Next to the cool software titles everything included for connectivity is also present from RCA composite cable to a HDTV component block. You can't deny that this is a good bundle.

Of course next to the bundle we'll find the GeForce 7800 GTX card. I can be brief about this beautiful little beast. It's a 100% reference card with a Point of View sticker pasted onto the cooling shim. We'll show you all of this in the photoshoot.

Power Supply Requirements

Now here's where we are going to surprise you a little bit more. Ever since the 7800 was rumored on the web immediately the discussion started on how much power it would consume with that huge transistor count. The 7800 GTX, my friends actually uses less power then the 6800 Ultra. NVIDIA claims it uses 10 watts less then the previous high-end model. And that's lovely! I mean we have quite similar core frequency, basically the same memory, 80 million more transistors and yet it's using less power draw. It likely has something to do with the smaller fabrication process (0.11 micron), which normally results in a lower core voltage for the graphics processor.

So NVIDIA is recommending nothing too dramatic in terms of a power supply unit. At the least a 350 Watt PSU with 22 amps available on the 12 Volts rail should be sufficient.

If you decide to become an uber gamer with two 7800 GTX cards in a SLI setup then you do need to look at something with a little reserve though. 500 Watts with 30 amps on the 12 volts rail. Have a look at this OCZ Modstream 520W PSU we recently reviewed. We actually use it in our test rigs, highly recommended as it can peak to 620 Watts.

Excuse Me, but Watt Did You Say?


With the ongoing trend in an increased power consumption we will check the statement that NVIDIA made about power consumption in. We simply look at the peak Wattage during a 3DMark05 session to verify those claims.

Of course we do what we always do with new graphics' cards, we monitor the overall wattage peak with the help of a wattage meter. Slight side note, you are looking at the overall usage of the PC. The meter is placed between the power connector and the PSU.

In 3DMark the PC shows a maximum peak use of 250-260 Watt. Now you know why 300 Watt Power Supplies are not sufficient anymore these days, 350 at the least.

** Using a Wattage meter is not the most reliable way of measuring power consumption. You basically look at how much power is the power circuit from your house pulling from the PSU. Please look at the results as being an indication and not an exact science.