Power Supply for Video Card + HDD Swap

[Anythingwill]

Hey,

Hopefully the last part of this overly long topic.

I got a GeForce 6800 GS video card. Only my computer is a Shuttle XPC SS51G v2.0 like on http://eu.shuttle.com/archive/en/ss51g_faq.htm. Its only got a 200W power supply, and i heard that the card requires a 350W power supply. Even more specifically i heard it needs 18A on the 12V Line.

The best i had was to switch the video card and hdd over to a standard tower PC. Only, this brought up two problems. The tower PC's power supply is still only 300W with 15A on the 12V line. The second problem being that i don't know how to switch the hdd's.

For the power supply i heard that the 300W might work. I intend to use it for dual monitors, and nothing else really. I'm not really much of a gamer. I just want to know if it will work, and if there's anything else i need to do to make it work.

For the hdd's i don't mean i don't know how to take it out. It's just since Windows doesn't let you simply swap hdd's, that i was wondering what the proper method is. Or if there even is one.

Thanks guys

[drmsucks]

Put the Shuttle MB into the tower and you won't need to worry.

EDIT: Don't skimp on power.

[Anythingwill]

I started off thinking this was an ok idea, so i'd been waiting until i had a chance to make the switch. Which ended up last night. I realised, though, that although the shuttle motherboard can fit into the tower, the tower motherboard, of course, is not going to fit into the shuttle.

I hadn't thought to mention that i need both operational at the end of this. Sorry. Happen to have any other good ideas?

Also, i of course realise that it's not the best idea to skimp on the power, but will it work? To what degree will it hurt things, or slow the computer down?

[drmsucks]

I'm sure that you could have a problem putting the tower MB into the Shuttle.

If you need both computers, assuming that they both work now (but, I'm confused about the harddrives), put the video card into the tower and replace the power supply.

Also, i of course realise that it's not the best idea to skimp on the power, but will it work? To what degree will it hurt things, or slow the computer down?

No - it won't work if you are underpowered; not a matter of "slowing the computer down" - it just won't work. If it boots, it will be subject to a multitude of errors.

[Anythingwill]

The thing with the hard drives is that the tower isn't actually my computer. I managed to convince a friend to let me swap computers since they have essentially the same specs. The only thing is that they want to keep their hard drive because it's larger than mine, as well as they want to keep all of their information intact. So, somehow i need to swap them without losing anything on their hdd.

Also, why i ask with the power supply is because before i knew i needed a larger one, i ran the video card on my shuttle. And it worked. Of course i pulled it out so it wouldn't hurt anything once i found out, but i've been wondering why it worked if it's not suppose to.

Assuming i can't use my 300w power supply- which it would still be really nice if i could- i'd like to make sure i get a power supply that will work properly. So here's one that i found, and if you could tell me if it will work, that would be great. Now, it is a cheapy off ebay, because i enjoy ebay and i'm a very cheap man. Aside from that, however, do you see any problems with it?
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-OKIA-500-WATT-MAX-COMPUTER-PC-POWER-SUPPLY-ATX_W0QQitemZ360071165542QQihZ023QQcategoryZ42021QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[drmsucks]

Also, why i ask with the power supply is because before i knew i needed a larger one, i ran the video card on my shuttle. And it worked. Of course i pulled it out so it wouldn't hurt anything once i found out, but i've been wondering why it worked if it's not suppose to.

The card's power draw is a function of how hard it is being utilized - if you were just doing non-intensive computer tasks, I'm not surprised that "it worked." The card's power consumption will increase greatly when gaming. I haven't verified the power requirements that you referenced, but, I would not be surprised if the video alone draws 70-100 watts when pushed.

Assuming i can't use my 300w power supply- which it would still be really nice if i could- i'd like to make sure i get a power supply that will work properly. So here's one that i found, and if you could tell me if it will work, that would be great. Now, it is a cheapy off ebay, because i enjoy ebay and i'm a very cheap man. Aside from that, however, do you see any problems with it?
http://cgi.ebay.ca/NEW-OKIA-500-WATT-MAX-COMPUTER-PC-POWER-SUPPLY-ATX_W0QQitemZ360071165542QQihZ023QQcategoryZ42021QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You can use any PSU that you want - just be aware that the unit will 'crap out' if the system is underpowered.

As for the referenced PSU, "cheapy" is good for lots of things (and that PSU fits the bill!) but,  "Cheapy" does not work for PSU's; one more time, "Cheapy" does not work for PSU's - there are two parts to purchasing a PSU: a) specs and b) reputable manufacturer. You must have both - if you don't have the second, you don't have the first.

My advice is to verify the power requirements of the video card, and, if necessary, buy a properly spec'd PSU from a reputable manufacturer. OCZ, Antec, Sparkle, among others are reputable manufacturers and their products will meet the specs claimed for them. Okia (the Ebay link) is not on anyone's list of 'quality' manufacturers.

Best of luck.

[patio]

I'm still stunned and amazed that PSU's get scrimped on.....it's kinda an important component.
People will do a self-built and spend $1500.00 Bucks and throw a twenty dollar PSU in it and wonder why things are bad.

Done with mini-rant...sorry.

[Anythingwill]

Alright alright, i can get a better psu.

How do I confirm the requirements, though. I'm easily finding sites that say i need a 350W power supply, but i'm not sure about the 18A thing anymore. I had found it easily before, but after a somewhat more lengthy search, i only found this site http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=20377 that has it in the second post.
So, i really don't know, does that sound reasonable, high, low? Because assuming i'm thinking about this right, 70-100 watts, like you posted, would only be around 7A from the +12V... i'm not sure that's how you calculate it properly.

[drmsucks]

Alright alright, i can get a better psu.

 

Because assuming i'm thinking about this right, 70-100 watts, like you posted, would only be around 7A from the +12V... i'm not sure that's how you calculate it properly.

I was guessing on the 70-100 but did read that the card takes 70 watts max.  P = I x E. Power (watts) = current (amps) x volts, so, the power for the card alone is ≈6 amps. Virtually all of the rest of the computer's significant components also draw from the 12 V rail(s). Please don't 'arithmetic' yourself out of a new power supply - or do it right and list each of your power using components, look up their max power requirements and add them up. 
 
Based on a quick Google search, it looks like the min recommended PSU for the 6800 GS is 350 watt and 18 amp on the 12 V side- that would be a 350 watt unit from a good manufacturer!

Back to the issue at hand - I assume that you are going to consummate the swap of the Shuttle for the Tower. Further, I assume that you each intend to keep your respective harddrives; BE ADVISED, your harddrive probably will not boot the Tower and vice versa. You will (each) need to load the appropriate motherboard drivers before you can get satisfactory performance. You may need to re-install Windows.

Keep us posted!