Best video card to run on a 180watt PSU?

[Rezist]

Why not just stick with your integrated graphics?
If you want gaming you'll need a 5670 or something about that range, but that could be too much power draw.

 

[Washoe]

Why not just stick with your integrated graphics?
If you want gaming you'll need a 5670 or something about that range, but that could be too much power draw.

I'm just hoping to find something that won't be too costly but can give some improvement. I'm thinking the 5570 now at $50 (after MIR) will give me that.

 

[-Slacker-]

I have 3 machines in my house that together wouldnt max out the PSU.

a reference 5570 has a TDP of 43w.


washoe what else is going in this rig?

Fine, let's add up some watts.

CPU 65w + VC 43w +25w mobo + 15w HDD + 10w optical + 3w ddr3 = 161w


Now let's take a 180w "lite-on" psu which, in all probability, does not advertize it's real wattage, but haow much power it grabs from the wall.

I would not put this one at a power efficiency above ~70% and, combined with the fact that psus loose their efficiency over time, it should be even less.

So those 180 "pretend watts" are actually ~130w (probably less)



Sorry, bucko.

 

[biostud]

any reason for not buying a more powerful PSU? you can get a decent PSU for ~$35

 

[toyota]

yeah these cheap oem power supplies from companies like lite on or hi pro do NOT make their advertised wattage in real world conditions. "+3.3v/+5v/+12v Power shall not exceed 170W" is not much to work with when you know it cant even actually make that. that pc with a 5570 could easily hit 120-130 watts under full load which is probably right at the very limit of what that psu can realistically handle. best case scenario is that it works for a few months before you get that nice stinky burning smell.

 

[Zargon]

Fine, let's add up some watts.

CPU 65w + VC 43w +25w mobo + 15w HDD + 10w optical + 3w ddr3 = 161w


Now let's take a 180w "lite-on" psu which, in all probability, does not advertize it's real wattage, but haow much power it grabs from the wall.

I would not put this one at a power efficiency above ~70% and, combined with the fact that psus loose their efficiency over time, it should be even less.

So those 180 "pretend watts" are actually ~130w (probably less)



Sorry, bucko.

I would be surprised if that CPU ever hit above 40w to be honest. now the shittiness oft the PSU is a whole other factor

even with your math, he definately doesnt need a 400W PSU. however thats about the cheapest decent PSU you can get with the reboate right now.

I didnt search to see if the computer uses a weirdo or regular PSU

 

[toyota]

it does not look like a normal size psu to me.

 

[Zargon]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104075

FSP Group FSP300-60GHS-R 300W Micro ATX / SFX 80 PLUS Certified Power Supply


if not that should do it if its a worry

 

[Washoe]

Thanks everyone for the input. I should have spent more time considering this when I got the system. I went ahead and got the 5570 without an extra power supply.

What is the biggest risk I'm taking in not upgrading the power supply? Just that the PSU will burn out... if so I just get another one. Or is there more at risk?

 

[toyota]

Thanks everyone for the input. I should have spent more time considering this when I got the system. I went ahead and got the 5570 without an extra power supply.

What is the biggest risk I'm taking in not upgrading the power supply? Just that the PSU will burn out... if so I just get another one. Or is there more at risk?

you are risking damaging other components too. I have no doubt it will work for a while but you are really going to stress that cheap little psu. don't be surprised when you get a burning smell one day down the road.

 

[bart1975]

You can always down clock the 5570 to save on some power.

 

[tweakboy]

A classic you will need this my brother

Matrox Millenium or a TNT2 ,,, jk I think.

 

[icboy]

Lenovo H405 (7723-1AU)

Processor AMD Athlon II X2 255 3.1GHz
Memory 2GB DDR3 1333MHz
Hard Drive 500GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
Optical Drive DVD±RW Drive
Integrated ATI Radeon 3000
Sound card - Integrated
Power Supply 180 watts, universal, manual switch
Keyboard PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse USB Optical Mouse
Operating System Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit

That's it

Hi there,
I bought the exact system; planning to use it for school work, itunes and htpc . I plan on adding a single fan. Do you think the psu at 180w is reliable enough for this purpose? Or should I just upgrade the psu regardless?
Thanks!

 

[iGas]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104075

FSP Group FSP300-60GHS-R 300W Micro ATX / SFX 80 PLUS Certified Power Supply


if not that should do it if its a worry

Or, if it fit the case: COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply (made by FSP) for $29.99 + $2.99 shipping vs. FSP @ $36.99 + $8.26 Shipping.

Elite 460 true voltage is 419W at 70-81% efficiency, and FSP300 is 358W at 81-84% efficiency.

 

[Spikesoldier]

180w it too low for CPU and GPU and other stuff.

it doesnt have enough voltage either I bet.

im going to back tweakboy and recommend against trying to run any discrete gpu to this system until you upgrade that psu.

OP, check your psu to see if it has the 80 plus logo. im assuming it doesnt. lets use the figure of 161w someone posted: 161w would even be pushing this 180w psu (of questionable quality) to the limits.

BITD, i fried two 180w PSU's trying to run a GPU in a SFF system. no other damage other than i learned twice that 180w was not sufficient.

 

[Spikesoldier]

Hi there,
I bought the exact system; planning to use it for school work, itunes and htpc . I plan on adding a single fan. Do you think the psu at 180w is reliable enough for this purpose? Or should I just upgrade the psu regardless?
Thanks!

a single fan wont be a burden to the 180w. when you add graphics cards to it or too many hard disks, then the 180w would be insufficient.