Question Is 400W power supply enough

[magzzy124]

Can 400W power supply be efficient for this configuration:
CPU: Intel Q8300 Core 2 Quad
GPU:9800 GT 1GB
RAM: 2 x 2 GB DDR3
If you need any more information, just ask! Thanks!

 

[Wolfshadw]

9800GT specs

Recommended power supply for the 9800GT is a 400 watt PSU, but if your power supply does not have the required PCI-E power ports, it should not be used with that graphics card.

-Wolf sends

 

[NightHawkRMX]

The 9800gt reccomends a 400w minimum, so wattage should be fine.

Is this a decent 400w psu? What is the make and model.

 

[magzzy124]

The 9800gt reccomends a 400w minimum, so wattage should be fine.

Is this a decent 400w psu? What is the make and model.

It is a REALLY old psu. Not sure about the model, gotta check that tomorrow. But does it really matter? Is there any drawback of using older power supply?

 

[magzzy124]

9800GT specs

Recommended power supply for the 9800GT is a 400 watt PSU, but if your power supply does not have the required PCI-E power ports, it should not be used with that graphics card.

-Wolf sends

I will just use the adapter. I am just wondering if the 400W is enough for BOTH gpu and cpu.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I will just use the adapter. I am just wondering if the 400W is enough for BOTH gpu and cpu.

SATA or MOLEX to PCIE adapters are not reccomended. SATA and Molex are not designed to provide the required amperage for a PCIe connector. This can result in PSU failure and/or melted wire/adapter.

But does it really matter? Is there any drawback of using older power supply?

Could fail and kill your hardware. It may be a decent unit tho.
If it doesn't have the required connectors you cannot use it.

 

[magzzy124]

SATA or MOLEX to PCIE adapters are not reccomended. SATA and Molex are not designed to provide the required amperage for a PCIe connector. This can result in PSU failure and/or melted wire/adapter.


Could fail and kill your hardware. It may be a decent unit tho.
If it doesn't have the required connectors you cannot use it.

The thing is that I am using it right now, with an adapter. It works perfectly fine. What am I trying to do is upgrade my cpu to core 2 quad. That is why I am asking if the 400W psu enough.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

The thing is that I am using it right now, with an adapter. It works perfectly fine. What am I trying to do is upgrade my cpu to core 2 quad. That is why I am asking if the 400W psu enough.

Just because it works now doesnt mean it will continue to work.

I would definately upgrade the psu before putting more stress on it.

 

[Metal Messiah.]

But which PSU model and brand is it exactly ?

 

[magzzy124]

Just because it works now doesnt mean it will continue to work.

I would definately upgrade the psu before putting more stress on it.

ok...

 

[magzzy124]

But which PSU model and brand is it exactly ?

I will check tomorrow.

 

[jonnyguru]

The thing is that I am using it right now, with an adapter. It works perfectly fine. What am I trying to do is upgrade my cpu to core 2 quad. That is why I am asking if the 400W psu enough.

Isn't that how things typically work?

They work "perfectly fine" until they don't.

A car works "perfectly fine" until you run it into a building.

You want to wait to start a fire or destroy your hardware before you can stop saying it works "perfectly fine"?

 

[jonnyguru]

For what it's worth, this PC worked "perfectly fine" for a number of weeks before it was no longer "perfectly fine".

 

[magzzy124]

For what it's worth, this PC worked "perfectly fine" for a number of weeks before it was no longer "perfectly fine".

I can guarantee that the hardware in my pc is older than that one. My pc worked for almost 10 years now... and guess what.. it worked "perfectly fine".

 

[magzzy124]

Isn't that how things typically work?

They work "perfectly fine" until they don't.

A car works "perfectly fine" until you run it into a building.

You want to wait to start a fire or destroy your hardware before you can stop saying it works "perfectly fine"?

You really do like to bring negativity. Is it that hard to say: "No you can not" or "Yes you can".

 

[NightHawkRMX]

You can run a car and never change the oil.

It might work for years, but eventually oil passages get clogged and you engine will explode, costing more than just changing the oil in the firts place

 

[magzzy124]

You can run a car and never change the oil.

It might work for years, but eventually oil passages get clogged and you engine will explode, costing more than just changing the oil in the firts place

Well then, how do I "treat" my power supply?

 

[jonnyguru]

You really do like to bring negativity. Is it that hard to say: "No you can not" or "Yes you can".

You stop using it as soon as you can and get something appropriate.

 

[magzzy124]

You stop using it as soon as you can and get something appropriate.

Got it,

 

[Wolfshadw]

I will just use the adapter. I am just wondering if the 400W is enough for BOTH gpu and cpu.

The recommended power supply is for the entire system, so yes. 400 watts is for the CPU and GPU (and everything else). Aside from that, I'll just reiterate what I said earlier. If your power supply does not have the necessary PCI-E power connector, then it should not be used with that card. I do NOT recommend using adapters.

-Wolf sends

 

[Karadjgne]

It's generally called preventative maintenance. A psu has no outside ways of verifying anything other than its power outputs. So it's a guessing game, pure and simple. There's multiple clues that can/will be important factors though. Very old units is a dead giveaway for one. Capacitors degrade over time/use/heat. Think of it as exactly like a light bulb, they work great for 1 or 2 or 5 years and out of the blue 'pop', no more light bulb, with absolutely no warning. But you can think, light bulb - 5 years old - chances it'll blow = high. So if the light bulb is seriously important, before it does blow, you replace it.
Most older psus had a 1, 2 or 3 year warranty and you are way past that. If the engine in your car had a 100k power train warranty and the motor is now at 300k, what are the chances of something happening. It may still run great, question is for how long. Could be you are running late for a new job, sitting in deadlocked traffic.. And 'poof' engine dies.

It's a guessing game. We can only advise that an unknown psu of that age, needing that recommended power almost guaranteed will not be putting out the same as a new unit rated the same, it's old and worn. The chances of its continued use are iffy at best. We are saying it's a really old light bulb, it'll blow much sooner than later, and when it does it very likely will cause more damage or harm than you'd wish.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Just like oil changes cost less than an engine replacement, getting a better PSU now will cost less than a new PSU and other hardware replacements when your current PSU fails.

It will fail, its just a matter of time.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

For what it's worth, this PC worked "perfectly fine" for a number of weeks before it was no longer "perfectly fine".

What happened there?

Looks like a fan controller perhaps?

 

[magzzy124]

Just like oil changes cost less than an engine replacement, getting a better PSU now will cost less than a new PSU and other hardware replacements when your current PSU fails.

It will fail, its just a matter of time.

Its ok if it fails. i am concerned about the fire...

 

[Karadjgne]

To be fair, everything fails eventually. A better quality psu, with better quality voltage ripple outputs and a full vendor/factory warranty just lowers chances exponentially of unwanted failures at the worst time and snowballing other failures.