Which Video Card can I get with only a 250 Watt PSU?

[LonesomeDove]

I have a Celeron D 360 Processor 3.46 GHZ desktop with 2 GB RAM and 160 GB HD. But the Power Supply is only 250 Watts. The video card I am looking for is a Geforce 7300 GT 512 MB which states minimum power supply is 350 watt.
Will a video card that needs 350 W supply work with a 250 watt PSU?
Or what other card can I get, given the 250W PSU? I don't want to buy another PSU since this is a budget system.
Thanks!

[board123]

What about a 7300GS? I think any super-low-end video card will work. They recommend 350W just to be safe. Your system's overall power consumption is nowhere near that.

[Smoked]

to get serious 7300gt is not worth it... you can buy a cheapo generic PSU 450-500 walt for around 20 bucks. the 7900gs seems like a good deal for $100.

[KorruptioN]

you can buy a cheapo generic PSU 450-500 walt for around 20 bucks.

Please don't do this.

[LonesomeDove]

Please don't do this.

Thanks for everyone's response.

What is the reason for not buying a cheapo PSU? Because of poor quality or it is not needed?

[board123]

Poor quality, which leads to drastically increased failure rate. The power supply is the last thing you want to fail.

[KorruptioN]

Who built your computer, and what model is it?

[ali123]

Who built your computer, and what model is it?

looks like it's custom built, i've never seen a prebuilt pc with a celeron d and 2 gigs of ram

[LonesomeDove]

It was a Compaq Celeron that sold for $197 at Staples. It came with 512 MB RAM and I upgraded it to 2 MB.

[sickcars]

you can buy a cheapo generic PSU 450-500 walt for around 20 bucks.

Very bad advice. You buy cheap PSU now then it fails on you in a few months and takes out your MB & HDD now you must spend even more to fix it.

If your going to upgrade your PSU buy a good brand name one Pay once not multiple times.

[terrybear]

IF the ps can be swapped out then a new ps is in order ... look for something like a Antec earthwatt I think its called in the 400-450 watt range that way if you plan on upgrading anything else you can do so comfortably.

[Smoked]

Please don't do this.

better than what he has now a genric 250walt PSU, looks like hes on a budget... thats why he is going for the 7300...

[rogeryen]

It came with 512 MB RAM and I upgraded it to 2 MB.
You mean downgraded:lol:

I've been looking at this for a bit, looks nice and pretty affordable too
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=015756&cid=PS.808

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23844&vpn=RP-500-PCAR&manufacture=COOLERMASTER

[Smoked]

I've been looking at this for a bit, looks nice and pretty affordable too
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=015756&cid=PS.808

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=23844&vpn=RP-500-PCAR&manufacture=COOLERMASTER

yup dats cool too

[KorruptioN]

better than what he has now a genric 250walt PSU, looks like hes on a budget... thats why he is going for the 7300...

"Upgrading" from generic to generic. Faulty logic much?

[jjtsl]

I was also told by the Staples IT sales consultant that the video card manufacturers tend to play it safe by stating a higher PS minimum level, but should work with lower PS.

[LonesomeDove]

According to the Extreme Power Supplier Calculator, the recommended PSU Wattage for a Geforce 7300 GT added to my Compaq Celeron D Processor 360
is 219.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Is this calculator accurate? If I add an extra HD, then the power supply is not enough but if I stay with my current configuration then it should be under 250 watts.

[Haz]

Just because the cheapo PSU is rated at 250W doesn't mean it actually will do 250W.

Check out this article (http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=134) with cheap PSUs not making the grade.

[ppl4golf]

I have a Celeron D 360 Processor 3.46 GHZ desktop with 2 GB RAM and 160 GB HD. But the Power Supply is only 250 Watts. The video card I am looking for is a Geforce 7300 GT 512 MB which states minimum power supply is 350 watt.
Will a video card that needs 350 W supply work with a 250 watt PSU?
Or what other card can I get, given the 250W PSU? I don't want to buy another PSU since this is a budget system.
Thanks!

Take it with a grain of salt...

I have an small AOpen desktop case that comes with a 200w proprietary psu. I have put a Celeron D 3.06GHz + FX5200 video card it and never hiccupped.

I also have used the same case/psu for an AM2 rig with A64 3200+ and a 7300GS and absolutely no problem either. It would crash if I try to use both onboard video AND the 7300GS.

[KorruptioN]

According to the Extreme Power Supplier Calculator, the recommended PSU Wattage for a Geforce 7300 GT added to my Compaq Celeron D Processor 360
is 219.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

Is this calculator accurate? If I add an extra HD, then the power supply is not enough but if I stay with my current configuration then it should be under 250 watts.

This calculator is not accurate. It just spits out a final wattage rating without any consideration of how many amps the PSU can put out on specific outputs..

[fido_fido]

if you are going to keep the computer on the long run, put in a few extra $$ and get a 350 - 400 WATT PSU i think it's about $35 - no more then $50 for the from 350 - 400 watts power supplies ... try http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=106&name=Power-Supplies

... pretty good place to shop for decent computer things

[onecoolloser]

I wouldn't recommend it. If you want better graphics, upgrade your PSU as well.