Power supply/ surge protector question.

[KenM]

I need to get a better power supply so I can get a better graphics card. If I put a higher wattage power supply in my computer, should I get a better surge protector as well?

 

[Hand of Evil]

Maybe, check the rating information on your current unit, you may be okay.

 

[Psionicist]

You don't have to. I don't know anyone who have done that to be honest.

Also, remember that wattage on PSU's aren't everything. There are several 500W+ PSU's with really poor quality. If you want the best PSU money can buy, I'd suggest PC Power & Cooling (www.pcpowerandcooling.com) , but these are _incredibly_ expansive. Antec PSU's are known to be reliable too. I myself have great experience with their TruePower series (I have a 430W PSU in this computer w/ Radeon 9800 XT, works great).

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

The general rule of thumb I was told when I went to get my new unit was to add up the Amp draw (listed on the backs of monitors, computers, ect...) of everything you plan on actualy plugging into the Battery outlets on the unit and multiply that by the voltage in your house (usualy 110 for most houses). This number you've figured out should be the target you use when you go shopping, just be sure that whatever you get has a rating higher than your calculated figure.

I was informed that under purchasing will result in your burning out the battery inside the Battery-backup in a matter of months instead of the years they designed it for.

Again, this is all based on what I was told, I honestly don't have any way to proove or dis-proove any of it. I decided that $100 was a safer bet than having nothing at all.

Hatchling Dragon

 

[Hatchling Dragon]

Just re-read your initial post and realised I had made a mistake. You only have to worry about upgrading if you're talking about a 'surge protector' that has a battery back-up built into it (I refer to these as UPS', or Uninterupted Power Supplys). If you just have one of those power strips with the circut breaker in it I don't think it'll need upgrading.

Hatchling Dragon