DeputyDogg
Thread Starter
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2009
- Messages
- 85
My first post, so hello firstly,
I am looking to upgrade my graphics card to the 1GB BFG Geforce 9500GT (unless anyone can recommend a better DDR2 PCIe card for a similar price - £49.99 on amazon.co.uk). I realised that I would probably need to upgrade as well. Sure enough, my PSU (FSP Group Inc., 250W, 50-60Hz - if the sticker on the side of the PSU is anything to go by?) fails to meet the minimum card requirements of 350W. However, I realised I had never researched the current power needs of my current card (Nvidia Geforce 7950GT) and so, out of curiosity, I did.
This has stumped me. My current cards minimum requirements are also 350W. The card has been installed for 2-3 years with no issues at all. Whilst this probably means I have not been getting full performance out of the card, I don't understand (although am very grateful nonetheless) why the motherboard/card has not been fried or failed from the lower wattage PSU?
So that is my first query - one of curiosity. With this in mind, do you think I still need to invest in a new PSU for the new graphics card if the current one is sufficient and safe with a card of similar (although lesser) specs? If so, is there anything else, besides the graphics card, I need to consider when shopping for a PSU?
Below is some more info, in case you require it:
Current PSU: FPS 250-60Gen
Current Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 7950GT (min. req. 350W)
Wanted Graphics Card: BFG GeForce 9500GT (min. req. 350W)
Computer Model: Packard Bell iMedia 1559
OS: Microsoft Windows XP (SP3)
RAM: 1.5GB (I will hopefully up this to the max4GB this weekend)
I can't think of anything else that might be relevant - please let me know if you require more info.
Thanks for any help you can offer!
I am looking to upgrade my graphics card to the 1GB BFG Geforce 9500GT (unless anyone can recommend a better DDR2 PCIe card for a similar price - £49.99 on amazon.co.uk). I realised that I would probably need to upgrade as well. Sure enough, my PSU (FSP Group Inc., 250W, 50-60Hz - if the sticker on the side of the PSU is anything to go by?) fails to meet the minimum card requirements of 350W. However, I realised I had never researched the current power needs of my current card (Nvidia Geforce 7950GT) and so, out of curiosity, I did.
This has stumped me. My current cards minimum requirements are also 350W. The card has been installed for 2-3 years with no issues at all. Whilst this probably means I have not been getting full performance out of the card, I don't understand (although am very grateful nonetheless) why the motherboard/card has not been fried or failed from the lower wattage PSU?
So that is my first query - one of curiosity. With this in mind, do you think I still need to invest in a new PSU for the new graphics card if the current one is sufficient and safe with a card of similar (although lesser) specs? If so, is there anything else, besides the graphics card, I need to consider when shopping for a PSU?
Below is some more info, in case you require it:
Current PSU: FPS 250-60Gen
Current Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 7950GT (min. req. 350W)
Wanted Graphics Card: BFG GeForce 9500GT (min. req. 350W)
Computer Model: Packard Bell iMedia 1559
OS: Microsoft Windows XP (SP3)
RAM: 1.5GB (I will hopefully up this to the max4GB this weekend)
I can't think of anything else that might be relevant - please let me know if you require more info.
Thanks for any help you can offer!