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video/pci graphic card power watt requirement

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Phyllis, 2003/12/10.

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  1. 2003/12/10
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    I am either going to start sobbing or rip my face off I am SO frustrated. March 2002 I purchased an HP Pavilion 510n 1.2GZ, 256 MB ram with integrated video chipset. No agp slot. Before I left the store I upgraded the video card w an Aopen Nvidia TNT2 32mb as well as purchasing a 4 year preferred protection plan.

    I started looking into upgrading my video card so I can give it to my son for Xmas so he can play Battlefield 1942.

    For 3 days and nights I called HP's 15 different customer support/sales support phone numbers only to reiterate my name, address & phone number and tell them I want to purchase a video card but I need the part #. All I got was another 800 # to call or their web address because it was out of warranty and was told I would have to pay for tech support at $20, yet another person quoted me $30, to find out the part # for the video upgrade. I kept telling them I don't need technical support I need information. In an effort to help myself, I discovered that these video cards have certain watt requirements. The power watt of my pc is no where to be found on HP website, manual or even through HP customer support. I contacted my warranty department and they could not come up with how many watts the pc has. Finally, coming full circle with HP from 7:00 am until 11:30 am I broke down sobbing & studdering I just want to upgrade my video card for my son for christmas; can you at least tell me how many watts of power this pc uses? Someone told me 200 watts. I was also told to type into Google Pavilion 510n video upgrade and a whole bunch of info would come up. Well, I did and while alot of info came up, nothing was helpful.

    I started calling the video card manufacturers (mad dog, VisionTek, PNY to find out how much watt the card requires. So far all my holding, selecting menus has brought me to tears.

    Can anyone help me? I need a pci video card that can run on 200 watt power min. 64 mb ram preferrably 128 ram. Thank you.
    :(
     
  2. 2003/12/10
    Daddad

    Daddad Inactive

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    Phyllis, I'll try to help but I am not a gamer by any means.

    Steve Jones (a staff member) posted this site a few days back:

    http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

    If you can take the case of the computer off or a side panel off, you can look at the power supply rating on the side of it.

    According to the above site, video cards can pull anywhere from 30-75 watts.

    It's indeed a shame that the machine came without an AGP card slot.
    You would have many more posssibilities to choose from.

    Hope this helps a little bit.

    Daddad
     

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  4. 2003/12/10
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    THank you for taking the time to reply. I did go on the link and well, I supose I don't know about the sound but factoring in a 2nd 256 ram chip it said the recommended watt was 202. Otherwise it was 193 which is weird that I would be so close to empty before I left the store. Tomorrow when my kids aren't around I'll pull it apart and cry.

    Thank you.
     
  5. 2003/12/10
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    P.S. the PNY Gforce 5200 requires 250 watt. Of course, I don't know how to find out the wattage requirements on these PCI boards and I haven't found anyone who knows not even the manufacturer. I called a manufacturer today and they said "oh, it should work" then I asked about the watt requirements. They didn't know anything about it.:(
     
  6. 2003/12/10
    Daddad

    Daddad Inactive

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    "P.S. the PNY Gforce 5200 requires 250 watt "

    Dear God, I should hope not :(

    Have never heard of any video card pulling THAT much power.

    Are you certain the PCI video card that is in there now will not run that game you spoke of ??

    Maybe some of the gamers can chime in on this one.

    I'm too busy building computers for people to have much time to play games :D

    Daddad
     
  7. 2003/12/10
    iceolated

    iceolated Inactive

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    Phyllis,

    As Daddad said, you should be able to to see the rating listed on a big label on the power supply's side.

    P.S. the PNY Gforce 5200 requires 250 watt.

    Said the same thing on the side of my GeForce FX5200's box. I think it is meant in the context that one should have a 250 watt power supply to run the video card and all the other stuff present in the case.

    I came across a site called Part Solver that supplies replacement parts. In my search for a Pavilion 510n power supply it matched it to a 150w model. You can see the result here. Hopefully it's the wrong part they listed and checking the label on your power supply should confirm whether this is true or not.

    I fear that a 150w power supply may be woefully inadequate for that GeForce 5200 card. Not having enough wattage can generate a whole host of problems. Gaming tends to be one of the heaviest taxers of the power supply's capacity and in my experience OEM systems generally have power supplies with just enough power to handle what is shipped in the case.

    Let us know what you find on that power supply label.

