Help! Calculating PSU Wattages

[Spartan Erik]

Is there any software available that can tell you how much power your PC is using? The primary reason is that I want to find out how much remaining power I can have available for a new graphics card..

I don't trust those online power consumption calculators!

 

[Micro]

Try it this way

Open up your pc, and find all the parts, look on the labels and calc them off that.

That is the best way to do it

 

[lambada]

Or find the manuals for all the components if you don't want to take the far more interesting route of frying yourself when you realise you forgot to unplug it from the mains before removing the cover

 

[Micro]

Hey, ive done that more times than i can remember, just dont touch any yellow wires (20A )

 

[bigguy]

Why not just be simple about it and upate the power supply when you do the video card.

 

[Energritz]

Hmm i found a nifty little site witch may help you!

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

 

[Spartan Erik]

Alright my problem has been updated:

I've compared many graphics cards, and when it comes to bang-for-buck and budget, the ATi Radeon x1650 Pro and the nVidia 7800 GS (overclocked) are the best AGP cards (I have a rather old mobo).

Now here's my question:
The x1650 requires a 350W PSU, and the 7800 needs a 400W PSU. Does this mean that the card ITSELF will require 350W/400W? Or does it mean that the the sum of all components (including the graphics card) can be powered by anything greater than 350W/400W?

 

[bigguy]

the the sum of all components (including the graphics card) can be powered by anything greater than 350W/400W

I would et a 450 watt personally, but thats just me.