6800gs with a 300w PSU?

[LastRenegade]

I recently bought a new Compaq the SR1750NX.
AMD 3500+
1GB of RAM
Integated ATi xpress 200
300w stock PSU

I'm wanting to upgrade the video card in my new comuter, but I'm not sure if the 300w PSU could handle the 6800gs I want to put in it. I think I have to have a seperate pci-e power connector to run it too. Should I upgrade my PSU or buy a diffrent card?

Thanks!

 

[DonNagual]

It will depend on the quality of the 300w psu you have. One good indicator is checking how many amps the PSU puts out on the 12v rails. You can find this information by looking on the sticker attached to the side of the PSU (open up the case and you'll see it). If you have at least 24amps or so, you may be fine as long as you don't have too many other things hooked up (other PCI cards, USB devices etc).

But to be honest, my guess is you'll need a new PSU. Most 300W psus won't be enough, and I think that the 6800GS officially requires at least a 350W.

You can get a good 350-400W psu for under $40 these days. Check newegg and look up the FSB (fortron) psus.