    Cheers,

    ICE
     
  8. 2003/12/11
    Daddad

    Daddad Inactive

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    Thanks Ice for jumping in on this one.
    You are absolutely correct in what you say about games stressing a computer and it's power supply.

    I could run AutoCad in full 3D mode with many iterations and not tax my machine as much as some of these new games will.

    $120.76 for a 150 watt ATX power supply, that is outrageous :(
    I put an Antec True 330 PSU in my machine and it cost me about $55.00

    I fear too that Phyllis will find a 150 or 200 watt maximum PSU in that machine when it will probably need 300 watts at a minimum with a high end video card.

    And to make matters even worse, if HP pulled the same trick that Dell did with some of their machines where they installed NON STANDARD ATX power connectors on their motherboards and power supplies, Phillis will be forced to go back to HP for a larger PSU and pay a hefty price instead of picking up a standard ATX PSU with higher wattage and at a much lower price.

    As you stated, people are finding out that many OEM machines come with just barely enough hardware strength to get them out of the show room.
    A really good gaming machine can cost upwards of $3000.00 instead of under $1000.00 like we see all over.

    I sent an email off to my Son, who has been heavy into gaming and has been the sales manager of two of the most well known gaming software companies, to read this thread and make comments back to me.
    He has forgotten more about games than I will ever know :D

    Daddad
     
  9. 2003/12/11
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you so much for your replies and follow-ups. My machine was purchased 3/02. Your right Daddad, it was barely enough to make it out of the store! I purchased this from Microcenter in St. Davids, Pa and over the years I have purchased 3 machines. I'm thinking about driving the 50 miles with the Pavilion in tow and see if I can get some kind of credit or something for an upgrade. I told the sales person what I wanted reiterating that this machine needs to be upgradeable. I understand tech changes by leaps and bounds but, I'm smart enough to know that these tech stores and pc mfgrs know WHEN technology will change because I know they can't manufacture these parts, import them from overseas and stock the shelves over night!

    As for HP they want customer loyality but they don't feel they have a responsibility to the customer. If Microcenter is aware that HP is shredding specs on equipment they put out a year ago then the retailers shouldn't carry their products! Goodness gracious, if you can't upgrade a video card a year after purchase what good is it????

    I'll post later after I pull thsi thing apart and look inside and I'll call the store and talk to the store manager. Thank you again.
     
  10. 2003/12/11
    Daddad

    Daddad Inactive

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    Phillis, I think you are seeing what Ice and I were trying to "softly" advise you about this HP machine you have.

    The fact that they didn't include an AGP slot seems almost criminal to me.
    Agp has been around for quite awhile.
    That will force you to buy a PCI video card.
    Most all really good video cards today are made for the AGP bus, although PCI versions are available from a few OEM's

    The power supply is going to be another issue too as Ice and myself have pointed out.

    I ran across this forum thread using Google:

    http://www.opentechsupport.net/forums/archive/topic/12180-1.html

    These folks know about games and what it takes to handle them, some good pointers there you will see.

    If my Son gets back to me with helpful suggestions, I will post back what his comments were for you.

    Daddad
     
  11. 2003/12/11
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    No surprise here, I took the hp apart and there is nothing on the inside that gives a hint as to the power wattage. Thanks for the link on the game forum. I'll let you know how I make out with Microcenter. Phyllis
     
  12. 2003/12/11
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    Microcenter said to bring it in and they will see what they can do for me. Hummm, I'll be there at 10:00 am, let's see what happens, I'll report then. Thank you.
     
  13. 2003/12/11
    Daddad

    Daddad Inactive

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    Your Sons are indeed fortunate to have such a mother as you.
    Hang in there Lady and let us know how you make out :)

    Daddad
     
  14. 2003/12/17
    Phyllis

    Phyllis Inactive Thread Starter

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    I upgraded the video card in the HP with a Mad Dog Conquorer FX 5200 plus 128mb for $119. minus $20.00 mail in rebate and price match from Office Max another $30.00 off. I also had them install 256 ram for a total of 512. The powe watt on the HP is 180. This whole experience left me exhausted, but at least I got it done. My son is using the computer and he/they are noticing a big change, but they think it's the cable modem. I wrapped the boxes up for Christmas. Thanks for all your advice.
    ;)
     
  15. 2003/12/17
    Daddad

    Daddad Inactive

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    Good for you Phyllis, glad you came out on top of that challenge.
    180 watt power supply is about what I expected in that HP machine.
    Hope your Sons are happy with all the effort you put into it.

    Daddad
     
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