Solved Isn't 300W too little??

[biggles1000]

I will be getting this PC soon:
HP Pavilion p6565uk Desktop PC Product Specifications HP
And while waiting for it to arrive, I have been looking over the specs sheet over and over. When I first read through it, it struck me as odd that the PSU was only 300W. For a computer with 6GB DDR3, 6 cores, a blu ray reader and a 1.5GB GPU, surely this is too little? The instruction manual with my Nvidia 8400GS, it said have a 300W minimum PSU (and that card only had 512MB vRAM). Yes, I know that the RAM isn't a main factor, but still, isn't 300W too little??

(Yes, I did want to build another rig, to re-strengthen my faith in my capabilities of doing so (some of you may remember that the motherboard on my last rig shorted by itself), but this PC was cheaper than it would cost to build one with worse specs (or so Custom PC magazine showed http://images.bit-tech.net/issues/2011/08/95/custompc-95.jpg ). Looks like I'll just have to wait a bit longer to build my dream rig. I will probably also be wanting to mod this a bit, e.g. get it up to the 16GB RAM max, add some more HDDs, so I do hope that despite it being a microATX board that the case will still fit normal size PSUs (as my last case didn't. Well, it did if I could go without an optical drive, which I couldn't).

 

[LiquidSnak]

You should be able to fit a normal PSU because the case is listed as being a mid-tower. If it really is, then it's a normal size PSU, as the only small ones are the ones for slimlines and some small media centers.

If you upgrade the RAM, etc, I would consider a 500W power supply, but stock it should run just fine.

 

[biggles1000]

okay, thanks for the information

 

[biggles1000]

I have a dead standard-size PSU lying around (don't ask why, well, y'know the US/EU voltage switch on the back? Don't switch it while it's on ), so I'll check the sizes as soon as it arrives.

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

Be sure to hang on to the old one(PSU) in case of warranty repairs, also be prepared to return the system to stock.....

 

[biggles1000]

Be sure to hang on to the old one(PSU) in case of warranty repairs, also be prepared to return the system to stock.....

ah yeah, thanks for reminding me (yeah, it has a 12 month warranty, and I don't particularly trust HP machines to run as smoothly as possible )
(I'll 'spread around some rep' and then get back to you, as you were the last last person I gave rep to )

 

[pparks1]

Most people buy power supplies that are too large. I'm sure a prebuilt computer has enough power...if not...it's warrantied.

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

Spec's on that system....not half bad... a good PSU and a nice card, and you'll be back in business.....The problem with a dream machine is the dream keeps moving.....

 

[vaidas3]

I will probably also be wanting to mod this a bit, e.g. get it up to the 16GB RAM max, add some more HDDs, so I do hope that despite it being a microATX board that the case will still fit normal size PSUs (as my last case didn't. Well, it did if I could go without an optical drive, which I couldn't).

if you plan to play games on this pc you will need to change graphics card because this one is .. very very slow for games. GT230 is low economy class GPU, in this case with overload of VRAM.. that amount will never be useful for such slow GPU. (maybe 512 or so its good match for this GPU)
It's fine to watch movies etc play simple games but not for more demanding games.
I think its marketing trick GB, GHz etc.. from old times (geforce first maybe second generation time) vga was judged by its VRAM MB, and cpu by clock speed MHz.

to answer your question yes for this build 300w psu is ok. tought there is almost no spare power (a bit more RAM one more HDD may be fine, but not better vga).
and if you plan to upgrade components you will need new PSU

 

[biggles1000]

Yeah, I had a feeling that that card wasn't too great, as yeah, they tried to hide it's real specs behind the large vRAM label
I've got an Nvidia 8400GS with 512MB vRAM knocking around in a cupboard, would that be better than the GT230? (or should I just buy a better graphics card straightaway )

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

The 230 would probably would be the better one.....sad to say....

 

[LiquidSnak]

What are you planning on doing with the machine?

 

[vaidas3]

Yeah, I had a feeling that that card wasn't too great, as yeah, they tried to hide it's real specs behind the large vRAM label
I've got an Nvidia 8400GS with 512MB vRAM knocking around in a cupboard, would that be better than the GT230? (or should I just buy a better graphics card straightaway )

GT230 is faster than 8400GS because its same class cards but 8400GS is old.
if you plan to play games (not simple ones but more demanding)
i recommend to buy at least geforce GTX560ti or so.. it would be many times faster than GT230. ofcourse you will need psu around 500W good quality
even if you plan to game a little i recommend upgrading to something like GTS450 1GB (and good 400W psu) I think this card is around twice or more fast than GT230.

