hd4850 and its power consumption

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versatile

New Member
Hello everybody!,


I am going to buy hd4850 to play some games from up to 2008. I am not a hardcore gamer who plays the latest games. I play every once in a while, but I always set full details so I need a good graphics card. But I learned that it produces a lot of heat and takes a lot of power. Even more than 100W.:eek:

I don't want to see electricity bills… :D.

I don't want to have an oven in my case. Is there any replacement for this graphics card? Similar to hd4850's performance taking less power and reasonably priced? I mean at similar/the same price?


(my CPU is intel Pentium G2020; PSU 350 Watt chieftec; 4GB DDR3)


thanks
 
Dont know what your getting it for but a 4850 is a kinda old card. Would be better off with something like a 7750, better card and uses less power.
 
StrangleHold said:
Dont know what your getting it for but a 4850 is a kinda old card. Would be better off with something like a 7750, better card and uses less power.
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Agreed with this. 4850 is old. 7750 is faster but less power hungry and runs colder.
 
You need a new power supply anyway mate. 350W isn't going to power any decent card. If I were you, I'd pick up a Corsair CX 430 or a 500 and a 7750 or a 7770. Forget about the 4850.
 
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Denther said:
350 watt should power a 7750 just fine considering how efficient that CPU is.
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Nonsense, that PSU has between 14A and 22A (depending on exact model) on the 12V rail. Insufficient for any discrete GPU. You need at least 26A on the 12V rail from a quality built PSU to run a discrete PSU.

spirit said:
You need a new power supply anyway mate. 350W isn't going to power any decent card. If I were you, I'd pick up a Corsair CX 430 or a 500 and a 7750 or a 7770. Forget about the 4850.
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this ^
 
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Thanks for your replies.

I think Chieftec gps350eb-101a can power the computer. It has two lines 12v=120W and 12v2=180W. The whole computer won't take more than 220W while full load. Right?

As I have already mentioned, I won't play the newest games. So I though that older graphics card could be sufficient - and I will spend less money. I am going to play games up to 2008 (2009).

What is more, the graphics that you have recommended is much more expensive than a second hand hd4850.

PS
1. hd7750 will run fine with older games from 2003-2008?
2. Is there any second-hand similar graphics card to hd4850 that takes less power? Giving similar performance? The said hd7750 is twice as expensive as hd4850
 
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versatile said:
Thanks for your replies.

I think Chieftec gps350eb-101a can power the computer. It has two lines 12v=120W and 12v2=180W. The whole computer won't take more than 220W while full load. Right?
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Wrong unfortunately. That PSU only has ATX design standards therefore 12V_1 is dedicated to the CPU, thereby leaving only the 12V_2 for the remainder of the system. Secondly you cannot add up the wattages like that. 15A (12V_2) is only 180W. That is MAX, meaning that if you actually try to draw 180W, it will shut down hard, potentially damaging your computer. S

Thirdly, that is at 25oC. Most computers run warmer than this, especially in summer. Every 1 degree (C) you run over 25oC you need to derate the output by around 4W for such a low quality PSU. Realistically in summer at the very least you need to derate that PSU by 40W (10oC) - inside the computer.

Therefore the PSU can only really deliver around 160W (40W/2/2) on the 12V rail minus the CPU. That is completely insufficient for a card that has a TDP of 114W. That doesn't account for motherboard, and other 12V rail loads.

Finally, even AMD recommend 450W psu minimum.

Use that PSU at you're own peril.
 
12V_1 is dedicated to the CPU
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OK, but CPU will not use its potential, so I can use an adapter (molex*2 to 6-pin connector for a graphics card) so that I can use the two rails. Right?
I would do so because the said PSU that I own does not have a 6-pin connector for graphics cards.

PS
I have a 4-pin connector ATX 12V for CPU. It reads P2. I just wonder why it is so. Shouldn't it read P4???
 
No, the rails are seperate. You cannot combine them. Even if you could, its still technically only one rail (read one coil on the transformer). They're seperated by voltage dividers. This is an internal physical (electrical) seperation that you cannot overide.

The reason it doesn't have a PCIe connector is because its not designed for a PCIe card.

You need a new PSU with any discrete gpu purchase im afraid.

Look, this is a very low quality, cheap PSU designed for essentially very low powered non-graphics workstations. Its old (thus the P2 connector) and you'd be very unwise to push this unit. In fact you'd be very unwise to use this unit at all IMHO.

If it goes, which it likely will, it could take your motherboard and gpu (and other components) with it.

You need to find another $35 and get a PSU like this. It has 32A on the 12V rail and is much better quality.
 
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Thanks, but from what you are saying 12v2 (120W) can be used for everything else on the motherboard

12 V2 for the 4 pin connector and 12 V1 for everything else,
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--> wikipedia says

So why cant I use HD7750 that takes at the most 58W...

I am reluctant to exchange my PSU as I want to combine a good GPU with little power consumption.

PS
Could you explain why I have P2 and not P4 connector for a CPU

thanks again
 
Mate, im sorry if i haven't explained it clearly enough. But, reallly, the point is, you cannot use it for any GPU.

The ageing of capacitors, poor quality, rubbish efficiency, etc etc makes this a poor choice for any gpu.

However from the sound of it you're not going to be convinced. Go ahead, but please do come back when it goes bang. :)

The p2 vs p4, is because this PSU was designed during the pentium II days, the pentium 4 power requirements changed to the p4 ;) That gives you an idea of how rubbish this psu is.

BTW, even AMD recommends a 400W min psu for the HD7750. Just saying.
 
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But the P2 connector is ok for my motherboard to support the CPU (Intel G2020 55Watt), right?

How come my ATX2.0 with 2xSATA and 20+4 pins connectors has P2 instead of P4...? Sata was introduced in 2003 as far as I remember.
 
I'm with Bigfella here. Dude, just get a new power supply. The simple fact is, what you've got now is not sufficient enough to power any discrete GPU I'm afraid. Even AMD recommend a 400W PSU for the 7750. You say you want to improve efficiency, right? Well the Corsair CX 430 or 500 is a much more efficient unit than what you've got now because it is 80+ Bronze certified, whereas your current unit most certainly is not.
 
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