9600 or Lesser with 12+ rail of 18A

[Hawkens85]

With my current 430W Thermaltake PSU, my +12V rail is 18A. I'm currently using a XFX 8600GT video card and would like to upgrade. However, Newegg doesn't always list the +12V rail specifications on all the video cards in stock. It seems as if all the 9800 line requires at least 22A on the +12V rail, so I'm assuming 9600 or less is the only way to go. So far, the best video card I've been able to find under 9800 has been this 9500:Newegg.com - EVGA 01G-P3-N959-TR GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

My question is, is there a website that lists all the detailed specifications and requirements for these video cards, or does it involve going to each manufacturer's website and going through the specs of every individual card I'm interested in? Thanks guys.

[randomness]

haha i have the same PSU...i have a 9600GT and it works perfectly.

I also used the PSU for a power hungry pentium D 3.0ghz AND an radeon HD4850.

In this case this PSU can definetly handle a 9800GT.

besides...an upgrade from an 8600GT -> 9500GT is not an upgrade at all! it would make sense to upgrade to a 9600GT at the least or 9800GT if ur budget can stretch that far.

[Hawkens85]

Almost all of the 9800s I looked at had a minimum requirement of 20A or 22A, how could mine handle that? I'm not looking to max it out. Which 9600 do you have?

[randomness]

i have the 9600GT....it says u should have atleast 22A on the 12V rail aswell for the 9600GT...

but 22A onthe 12V rail is : 22x12 = 264W which a 9600GT NOR a 9800GT would possibly evne use!

dont worry....those values are just exaggerated, the 18A will work fine. besides the TDP of a 9600GT is 95W from memory and a 9800GT was ~105W or so.

[artdrivers]

There is no website that lists all the detailed specifications and requirements for Video cards. You need to consider many factors for your power supply. There is a difference from home to home. Temperatures are different. Electricity itself is different from one location to another. You may have more surges, spikes, noise from your own appliances then the next address has. This is why some addresses use a UPS just to minimize the surge spikes and noise. The different desktop systems need different amounts as well. The power supply may put out a slight difference. This is why it is possible for randomness to get along fine with his unit while mine may fail with the same hardware. They listed a 22amp minimum for more reasons then just will it work or not.

[randomness]

nah its just exaggerated values just in case ppl quote the 12V+ requirement to be too little and hence blame the card manufacturer for quoting bad specs.

if u take a look at my sig, that the kind of hardware im using with this PSU atm. plus the E8400 is overclocked to 3.6ghz so more power draw will be obvious.

[artdrivers]

This is the reason so many of us have problems when purchasing products. Using them with week or under manufactured specification parts. Then having problems and upgrading them later. You should go to a Geforce Forum and ask your question where many have had this issue. Take the advise of the majority not of the few. Just because it worked for someone else, in some other area with a different desktop. This proves nothing. Running parts with other parts that don't meet or exceed manufacturers requirements is asking for trouble down the road.

[randomness]

Well i dont think a psu will cause such a massive issue under these conditions, besides even if it doesnt work due to too little voltage theres always a way to upgrade the psu IF there is a problem.

Pentium D and an HD4850 is asking for trouble for a PSU but it still worked?

main Q is does the PSU have enough 12V juice to run everything? If not then the PC wont boot up, if so it should work fine. But whether u would take this risk is upto you.

I say the chances of it failing are probably 1:100. IF this psu can run a 130W pentium D + a HD4850 thats telling u something.

[Hawkens85]

I went over to the Nvidia forum and asked my question over there. The thread is here: Compatible GPU with Thermaltake 430W PSU - NVIDIA Forums

In short, as long as the +12V rails add up to 26 amps, you're fine. The card he recommended to me was an EVGA 9800 GT: EVGA GeForce 9800 GT Video Card - 512MB DDR3, PCI Express 2.0, (2) Dual Link DVI, HDTV, VGA Support at TigerDirect.com

What card would everyone here recommend?

[artdrivers]

Yes 26 amps I will agree with that.
You will not notice the difference in the 9600GT if you have the 8600GT. Best to get the EVGA 9800GT if you want to see an increase in performance and fps's. You still may want to consider a new PSU shortly there after. I have seen cards go bad due to week PSU's. They heat up.

Edit

I am not saying you have a week PSU for I don't know I have not tested it. Which 430W Thermaltake do you have?
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/332/9