I just bought a GeForce 6800 GS, not thinking that my Shuttle XPC only has a 250 Watt PSU and this card requires 350 W +. I'm taking this card back tomorrow, any suggestions on what I should get instead?
Not many good cards are gonna run on anything below 300 Watts. It'd be better to keep the GS and just upgrade your PSU, if possible.
IIRC, Shuttle PSU's are much more powerful than their wattage rating would suggest. I know several people running Shuttle systems, all high end rigs overclocked with no problem. Are you sure you won't stick the card in and see how it goes?
Even if the psu is not good enough, your better off getting a new psu to go with a good card than a bad card to go with a weak psu...
you should spend 15-20$ more on PSU it will give more room for your other hardware and better stability
Shuttle only makes a 300 PSU that you can buy for this system (that I know of). WildStyle, I could give it a try if you think it would even work... How do you think I should test it out? Will it wreck (and/or blow up) anything if I do? My other option is to return my shuttle XPC and get a (bigger, uglier) XPC that comes with a 350 W PSU for an extra 100 bucks...Maybe I should bite the bullet and do that?
first check the amps on the PSU, if shuttle really underrates its psu's it could very well be capable of running the GS, a 250 watt quality psu with good 12v specs is better then a crappy 350, which the 350w demand is based on if the psu cant hack it though, get a more powerfull psu
Dell rates their power supplies very low too. A PSU that dell rates at 250W is actually more like a 345 and could run a 6800gt. Hopefully yours is underrated by that much. I don't think you'll fry anything if it isn't enough, probably just a crash. It should at least boot to windows. I say get a new PSU if the card won't work on your 250W one. The 300W should cut it since they are underrated.
Wildstyle is right, Shuttle and SFF PC PSU's arent equivelent to desktop ones in terms of wattage, you cant really compare. Ive know SSF PC's run 7800GTX's with no problems what so ever despite being on 250-300watt PSU's. I would most certainly give it a go.
the specs nvidia provides is to be sure people dont get underrated supplies, hook up a lot of drives to it, and complain that it doesnt perform good. In a shuttle, you cant mount lots of drives, so they can get away with lower specced psu's. i agree with wildstyle and mikemk, it should be good enough, give it a try at least.
look at the rails 12v/5v/3.3v do the math amps x volts = watts add up the 3 rails answers and theres the true output besides you cant hurt the card by low volts,either it will be artifact city or black screen so do it do it do it !! if its a no go,then buy an OCZ Powerstream PSU
Just plug the damn thing in. It will just complain if it doesn't get enough juice. PSU wattage is so overrated these days, I had no problems running my 6600GT on a generic '350w' PSU.
LOL shuttle useless less power on the hardware inside so 250 is good for shuttle. 250 = least 400 on regular tower
Happy New Year! Thanks to everyone for their help! If you are interested in knowing, I tryed it out and it does work perfectly! I have tested it out with many hours of (nonstop) gaming over the holidays and 3dmark as well, no problems. I am using a good APC SurgeArrest Pro power bar and that makes a world of difference, when plugged into a low-end Belkin surge protector I get a nasty message from the video card as soon as Windows loads saying the video card isnt getting enough power. The APC regulates the amount of power going in so that makes total sense. Thanks again
sorry big D'OH ! takes slaps across the forehead from the mods lol I never had a case that non roomy I have a 2.5 ft tall case my appoligies Bro so happy that worked out for you Happy New Year !