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Video Card that is 1.5v?

by Robert Buckley · in Hardware Issues · 08/24/2005 (12:09 pm) · 9 replies

Didnt know if this was a good area to post this...

I am as of now using a Nvidia GeForce FX5200 card and I am looking to upgrade. The only problem I am comming accross is the fact that my MoBo will not be stable with a card that uses over 15.v of power. The problem that I am having is locating any information about the voltage rquirements for certain cards. I have been to both ATI and Nvidia's websites and cant find any information.

Any light shed on what type of cards (both Nvidia and ATI, no preference as of yet) will not be more than 1.5 volts would be greatly appreciated. I dont want to upgrade my motherboard becasue i like the setup, I just hate this stupid card. Its not powerful enough to support my TSE project. I am not too concerned on the price but I am looking for a card in the $150-$180 range. Any suggestions?
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Torque Owner Jason Swearingen
#1
08/24/2005 (12:29 pm)
I belive some cards now have hookups so you can plug your powersupply directly into the card, to help reduce load via the mobo.

though for specific requirements, i am sure you can find the technical specs on the manufacturers website.

Torque Owner Robert Buckley
#2
08/24/2005 (12:34 pm)
Does that actually take the load off of the mobo?

if thats the case then it seems pretty much most of the new cards, i.5v or not would be supported and not fry my mobo. That is, considering I have an extra connector for the power supply.

Torque Owner Robert Buckley
#3
08/24/2005 (12:35 pm)
Whoops reloaded and made double post.

Torque 3D Owner Kaydelon Interactive, Inc.
#4
08/24/2005 (9:25 pm)
It takes the bulk of the load off the MB, but should keep usage well below 1.5v. Check the technicial specs of the card to be sure. If you can't find the info on the web, ask people you know who have one and can reference the manual, or even ask the store. If you're serious and ready to purchase, they'll usually open one up for you, or if they build systems, might have one in a trash can in the back somewhere.

If you don't have any free connections from your P/S, a simple Y-connector (splitter) should suffice. I'd tap into...the CD drive, or some other device not heavily used...not the HD.

Torque Owner Vashner
#5
08/24/2005 (10:04 pm)
5200.. so you have an AGP port. The AGP specs are tight. The voltage is fixed per interface standard.
The draw in amp / watts can vary. Just stay away from the 6600. Like others have said the power supply
connector is what's powering most of the card.

Torque Owner Robert Buckley
#6
08/25/2005 (9:05 am)
Yes I have an AGP port. I bought the FX5200 as a cheap soloution to an already growing bill for a new computer. I built the computer 2 years ago with some of the best parts but unfortunatly skimped on the video card. It was great for the time but now...meh. I guess I thought it was so good because I had recently been using a GeForce2...ewwww

Now I have many p/s connectors left so thats not a problem. I was thinking of going with the ATI x800 PRO 256MB because ATI offers a refurbished model for about $180. Is that worth it or is that too high priced. They offer a 3 year warranty on it and I'm not looking for something extremely spectacular. I am in college and will probably wait for a worthwhile card until I build another computer with 64 bit processor and all that fun stuff. Could anyone with the x800 PRO tell me what its voltage is? ATI.com doesnt list that type of info. If thats not a good idea can any of you guys suggest me some decent video cards for about $180 ( plus or minus a few buck isnt a big deal )?

Thanks for all your help so far.

EDIT: I guess ATI.com does list that info:

System Requirements
Intel Pentium 4/III, AMD Athlon 64/7K/Athlon XP with AGP 8X (0.8v), 4X (1.5V) or universal AGP 3.0 bus configuration (8X/4X)

So i guess all I'm wondering is if this is an ok deal and if the card is decent. It seems to be a decent card and I've heard some pretty good things about it. I just would like some input from some ATI users out there who have it.

Torque 3D Owner Kaydelon Interactive, Inc.
#7
08/30/2005 (10:40 pm)
Here's an update... I just had my Ti4600 burn out on me, so I found myself needing to replace my video card this last weekend. I ended up getting the ATI Radeon 9600XT for $149 (Same price as the straight 9600). Not sure what they go for in the States, but that was a pretty good deal out here, for a "need it now" purchase. I ran some very simple tests with TSE and some higher-end graphics games (such as BF2 at max settings) and the only word I have to describe it is..."Fluid". 4x AGP (1.5 VDC) would meet your needs, and 256 MB DDR should carry you over until you build your next system. I recommend it if you're looking to save some $$$, yet still have something that will last more than one semester. (Also, it is Shader 2.0 compatible, which was a must for my specific needs...)

Torque Owner Berserk
#8
08/31/2005 (7:34 am)
As far as I know, the power adaptors for every home PC gives 12 volts.
So you can't go over 15...

Bye, Berserk.

Torque Owner Robert Buckley
#9
09/01/2005 (4:43 pm)
I checked out that card a while ago and it did look like an inexpensive but decent upgrade from what I had...around here in the US it tends to go for about $130-$150 depending on the board manufacturer. I am reading some reviews and they all seem positive but tend to say that I wil probably need a new card in another year or two...that is fine..i am sure that I will be building another machine withing the next 2 years so it will hold up fine.

Thanks for your suggestion G.M.