Member Avatar for juseasy

I was about to order a PSU from A-Power ()

I need a new PSU to power my GTS 450 card. I am not a gamer, I just want to watch HD movies. The sales rep told me that this card will not work because it is not efficient enough.

He tried to upsell me on another PSU. Can anyone verify this or offer any advice?


Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

Dani AI

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Short answer: the GeForce GTS 450 is a modest midrange card (about 106 W TDP) that requires one 6‑pin PCIe power connector; specs/reviews list a suggested PSU for a basic system at roughly 300 W, so a decent 500 W or 600 W supply gives plenty of headroom for HD playback and light use. TechPowerUp: GTS 450 specs · AnandTech GTS 450 review. (techpowerup.com)

What the sales rep may have meant by “not efficient enough” is unclear — efficiency (80 PLUS) describes how much AC power is converted to DC, not whether the card will run. The real concerns are: an available PCIe 6‑pin plug, adequate +12V delivery and a reliably built supply. Quality, voltage regulation, protections and real +12V amperage matter more than the stickered wattage on cheap units. See Tom’s Hardware on why PSU quality and testing matter. Tom's Hardware: how we test PSUs. (tomshardware.com)

Practical checklist (use before installing or if troubles appear): confirm the PSU has a native 6‑pin PCIe cable; verify the +12V amperage on the label; prefer 80 PLUS Bronze or better from a known vendor; allow 20–30% headroom above estimated peak load; read professional reviews rather than trusting an unknown brand or a pushy sales pitch. OuterVision and PSU guides recommend that buffer to improve efficiency and longevity. OuterVision PSU guide. (outervision.site)

Context for this thread: was right that 500 W is usually sufficient for a simple system, ’s suggestion to pick a better-built unit is sound, and ’s 600 W purchase gives comfortable margin — provided the supply is of reasonable quality and includes the proper PCIe connector and protections. Common failure signs are reboots/artifacts under load, loud PSU fan or burnt smells; those warrant swapping in a known-good, reviewed PSU for diagnosis.

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Member Avatar for tje210

it's 500 w... more than enough for you.

Member Avatar for caperjack

i would suggest something better built like this one and not a bad price .

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
Member Avatar for tje210

might be better for a gamer... but this guy isn't doing anything special. more expensive doesn't always mean better. i got a 400W power supply for free ($25 with a $25 mail in rebate) and it's worked great for me for 2 years now.

just for the sake of discussion, what makes the one you recommended "better built"? other than the fact that it's a big brand name, of course. and that it's black.

Member Avatar for caperjack

just an opinion

Member Avatar for juseasy

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses...I went ahead and bought a 600W power supply. Probably overkill but it was on sale for $39 so I figured why not?!

Thanks again

Member Avatar for caperjack

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses...I went ahead and bought a 600W power supply. Probably overkill but it was on sale for $39 so I figured why not?!

Thanks again

too much is not a problem ,too little is ,so when the price is right ,go for it .good luck

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