How serious is this Power Supply issue?

**ajkochev** · January 26th, 2010, 10:27 AM

I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 tower that I added a Evga 9400GT PCI-E video card to. The system boots Windows 7 and ran fine for several hours with no issues. On the system requirements for the video card it said I need a 300watt PSU capable of giving 18amps to the 12volt PCI-E bus. The Dell PSU in the system is a 250watt that provides 1amp to 12volt but doesn't say what. The system will be used mainly for internet and word processing with some light 3d gaming with older games.

Should I be concerned? I'm worried I will not be able to find a upgraded PSU for this Dell unit that with work with the motherboard.

**CCT** · January 26th, 2010, 11:38 AM

Quite often an overloaded psu will fail and take other components with it.

There is some (dated) reading here; http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/27...optiplex-gx280

**Ferrit** · January 27th, 2010, 12:10 AM

Many times I have seen the motherboard burnt when a shortage of power caused by adding a powerful video fries it.

**ajkochev** · January 27th, 2010, 01:28 PM

Thanks for the advise. I looked again and I had read the 12volt@1amp wrong. I read the -12volt section the +12volt is at 20amps, so that is not an issue. Just 50watts short on the overall wattage.

Anyone have experience with this brand of PSU?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-009-_-Product