Under powered PSU vs Video card

**Toshido** · 06-16-2007, 11:33 PM

Just got a eforce 8600 GT and Armed assault to play with it. Have a 450 Watt power supply sitting next to me. BUT....

On the Video card box it says system requirment is 22 amps on the +12v rail and a 350 Watt power supply.

The 300W power supply in machine has 19 amps on the +12V rail.

The 450 watt power supply has 18 amps on teh 12V rail...

Likely will be buying a new PSU tomorrow but I am impatient, and curious...

What is likely issues if I plug in the video card with the 300 W PSU in the machine?

(Just a side note, wife wouldn't let me do it anyways and we will be getting a new PSU before card goes in but I am still curious)

**Acreo Aeneas** · 06-17-2007, 01:39 AM

Well, not enough power would flow. Your video card may not start, but your system fans could spin. Or your whole system doesn't power up. Nothing serious happens when there isn't enough juice.

I'd test it first to see if the system powers up. If it doesn't, then get a new PSU. I somehow doubt the 8600GT will draw 22 amps on the main +12V rail. Does either of your PSUs have mutli rails? (2-4 +12Vs)

**Toshido** · 06-17-2007, 02:18 AM

just cheap PSUs.

**Acreo Aeneas** · 06-17-2007, 10:54 AM

Did you try plugging in the 8600GT into your system and powering up?

**=Sarc=** · 06-17-2007, 06:56 PM

Give it a shot. I really don't think anything bad happens to the hardware when it doesn't have enough power. The worst that could happen is the system crashes. Although you probably bought a new PSU by now...