How can I check my pc power supply rating?

Hi.... I want to upgrade my gfx card in my new HP Quad from a 9300GE 512MB to a 8800GT or similar.



I think my pc is 300w ? Not sure though...how can I check?



- If my pc is 300w, can I get a sweet gfx card that is also 300w?



- If the new gfx card is higher than 300w, will it still work in my pc?



- If I have to make do with the 9300GE... how can I overclock it, or milk the pc without making it unstable? Is there a EASY to use program out there to safely overclock?



I don't want to change the power supply unless it's absolutely necessary coz' I'll also have to change the mobo and whatever? (true???)... and I think it will void my HP warranty. (Defeating the purpose of buying HP to start with!)



What are my options? Please HELP!



Thanks. :) How can I check my pc power supply rating?
Okaaay!

1.The Nvidia GeForce 8800GT will need 425 watts. This is the Minimum wattage. It also needs a PCI-Express 6 pin connector.

(This is what a PCI-Express 6 pin connector looks like,

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnect

5th row down, first photo. 6 pin PCI-Express power cable.

It also needs at least 28 amp's on the 12 volt rail, on the power supply. (This can be if you just have one 12v rail, or combined amp's of two 12v rails, to equal 28 amp's)



This is the XFX GeForce 8800GT. Doesn't matter what company makes this version, of the Nvidia line of 8800GT graphics cards.

(Scroll down this page to about halfway. Look under the heading Minimum System Requirements)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/



You CAN change the power supply, and not worry about changing the mobo. The only time you would even want to consider this, in THIS situation, is because HP changed the wires around in the 20/24 pin ATX motherboard connector. IF they put the wires that should follow a standard placement, in this socket, in different holes. (Not standard placement, in otherwords) (Won't be wires in the socket holes, of course. What I'm trying to explain, is that the wires that come out of the power supply, that go into this 20/24 pin motherboard socket, go into different holes in the socket. Different than the standard setup for this, is. Here is the standard placement of where the wires go, in this socket, (Connector)

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnect

On the above link from Playtool.com, scroll about halfway down the page. Look under the heading -%26gt;ATX 20 pin main power cable %26lt;- ,and also further down under the heading -%26gt; ATX 24 pin main power cable. There's a chart under the photos for both headings. Pin 1 on the connector is on the opposite side of the plastic lock tab. It has a Black wire next to it. You can't see it in the photo. Pins 1 thru 12 are on this side. Pins 13 thru 24 are on the lock tab side. You can see Pin 13 with an Orange wire in it, and PIn 14 has a Blue wire in it.



If the connector from your power supply has wire insulation colors, that do not match these charts, (I don't know if you have an ATX 20 pin main power cable, or a 24 pin one), you'll have to 'tech' up. If you buy a power supply from somewhere else than HP, you need to change the wires around in the ATX main power cable's connector. It's not that tough!



The wires that go into the ATX main power cable connector, go into individual sockets. At the end of each wire is a metal connector. It has a tab that sticks up, at angle on one side. You take a large needle, and stick it down in the socket hole. It goes in the side, that would connect to the motherboard's connector.

Opposite of the side the wires come in. The needle pushes the tab that's sticking up, down. Then you can pull the wire out. Ease the tab up enough so that it's at an angle, and plug it into the appropriate socket hole.



Yeah, I know! A lot of info! You probably won't encounter this. HP probably put the wires in the standard setting, and you just need to replace the power supply. 8 yr old kids do this, so I know you can. (Good thing they're not 5th graders, huh? %26quot;Are you smarter than a 5th grader?%26quot; Seen that show? Eh,....well never mind)

http://www.fonerbooks.com/r_power.htm



Suggestion for a power supply?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/

Detailed info on this power supply.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/4

(If you don't want to muddle through all ten pages, it's cool! Jump ahead to page 10 though, and read the conclusion)



Changing the graphics card itself, may void the warranty, much less changing the power supply. Can't recommend you go ahead with either one. HOWEVER, you may want to check those who have used this 'warranty'. It's about as good as printing it on a piece of toilet paper! After you haggle, and haggle with them, and if you win, you wait, and wait for the repair to be done!

Could be WHY, I don't buy pre-built computers, and build my own! I have the same warranty they do on parts, as the people who sell the parts warranty them also. (I also build slam-it-to-the-wall gamer computers, that they couldn't touch, unless I want to let go of $3500 bucks, instead of $1200!)



All the Kick-A, graphics cards need about a 425 watt Psu. It has to support the graphics card, and your system resources.

Nvidia or ATI. The ATI one's need less amps on the 12 volt rail, though!How can I check my pc power supply rating?
Open the side cover of the tower casing ---inside you will see a metal box at the top with a lot of wire coming out of it which is the power supply

there is a label on it which says how many watts its rated.

No you dont have to change the mobo for a new power supply

its best not to overclock the video card to prevent overheating problems.

a 500W power supply should be ideal for a GeForce 8800 GT cardHow can I check my pc power supply rating?
Well, the new card is definitely going to hog down more power. If you cannot open your computer without voiding the warrenty, I wouldn't do the upgrade right now if I were you. I hate to say it, but you are going to need a bigger power supply than a 300 Watt.



I would think you would need a 500 Watt, since the 8800 GT can suck down around 250 watts alone, so you see, that little 300 Watt PSU isn't big enough to handle the 8800 GT card.