Preparing to go GODLIKE (8800 ultra) - Power supply questions

[Seriphyn]

OK, I'm going states soon to check up on teh family.

CompUSA is selling the BFG (is it BFG? well, whatever) 8800 Ultra for $699.99, works out at £379 plus tax. So, when I'm at my house in the states, the card will be ordered from here in jolly old England, and will be shipped to my residence.

Then, I bring it back to London, shove it in my card and proceed to level all of the metropolitan area in a big nuclear fireball.

It says on the site that it requires a 525W power supply minimum, given you have a Intel Core 2 Extreme SEX69 or something (QX7600 to be precise). I would know what my power supply is...thing is, Mesh doesn't do my computer now, so I can't go onto the site and check what it is. The specs are...

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (stock speed)
2GB 533mhz RAM
GeForce 7600GT (SERI WILL NOT SETTLE FOR MIDRANGE)
300GB HDD (if that helps)

So, is there like a control panel thing I could look at to find the power supply? Where can I look if I go on my hands and knees like a bitch (lolz) to find it myself? Or do you think you could estimate what supply I have from that?

Probably the power supply demand would be lower because of my processor...but by how much? Thanks in advance. Just don't want my computer to start world war three and waste my money

[Socks]

Umm...hmm....

Nod

Stupid Question from A person bad with computers and technological things in general:

Well, would you have to convert the W into whatever the UK use for energy, and then consult with your power company if thou has enough power to support the machine to begin with? Also, Doesn't the USA electrical plugs differ from those made in the UK? Or is that another technological myth?

Edit: Ignore the post, look down below.

[Lewiji]

Umm...hmm....

Nod

Stupid Question from A person bad with computers and technological things in general:

Well, would you have to convert the W into whatever the UK use for energy, and then consult with your power company if thou has enough power to support the machine to begin with? Also, Doesn't the USA electrical plugs differ from those made in the UK? Or is that another technological myth?
Ignore this post.

Most stock computers will come with a 400-500W power supply. It's probably worth it just to upgrade from the crappy one they'll have given you anyway.

If you want to check though, just take the side panel off and look at the sticker on it. (It'll be a "box" where your power cable plugs into).

[Martinus]

Well, would you have to convert the W into whatever the UK use for energy, and then consult with your power company if thou has enough power to support the machine to begin with? Also, Doesn't the USA electrical plugs differ from those made in the UK? Or is that another technological myth?

:D
Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm berating you but methinks you need a bit of a lesson in how household electrickery works.

Power consumption (or generation) is measured in watts(W). Power consumption isn't the same as voltage rating which varies around the world. The UK household feed is 240V or there abouts supplied at a frequency of 50Hz (one oscillation per second = 1 hertz). The power company is capable of supplying more power than you could concievably use inside your home (provided you aren't using a Stargate).

A power supply unit or PSU is given a rating of how much power it can supply to a 'load', the computer components in this case, connected to it.

It's also very well known (travel adaptors should clue you in, if nothing else) that the UK and US's plugs are very different in design.

[Seriphyn]

Brap. 550W power supply.

Also, the motherboard is an ASUSTek P5NSLI...running at 37C...comparing that to my old computer which regularly hit 60. Seems this machine, with the power supply, is designed for overclocking.

So, with the above specs, and the motherboard info, think everything will be 100% when I put in my shiny 8800 Ultra?

[Tiggs]

Pro tip, don't get an Ultra, to quote Anandtech, they are an "utter waste of money". Get a factory overclocked GTX instead, they are usually only a tiny bit slower and a whole load cheaper.

With regards to the power supply, a good 550w PSU should be able to handle it, but cheap generic ones are never able to provide their specified power ratings in real world conditions. Does it state a brand on the sticker on your power supply? Usually thats a good indication as to weather you can trust it or not

[Seriphyn]

HEC. Still a-ok?

In regards to GTX vs. Ultra...CompUSA only has the Ultra in stock, with the GTX out. Also, it works out to be ~£25 difference between the two.

EDIT 1:
CHANGE OF PLAN MA HOMIES

I have decided to get two GeForce 8800 GTXs, and go SLI. Then I can blow up teh whole damn world.

I'm trying to find a US store that has them in stock AND offers around $300...up to $400, but the closer to 300 the better. Any help possibly?

EDIT 2:
I'm finding GTXs at UK prices for around £370...the same amount of spending if I was gonna get the US Ultra...might be worth just getting one GTX then...over here. That is if I cann't find two cheap US ones to go SLI.

[The Grim Reaper]

http://www.newegg.com
I'd suggest using Newegg if you are going to get it shipped, they have a bigger range and are generally cheaper.
The BFG Ultra is however the same price, but other ones are pretty cheap
MSI Overclocked GTX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127281) - $500
vs only 8800GTX card (http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=BROWSE&in_dim_search=1&N=%2D2723&product_code=343352&Pn=GeForce_8800_GTX_Video_Card) at compusa $650

I got my 7900GT from CompUSA retail because it was only a 4 day trip and we had nowhere to deliver to. Newegg was cheaper, but wasn't an option due to shipping.

For power supplies, enermax are recommended as one of the best you can possibly get.

[Lewiji]

Just before you go mad, are you sure your motherboard supports SLI?

It's usually a waste of money anyway.

[Seriphyn]

Yea, it does. Icon in the systray tells me everytime I boot up that "SLI Multi-GPU" is off" or something like that.

Lewiji, when you say "waste of money", do you mean it's alright if I just settle for one GTX?

[The Mna]

Get one two of these while you're at it. 'Cuz if it doesn't give you a tumor its no good.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824002344


Seriously though, one gtx is more than enough... and the 8900s and 9000s should be coming out soon enough.. If you were going the ultra route I'd suggest the watercooled blackpearl version.