motherboard with 2x 7600GS cards. I am upgrading my system to a new motherboard and I'm going to replace my cards for a single 8800GTS. Question is, is that my power supply is a 420w standard and I doubt that it'll cut it for the 8800GTS. whats the lowest wattage I could safely go for with that card? Keep in mind i DO NOT want to SLI it at this time, just one 8800.

Thanks.

need more info besides ur wattage.. i need like a brand name, model.. amps on the dual 12v... just give the model/name and i'll look it up,

 

[b1gapl]

It's not exactly wattage, that determines how powerful a power supply is, but how many amps it has on it's +12v rails. Can you see your power supply's label, and check how much amps on the +12v rails?

holy cow....we all four posted at the same, about the same thing.

 

[Sora]

i love how we all said the same thing and didn't notice anyone elses posts hah but yes check the side of the unit

 

[veg1992]

i love how we all said the same thing and didn't notice anyone elses posts hah but yes check the side of the unit

i was about to comment on that...

 

[peterhuang913]

I started it

 

[b1gapl]

I'm guessing his amps on the +12v rails, are somewhere around 25-28 amps, which is the minimum for an 8800GTS.

 

[Deady]

OK, wow...

thanks for the 23897298372 replies in one minute hahaha

Lets say I need a new power supply entirely cause this ones about shot anyway, I had to send my computer in because of heating issues and because the power supply is basically screwed. They're replacing it with the exact same one, but I kind of suspect its a low quality thing and I need a better one. What's the cheapest I could go without risking something to my system?