Whats the best graphics card i can run with a 300W PSU?

[ryancxg]

some of my computer specs are:
intel core 2 quadcore q8200
6GB

It has an integrated graphics card at the moment.

Will my computer even last long with a quadcore processor? i heard that 300w+quadcore = bad.

What graphics card can i get and would my computer be able to support it and itself for a long time?

Im hoping for a gpu that can handle upcoming modern warfare 2 and left 4 dead 2 on med quality and decent resolution.

 

[WR2]

What size / resolution monitor will you be using?
Not all 300W PSUs are the same quality.
Got a make and model on yours?

 

[megamanx00]

If your PSU is crappy I would say don't go above a Radeon 4550 or maybe an NVIDIA 9500GT. If it's a decent unit then perhaps you could get away with a 4670 so long as you don't run furmark on it ^_^.

 

[Onyx2291]

If your PSU is crappy I would say don't go above a Radeon 4550 or maybe an NVIDIA 9500GT. If it's a decent unit then perhaps you could get away with a 4670 so long as you don't run furmark on it ^_^.

Pretty sure a 9500 minimum requirement is 350w so I wouldn't recommend that either.

9400, GT 220 and any lower are 300w minimum or less, not sure about lower ATI cards.

 

[Bluescreendeath]

The vast majority of 300watt PSUs can handle at least a 4650...sometimes a 4670.

9400GTs use approx the same amount of power as a 4650 I believe, and a 4650 is way better.

Go for a 4670 if you can though.

 

[ryancxg]

HD im guessing? and will it be find if i get a graphics card that requires exactly 300? or will it kill my comptuer?

 

[Bluescreendeath]

I ran an overclocked 4650 on my Dell 305watt PSU without any problems. I also had an Core2Duo E6300 OCed from 1.8GHz to 2.5GHz.

Power requirements of graphics cards are usually over stated.

 

[berserker29]

Basically nothing that needs an additional power connector - which your psu probably doesn't provide anyway.

I would honestly recommend getting a better psu first, THEN a new GPU - your CPU is crying out for a GPU to bottleneck!!

Even just 400 watts would be enough for a decent GPU, and you'll still have enough wiggle-room for a comfortable CPU overclock.

 

[WR2]

HD im guessing? and will it be find if i get a graphics card that requires exactly 300? or will it kill my comptuer?

Why guess? List your PSU make and model; and the DC output info from the PSU data plate and you'll have some good advice - not guesses.

Sample data plate: