GPU Buying Guide - (Read first post)

350W... Should you grab a new one, or just link two power supplies inside the
?

What brand and model are we talking about?

My computer is actually back home in Texas, so I can't be 100% certain about the specifics.

Right now, the specs include a D915 2.8GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, a 150GB HDD, one optical DVD drive, and an x1300/1550 graphics card.

As far as I recall, the power supply wasn't total junk. If I end up needing to swap that out too, would 600W be enough? Is 600W sufficient for a more significant upgrade to the motherboard, CPU, and other components?

wiredlynx10 said:My PC is back home in the Midwest, so I don't know the exact specs offhand...

Right now, it's running a D915 2.8GHz, 2GB of RAM, a 150GB HDD, one optical DVD drive, and an x1300/1550 graphics card.

As far as I recall, the power supply wasn't total junk. If I end up needing to swap that out too, would 600W be enough? A 600W unit should provide plenty of headroom for a decent upgrade to the motherboard, CPU, and everything else.

"600W" is a relative term; it might actually be weaker if it's some low-quality unit masquerading as a true 400W Seasonic.

BTW

The R9 270 arrived (the non-X version)—which means the R9 280 will likely show up soon.

I was considering picking up another power supply unit just to bridge the gap. My plan was to run the old 350W unit specifically for the graphics card and use a brand-new one for the motherboard. I figured I could just tie the power and ground connectors together. Is a second PSU even necessary in a setup like this?

wiredlynx10 said:I was thinking about grabbing another power supply just to run the GPU off the old 350W one while the new one handles the motherboard. Just bridge the power and ground pins... if a second PSU is even necessary.

That’s not how it works. 🙂

Why wouldn't that work? All I need to do is tie the grounds together and connect the power switch cable. I won't be running both units into a single motherboard anyway; there's no need. I'll just use one power supply exclusively for the PCIe pins.

And if the situation changes, I can always pick up an adapter to link both power supplies to the motherboard.

Why bother grabbing another one? Just buy a decent one if this is total junk and call it a day.

A 4850 should run fine on a 350W PSU if it's actually high quality, I guess.

I am not entirely certain about the exact power draw for this card. I have seen some websites claiming it sits around 100W, yet other sources suggest it can exceed 300W under full load—which seems quite hard to believe. Is it really that high? Regardless, upgrading the power supply unit should be a simple enough task.

Once I have purchased the card, I will follow up with the specific model of my PSU. Could you please check if it is sufficient for the job?

I’m thinking those 300 W include the whole load along with the other components—basically what the entire PC pulls from the wall.

It doesn't matter what specs he claims if the hardware itself is junk. He really needs to specify which exact model he's talking about.

wiredlynx10 said:...D915 2.8GHz...

Alright, let's say we sort out the GPU... but which CPU are we actually talking about? I hope it isn't a single-core chip, because if it is, you might have to swap that out too.

For example, http://www.ebay.com/itm/processors/intel-cpu-listing-example

crimsonstag84 said:Alright, let's assume we've sorted out the GPU... but which CPU are we actually talking about here? It can't be a single-core setup, right? Because if it is, you're going to have to swap that out too.

That's the actual model name.

http://ark.intel.com/products/27515/

Since that board is some prehistoric 775 relic—especially since it’s trying to juggle both AGP and PCIe—I honestly doubt any high-end 775 processor is actually going to work on it. Why take the risk? He really needs to check the CPU support list to see what's actually compatible... though if you ask me, why would anyone even waste their money on this? 🤷

The motherboard supports everything from Celeron up to Core2Extreme

http://www.asrock.com/mb/VIA/4CoreDual-VSTA/?cat=CPU

To reiterate... I won't be using this PC for heavy gaming very often. It’s mostly for multimedia tasks.
I might play a game here and there, just enough to run something if the mood strikes me.

I don't really think upgrading from a 2.4 GHz Core2Duo will make a massive difference. Is it newer? Yes. But is it a significant upgrade? Not really.

One more thing... Will my current power supply hold up for a few days with this 4850 while I wait to pick up a new one?

I mean, there's no way for me to know anything about your power supply if you don't even know what it is. That’s probably why I suggested those 4670/5670 cards; they can handle games just fine without needing an extra power connector, plus they draw way less juice anyway.

I think I'll just grab this 4850. There's a guy over in Phoenix selling one too, but honestly, I'd rather avoid dealing with shipping delays...

It can just sit there for a bit while I wait to pick up a new power supply..

Thanks everyone!!

Could someone please let me know if a Corsair CX500W is sufficient for a build featuring an HD4850?

I also came across an LC Power Office Series 600 w.. It’s quite affordable, and the reviews seem decent enough..

What would you all recommend???

wiredlynx10 said:Can someone please tell me if an EVGA 500 W1 is sufficient for a build using an HD4850?

I also spotted a Thermaltake Smart Series 600W... It's pretty cheap and the reviews seem decent enough.

What would you recommend???

I'm not sure where you usually shop, but that office model will get the job done just fine if you're on a tight budget. Check out this one on sale at Best Buy:

The EVGA unit is definitely a step up in quality; if you grab that, you won't have to worry about it. This one is also a solid choice: