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In about one month i am purchasing a new video card, which will require me to purchase a new power supply, because my current one is only a 250w. I have been searching many websites in order to try to find out with PSU i will need and what features im looking for, and how to tell if the PSU will be any good, or if it wil crap out on me in a few weeks. Id really like some help here. I am looking for a 450 - 500w PSU and i was hoping to spend no more than $30, maybe ill need to spend more.
My system specs and componets:
AMD Athlon XP 3100+ 2.2 ghz rated at 3.1ghz processor
2 sticks of 512 mb pc2700 ddr sdram
160 gb hardrive
DVD - Rom drive
CD - RW drive
ATI Radeon 9200 se agp 128 mb (soon to be upgrading to an XFX 6800 XT 256 mb agp card)
9 in 1 card reader
2.0 speaker system (soon to be a 2.1 within the next week)
CRT Monitor
HP printer

I think that is all of the components of my hardrive.
I tried to find out what the form factor of my PSU was but i do not know where it is located on the actual power unit. Also, i do not need a SLI ready power supply, but what is the 12V+ feature on some of the PSU's? Im really confused here and I cannot afford to fry my motherboard due to a faulty or underpowered PSU
Thanks in advance

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Dani AI

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A compact, practical guide to the PSU upgrade discussed in this thread (original build from ; product pointer from ) that fills gaps the replies haven’t covered.

"12V+" explained and why it matters
The +12V rail(s) are the ones that actually feed hard drives, fans, the CPU and—most important here—the video card. For a GPU upgrade the single most important spec is how many amps are available on the +12V rail(s), not just the sticker wattage. Some cheap units advertise high total watts while having weak +12V capacity; those are the ones that fail under load or cause instability.

Checklist before buying

  • Confirm the video card vendor’s minimum PSU recommendation and any auxiliary power plug the card requires (some AGP cards draw extra power from a peripheral/Molex connector).
  • Read the PSU label: note total wattage and the combined +12V amperage. If multiple +12V rails are listed, check how the rails are distributed and whether the rail(s) that feed PCI/AGP connectors have enough amperage.
  • Physical fit and cables: check case clearance and that there are enough Molex/SATA connectors for all drives and the card. Many modern PSUs include a 20+4 main plug for backward compatibility—confirm the adapter is present if needed.
  • Build quality markers: active PFC, longer warranty, solid user reviews, and quality electrolytic capacitors are worth paying for. A genuine, well-reviewed 450–500W unit will normally cost more than a $30 impulse buy.
  • After installation: monitor voltages in BIOS or with monitoring tools. +12V should be close to 12V (roughly 11.4–12.6V); large drops under load are a red flag.

Summary
Prioritize a reputable make with good +12V capacity and the correct connectors over the lowest price. That approach protects the motherboard and the new XFX 6800‑class AGP card and will save money and headaches in the long run.

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Member Avatar for Bhstickman

alright thanks this looks great, however it is a 20 + 4 pin main connector, i need only a 20 pin. is it possible that i can use a 20 + 4 pin connector on a normal 20 pin board or do i need a converter or something?

Member Avatar for nizzy1115

alright thanks this looks great, however it is a 20 + 4 pin main connector, i need only a 20 pin. is it possible that i can use a 20 + 4 pin connector on a normal 20 pin board or do i need a converter or something?

It has the converter in it already. It is an adaptor that makes it from 24 to 20 pins. You will be all set with it.

Member Avatar for Bhstickman

alright thanks a bunch. ill buy it in a few weeks with my video card. hopefully they'll have a rebate on it then. hopefully i can still get a few years out of this agp video card too. thanks for the help

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