Graphics Card for a 250w power supply

[Rouchel]

Hello all! Please bear with me as I'm horrible with computer jargon, lingo, and finding out where things are.
I have a pretty old 2008 Compaq Presario SR5550F witha 250w power supply The only gaming I use this computer for is WoW and even then, I don't necessarily need to play on the Ultra setting. Normally I play on the medium setting and am perfectly happy. I had upgraded the card it had came with a GeForce 8600 GT Overclocked that was given to me from a friend about 2 years ago. It just recently died and I was in a hurry for a replacement and went to Best Buy and bought a GeForce GT 520. This card was running as perfect as my old one for about 2-3 days and about 2 days ago, it really started to lag on WoW. I believe that the power supply for this new graphics card is too high for what I have.
I don't have a lot of cash at the moment so I wanted to either get a refund and purchase a better graphics card, return the card if you think I can definately run in but it might be defective, or purchase a new power supply in lieu of the the new graphics card.


I'm not entirely sure what specs you need, but here's is copy and paste from Speccy:
Operating System
MS Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Brisbane 65nm Technology
RAM
3.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 200MHz (6-6-6-18)
Motherboard
OEM_MB NARRA3 (Socket AM2 )
Graphics
W2252 (1680x1050@60Hz)
2048MB GeForce GT 520 (EVGA)

[truckpuller]

The guy's are going to ask you what your power supply 12+ amps are...you will need to remove side cover and look at tag on power supply for information needed...you should see like 12+v 12A 5v 15A and 3V 10 A..on the tag.

[Rouchel]

1st line: +12V 14A -12V 0.8A
2nd line: +5V 25A +5VSB 2A
3rd line: +3.3V 18A

and then there's something that says:
+5V & +3.3V 165W max +5V & 12V 218W max
I hope I got what you needed & thank you for the help truckpuller

[ShyguyXPC]

that GT 520 uses way less power than your old 8600GT did, so I doubt its an issue of the Power supply not providing the power.

Unless your PSU is what actually killed your 8600GT.


Just to check, but is this your system: Newegg.com - COMPAQ Presario SR5550F(KQ514AA) Desktop PC Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 3GB DDR2 500GB HDD Capacity NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Windows Vista Home Premium


If so, its got a crappy Bestec PSU in it, which isn't doing the system any good.


Luckily that system uses a standard ATX Power supply design.


A replacement like this is all you'd need: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite 460 RS-460-PSAR-J3 460W ATX12V V2.31 Power Supply


Or if you feel like not ordering online and shopping Best Buy...

Antec - Basiq 350-Watt ATX Power Supply - BP350

Antec - 450-Watt Power Supply - VP450

Cooler Master - Elite 460-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply - RS460-PSARJ3-US

The Antec VP 450 is the best of the 3, the Coolermaster 460 is a good unit, but isn't truly a 460W Unit, its actually less.

the Antec 450W is actually a 450W unit, or close enough.

but your system with its specs if the same as the link above, with the GT 520 will run fine on that 350W unit as well.

[Rouchel]

Yeah, that's my computer for sure. Out of all of the power supplies you've provided me, which one do you think is the best? I only went to Best Buy because it's 2 minutes from my apartment and I didn't want to pay the shipping and handling for something I could get down the road but if the one on Newegg is definitely the best buy, then I can definitely wait for that.

Please let me know & thank you so much for your help thus far

[ShyguyXPC]

Apparently you missed where I listed the Antec VP 450 from Best buy as the best one of the bunch, given the price.

If they have it in stock at the store, for that price, or close to it, then grab it, otherwise the Coolermaster if its in stock at the store, for near $40, then nab that.

Either one will suffice for running your system. Considering the age of the Platform, I wouldn't spend more on it for a PSU with more power, first of all since its not needed, and any higher end video card these days $100 range or so, or more, would be severely bottlenecked by your older AMD CPU anyways.

But even if BB doesn't have it in stock at the store, the online deal with free shipping is still the best deal of the 3, even compared to neweggs pricing on the Coolermaster with free shipping.

$30 with Free shipping on the VP450, from BB, is clearly the best deal.

[Rouchel]

You had mentioned the Antec VP being the best of the 3 from Best Buy, not as the overall best one but now when I looked a second time it seems you linked the Coolermaster 460 twice so that's my bad, sorry.
I'll go ahead and get it tonight and hopefully that will fix my problem.

[ShyguyXPC]

yep, the Coolermaster one was listed twice, because it was on both sites.


No guarantee that this will fix the problem, but it should at least rule it out as to whats wrong, plus it couldn't hurt to replace the old crap PSU with something much newer and reliable.