ATI HD4850 Card optical drive question

[Infused]

I'm thinking about buying this video card ATI Radeon HD4850, and under the sytem requirements it says this

CPU Requirements: CD DVD: Requires an optical drive DVD playback, DVD Drive Blu-ray / HD DVD Drive

Does this mean that the optical drive that I have NEEDS to have Blu-ray or HD DVD capabilities?

 

[BG-0]

No, you don't need BR or HDDVD drive. You don't actually even need a CD or DVD drive if you have an internet connection.

 

[Infused]

Phew, thats a lot

 

[crjdriver]

Do make sure you have a quality pw supply. While the specs show a 450W psu as the minimum, I generally like to see something like a 550W unit with a min of 40amp on the combined 12V rail. With a psu, watts mean next to nothing. It is the quality of the unit AND the amps on the 12V rail. With just about everything in a modern system being powered by the 12V, having a lot of watts on the 5V or 3.3V is just about useless.

 

[Infused]

Thanks for the tip crj, I was always wondering what amperage to pay attention too. With the purchase of the card, I also plan on buying a new powersupply, probably a corsair 550W

 

[BG-0]

That's good, I almost edited my post yesterday to mention about the power supply, but just didn't do it. Notice that if you don't get the Corsair, some PSUs have multiple 12 V rails (12V1, 12V2, (12V3, 12V4)), in this case don't add up the amperes on them, try to find a picture of a sticker on its side, like this one http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/OCZ/GameXStream700W/images/sticker.jpg, and see if there's a direct saying about the maximum combined current on the 12 V rails (50 A in the case), or then see how the watts are distributed, here there's 680 W on 3.3, 5, and 12 Volts', 155(~160) of them on the 3.3 and 5 V. This leaves 620 W on the 12 Vs alone, being divided 620W / 12 V = 51.xxx A. ~ 50 A.

 

[crjdriver]

Corsiars are fine units; you should not have a problem.

 

[BG-0]

It's not that I would recommend against the Corsair, I totally agree that he should get the Corsair, but just giving some useless info. -.-*

 

[crjdriver]

No, problem. There are many good brands of psu; and many more of junk ones

 

[BG-0]

Yeah. I think one couldn't even count all the crap quality PSUs out there. Those "cheap and reliable" "cheap and good quality" ones. I wonder how dare the web sites advertize them in such manner.

 

[Infused]

The local store recommended this one - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103023

Seems really nice - 700W with 4 12V rails with a max output of 50A. Only 139.00 to boot. It comes in on Thursday, can't wait to try it out

 

[BG-0]

That's totally overkill, plus IMO not as high quality as Corsair... You ordered it already?

 

[Infused]

This is the list that I have to choose from http://www.ncil.com/NewProductspage.asp?cid=58&scid=104&ssName=Cases%20&%20Power%20Supplies

I don't really have much of a choice, because ordering somethign will cost a lot more with S+H. Plus I'll get a tax break with my status card if i buy from there.

 

[BG-0]

Well, get the Sparkle one. It's the best (per-buck-wise) of those. Was just thinking of a situation of free choice. Good luck.