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  • (January 12, 2023, 01:18:11 AM)

Author Topic: I'm Lazy!  (Read 12248 times)

Vespertine

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I'm Lazy!
« on: December 13, 2011, 01:19:02 PM »
Ok, I really don't feel like doing any homework, so can someone please hand me an answer on a silver platter?  My video card is about to crap out.  PC is a few years old.  Current power supply is rated at 250W, and most of the video cards I find are rated at 300W minimum.  Two questions:

1. Do I really have to have a 300W power supply or are they trying to extort me into buying additional hardware?

2. If I really do need a new power supply, can I just get one and install it, or will it fry my motherboard (see comment about current power supply being rated at 250W)?
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ivan

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Re: I'm Lazy!
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2011, 06:16:31 PM »
*rattles off typical smartass nonsense*

*remembers who he's dealing with*

*rapidly employs backspace key*

Ok, that was close.

Anyway, someone should correct me if I'm wrong, but:

Using a power supply rated at a gazillion watts will not fry your motherboard. The opposite, however, is true.

You need a power supply that delivers adequate wattage to cover the power consumption of all the PC components, or things will overheat, fry, and possibly blow up.

Check this out: http://educations.newegg.com/tool/psucalc/index.html
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Demosthenes

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Re: I'm Lazy!
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2011, 07:54:40 PM »
What ivan said.  Having too small a power supply unit can definitely fry things you don't want fried.
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Re: I'm Lazy!
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2011, 08:22:31 PM »
All that being said, the more common wattage employed today is 400W minimum; which I'd recommend if you ever plan to add anything else to your pc.

On the other hand, if a 250W supply is what was in the machine you have; it's possibly time for a machine upgrade.
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Vespertine

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Re: I'm Lazy!
« Reply #4 on: December 14, 2011, 07:12:08 PM »
Thanks guys!

Seems to me that if I'm currently okay with 250W and the only thing I'm changing out is the vid card (to one that requires a 300W minimum) then I should be okay with upgrading the power supply to 300W.

Any major flaws in that logic?
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Demosthenes

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Re: I'm Lazy!
« Reply #5 on: December 14, 2011, 07:50:33 PM »
Quote from: Vespertine on December 14, 2011, 07:12:08 PM
Thanks guys!

Seems to me that if I'm currently okay with 250W and the only thing I'm changing out is the vid card (to one that requires a 300W minimum) then I should be okay with upgrading the power supply to 300W.

Any major flaws in that logic?

Nope.  In fact, a 350W or a 400W would be better, just to be safe.
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