Using gpu without enough watts?

I just got a new Geforce 8400gs by galaxy. The card requires about 300watts but I only have 250. What will most likely happen if I use it? will it work?

If it works at all it will be unstable and you may damage both the PSU and the card. Remember if your PSU is 300w that has to be enough for the card, cpu, ram, HD, etc, etc.

It may work, it may not. My gpu calls for 600 watts. My psu is only 550, but since it is a high quality psu, it provides more than enough juice arty the 12 volt rail.

As far as side effects, well, anything from a no boot, all the way to catastrophic failure. Use the thermaltake psu calculator online to see how stand.

Hmmmm........

It says here:

GeForce 8400 FAQ

That the power consumption is 71 watts.

Where did you hear about 300 watts?

ignatzatsonic said:

Hmmmm........

It says here:

GeForce 8400 FAQ

That the power consumption is 71 watts.

Where did you hear about 300 watts?

well you know... on the box.

ignatzatsonic said:

Hmmmm........

It says here:

GeForce 8400 FAQ

That the power consumption is 71 watts.

Where did you hear about 300 watts?

71W seems like a lot for a low-end card, but I suppose that nVidia knows their own products.

If KayHai is combining this with a 125W CPU, that's worrisome with a 250W PSU. Things might be OK with a 65W CPU.

Joshatdot said:

Newegg.com - Galaxy 84GFE6DC2EMM GeForce 8400 GS 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card
- System Requirements - Minimum of a 300 Watt power supply.

It's not that the 8400GS draws more than 300w, it's a recommendation that your PSU is 300w for everything. Post up or edit your System Specs, and we can calc, guesstimate your total power draw. And if you can, take a pic of your PSUs sticker, or tell us exactly what it says for brand and model.

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