Is a 375v PSU enough for a HD 4850?

I have a Dell 375v PSU (yes I know...) and need to upgrade my Video Card for Civilization V.

It looks like the upper limit for my PSU is 4850, is that correct?

I don't really feel like spending more money on a new PSU... :(

Also what are the best manufacturers?

I would highly suggest you just get another PSU then work on getting a new video card. Considering you have a "dell" psu, I would highly suggest a new psu. Companies such as dell use the cheapest psu's to get the job done on there computers. I would think that PSU has extremely low efficiency and probably would not hold up to sustained loads on it. (Seen it from experience). Spend 30-60 dollars and get you a quality psu and a video card of your liking. Antec, Rosewill, ocz, corsair would be some of the suggestions on a PSU manufacture

Generally your computer will crash. Some Dell PSUs are actually good though, probably depends on the model you have. You could get a 4850 and only get a new PSU if it couldn't handle it. Captain__Tripps

[QUOTE="Captain__Tripps"]Generally your computer will crash. Some Dell PSUs are actually good though, probably depends on the model you have. You could get a 4850 and only get a new PSU if it couldn't handle it. HurricaneHugo

I wouldn't risk it...if I were you, I'd just get a 5770 which is more powerful than a 4850, has DX11, uses less power, and is only $35 more.

I wouldn't risk it...if I were you, I'd just get a 5770 which is more powerful than a 4850, has DX11, uses less power, and is only $35 more.

kaitanuvax

[QUOTE="kaitanuvax"]

I wouldn't risk it...if I were you, I'd just get a 5770 which is more powerful than a 4850, has DX11, uses less power, and is only $35 more.

HurricaneHugo

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5770/28.html

[QUOTE="HurricaneHugo"]

[QUOTE="kaitanuvax"]

I wouldn't risk it...if I were you, I'd just get a 5770 which is more powerful than a 4850, has DX11, uses less power, and is only $35 more.

kaitanuvax

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/HIS/HD_5770/28.html

I have a Dell 375v PSU (yes I know...) and need to upgrade my Video Card for Civilization V.

It looks like the upper limit for my PSU is 4850, is that correct?

I don't really feel like spending more money on a new PSU... :(

Also what are the best manufacturers?

HurricaneHugo

lol my standard Packard Bell iMediaPSU says output shall not exceed 250W yet it runs my 4850 just fine with no crashes or any other problems.

Well I hope you're talking about W but ya you should be fine. My friend runs a GTS 250 on a 300W powersupply with no issues. I'd bet my life it'd work with no issues but if it messes up you could just get a new PSU. I would also recommend a GTS 250 over a 4850 since it gets more fps in some games, runs cooler and comes with physx.

If you can't decide which to get look at these charts also compare cards by googling them. They will either perform the same or different depending on the game. But keep in mind NV cards usually run cooler than RD cards and come with physx. NV cards also usually get more FPS in games because most games are usually made for NV.

I wish you luck if you risk that power supply. Seems like a bad gamble to me because power supplies can take out other components when they die.

Read through this if you want some great info, some of the info is pretty technical but he has an entertaining writing style.

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=71