Big M

Hello!
I have a Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo L computer, here is the specs:

*2GB ram
*intel core 2 duo 2,2 Ghz processor
*500 GB HDD (1HDD)
*Geforce 8400 GS 256MB graphic-card
*1 DVD burner
*Multi card reader (SD etc.)
*350W Power supply unit
*and all the normal things that a computer have (network card etc.)

I was thinking of upgrading my graphic card, cause the 8400 is really crappy for games (was never going to buy it, the computer guy in the store told me the graphic card was wicked and worked well with all the games for 2008), was thinking of a "Sapphire Radeon HD 4650 512 MB", they seem to be the graphic card i need after some private research. But the problem is that on its homepage it says that i need a 400W power supply unit... I only have a 350W PSU according to my computers sheet file...

I know its a little dumb to not have the required things and try to get one anyway but my friend have a really old computer with a 300W PSU, he have no much components in it and people told him he could run a 350W graphic card on his computer, and it worked. Thats why i am wondering if i am able to run a "Sapphire Radeon HD 4650 512 MB" on my crappy Scaleo L.

I would really be grateful if someone out there helped me out with a graphic card that my computer supports and doesn't run slow on even WoW -.-

I can answers all your questions as good as i can, just ask them :)

Phædrus2401

Graphics cards require a lot of power to run, and you'll want a minimum 500w PSU for a Radeon 4650. 400w is a MINIMUM requirement, that's what it takes for the card to function in an average computer without the PSU dying from strain. We recommend 500w to provide a safety margin and more stability.

Running a graphics card on an underpowered PSU is not recommended. It might work. It might work wonderfully. Then six months later the power supply dies from being overworked, or the graphics card's VRAM goes bad from voltage variations. Sometimes when a power supply dies and it doesn't have decent short circuit protection (which cheap ones in pre-built PCs usually don't) then it can fry the rest of the computer as well, it happened on an old eMachines of mine.

For a Radeon 4650 I would recommend this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703015
There are cheaper ones out there, but most of them are junk. A cheap power supply might deliver the power you need, but it will do it inefficiently, with a lot of electrical "noise" on the rails, and it will wear out more quickly than a quality unit.

emosun

Also the nvidia equal to a 4650 would be a 9500 and may be easier to upgrade to w/o the worry of any driver conflicts.

Big M

yeah i once thought i should buy a 9500, but i don't know if its as good as the 4650 with games, and it doesn't have a HDMI output. but the 9500 seems to have 350 W as minimum.

Phædrus2401

I ran a 9500GT on a stock 350w PSU... It was buggy and prone to crashes and I upgraded my PSU right away. After upgrading to a 750w (overkill, but I was planning on getting a new card) it ran smooth as silk. You'll want a 450w MINIMUM for the 9500GT, preferably 500w.

Big M

okey thanx :) if i get a 500 W PSU then i'll rather take the 4650 instead of nvidias 9500...

Big M

Phædrus2401, you recommended a PSU, but are you sure it will fit in my computer? i don't know anything about PSUs so i don't know if they are all as big as each other or if they differ from model to model. i don't want to buy a PSU that is too big for my computer :p

Phædrus2401

Well they're all standardized ATX, but you're right in that some power supplies are rather large. However the PC Power and Cooling Silencer 500w should fit just fine, it might be slightly larger than your current PSU but not by a lot. The depth and width should be the same or close, at most it might be an inch longer. It should still fit though. You might want to get in and do some measuring to make sure though.

Big M

okay thanks, this was very helpful :)