 

[biggles1000]

thank you vaidas3 for throwing some recommendatios 'onto the table', as the vast selection available often makes me confused where to look or even start, so thanks
I intend on using the computer as mostly just a computer to do everyday tasks, plus run VMs and play some games such as the sims 3, GTA4, mass effect 2, mafia 2, test drive unlimited 2, red faction guerilla and other similar games. I don't anticipae running them on the highest settings, just bearable ones, but I feel a better GPU would probably be a good idea (unfortunately the mobo only has one PCI-e x16 slot)

 

[Thornton]

I will be getting this PC soon:
HP Pavilion p6565uk Desktop PC Product Specifications HP
And while waiting for it to arrive, I have been looking over the specs sheet over and over. When I first read through it, it struck me as odd that the PSU was only 300W. For a computer with 6GB DDR3, 6 cores, a blu ray reader and a 1.5GB GPU, surely this is too little? The instruction manual with my Nvidia 8400GS, it said have a 300W minimum PSU (and that card only had 512MB vRAM). Yes, I know that the RAM isn't a main factor, but still, isn't 300W too little??

(Yes, I did want to build another rig, to re-strengthen my faith in my capabilities of doing so (some of you may remember that the motherboard on my last rig shorted by itself), but this PC was cheaper than it would cost to build one with worse specs (or so Custom PC magazine showed http://images.bit-tech.net/issues/2011/08/95/custompc-95.jpg ). Looks like I'll just have to wait a bit longer to build my dream rig. I will probably also be wanting to mod this a bit, e.g. get it up to the 16GB RAM max, add some more HDDs, so I do hope that despite it being a microATX board that the case will still fit normal size PSUs (as my last case didn't. Well, it did if I could go without an optical drive, which I couldn't).

listen man, hp will low ball u on power every time, i had to upgrade, the gave me a 350, my graphix card alone needed a minimum of 400 and was recommended 450... all i can say is, hp has ok parts, cheep ass service and there ""experts"" are for shit!

 

[LiquidSnak]

thank you vaidas3 for throwing some recommendatios 'onto the table', as the vast selection available often makes me confused where to look or even start, so thanks
I intend on using the computer as mostly just a computer to do everyday tasks, plus run VMs and play some games such as the sims 3, GTA4, mass effect 2, mafia 2, test drive unlimited 2, red faction guerilla and other similar games. I don't anticipae running them on the highest settings, just bearable ones, but I feel a better GPU would probably be a good idea (unfortunately the mobo only has one PCI-e x16 slot)

You should be OK with the 230. If you are really worried about it, what's your budget for a new card?

 

[biggles1000]

listen man, hp will low ball u on power every time, i had to upgrade, the gave me a 350, my graphix card alone needed a minimum of 400 and was recommended 450... all i can say is, hp has ok parts, cheep ass service and there ""experts"" are for shit!

Yeah, I've had a long history of HP products and they have fantastic support resources for documents and drivers, but the actual people are rather useless and their 'community' of users is generally inactive and absent Thanks for the heads up on their 'shady' parts selection

You should be OK with the 230. If you are really worried about it, what's your budget for a new card?

Unfortunately I don't exactly have a huge budget at the moment. Some more money may be coming my way soon, but I'm busy pouring most of my money into my development of a company :/ A new PSU should be well within budget, but graphics cards generally cost a lot lot more if you want a good one I guess £50 would be the current budget, which I doubt would get me a massively better card (as vaidas3's recommendations of cards were around £80 and £140, which are very respectable prices, but probably just a tad out of budget at the moment )
On the specific topic of graphics cards, does the 230 support pixel shader 3.0? (I would assume so, but most graphics card specs lists are rather vast and hide the most end user 'important' parts amongst the rather more exceedingly technical) (and if the 230 doesn't, does my 8400GS?)

 

[Ivan the SoSo]

It would be better to wait....the 7xxx series should be out soon, that should push the 6xxx series prices down......For GTA4 the faster the card the better......

 

[vaidas3]

thank you vaidas3 for throwing some recommendatios 'onto the table', as the vast selection available often makes me confused where to look or even start, so thanks
I intend on using the computer as mostly just a computer to do everyday tasks, plus run VMs and play some games such as the sims 3, GTA4, mass effect 2, mafia 2, test drive unlimited 2, red faction guerilla and other similar games. I don't anticipae running them on the highest settings, just bearable ones, but I feel a better GPU would probably be a good idea (unfortunately the mobo only has one PCI-e x16 slot)

one PCI-e x16 slot is more than enough for your needs single card is ok. sli/crossfire is expensive and only for enthusiast gamers and because of two graphics cards PSU requirements increase too.


GT230 support shader model 4
same as 8400GS.. but shadder model support does not mean that you can get decent FPS on games that require it.

 

[biggles1000]

It would be better to wait....the 7xxx series should be out soon, that should push the 6xxx series prices down......For GTA4 the faster the card the better......

okay, thanks for the tip

one PCI-e x16 slot is more than enough for your needs single card is ok. sli/crossfire is expensive and only for enthusiast gamers and because of two graphics cards PSU requirements increase too.

GT230 support shader model 4
same as 8400GS.. but shadder model support does not mean that you can get decent FPS on games that require it.

thanks for the info about the sort of card that would suit my needs, and thanks for finding out the shader support level