Hey guys I have this video card: Nvidia Geforce 8400 GS. 450 Mhz core clock, 900Mhz shader clock, 400Mhz memory clock, 256MB memory, 64-bit memory interface, 6.4 gb/s memory bandwwidth, 3.6billion texture rate fillin per sec.

My pc is a Pavilion p6110f. I'm running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit edition. The PC specs are: Intel E5300 2.6 Ghz Dual Core processors with 800Mhz FSB, Intel G33 express chipset, 250W power supply. My video card is PCIe and is running at 16x.

I was wondering if someone could tell me how to SAFELY get the best out of this hardware combination? I know overclocking or what have you runs it risks, but sound advice is all I need for a safe qualification.

If it helps, my monitor is an HP 2009m. Its a 20-inch LCD screen.
HP® Official Store — Buy the HP 2009m 20" Diagonal HD Ready Widescreen LCD Monitor direct from HP

The goal here is, and I'm just a big child, to have good graphics in WoW. When I raid I can't see anything except for violent lights flying all over the place because 25 people or 10 people are casting their most devastating spells. Its driving me coo-koo.

So thanks in advance for any assistance.

I was wondering if someone could tell me how to SAFELY get the best out of this hardware combination?

Well, don't overclock. Especially if you don't have a thorough understanding of what overclocking does, how it affects your computer, the demands it puts on cooling, and power supplies.

And speaking of power supplies, 250W is pretty small. If I plug your hardware into a PSU calculator, I come up with 262W as a minimum (guessing at 2 sticks of RAM).

You did not specify the brand of your graphics card, but note this EVGA 8400GS recommends 350W minimum and this Jaton 8400GS 256Mb recommends 400W as a minimum.

So it seems to me, before you place any more demands on your system, you need to get a new PSU. Your current one is currently being pushed to it limits and that's not good. A stressed PSU, besides overheating, can become unstable - that is bad for digital electronics. And a stressed PSU is more susceptible to failing, and that may not be good for whatever is plugged into the PSU.
****

Originally Posted by Process

Nvidia Geforce 8400 GS. 450 Mhz core clock, 900Mhz shader clock, 400Mhz memory clock, 256MB memory

That is the model of my GRaphics Card. What is a PSU calculator? I guess HP really means it when they say they don't support adding anything to your PC. That's sad news. I know what overclocking does, I've just never done it before. What do you mean you come up with 262 watts for my pc assuming 2 ram sticks? I have 4. Unfortunately I can't find any specification as to recommended power supply for the card on the Nvidia site, I threw away the box.

Please, elaborate on your post. I don't fully understand.

I guess the quizzical part is that I don't see HP making the power supply insufficient for the PC. The graphics card might place a little stress on the supply, but really it is on the lower end. It was 40 bucks. I don't see that happening, in fact it doesn't feed directly into the power supply. I do think my PC has overheated before though, my CD drive went haywire from it if I'm not mistaken.

I attributed that to a pc intrusion though, so it doesn't matter according to this topic, anyway please...go on.

What is a PSU calculator?

It is what it says it is, A PSU calculator. I included the link so you could see for yourself. Click on it to learn more.

I guess the quizzical part is that I don't see HP making the power supply insufficient for the PC.

I did not say that. Please do not twist my words around. I said 250W is pretty small. I also note that the Pavilion p6110f did not come with an add-in graphics card, but on-board graphics and you are trying to add a card, which places considerable demands on power. Understand that PC makers are there to make money by cutting costs. It is typical for PC makers to use PSUs that are adequate or sufficient, but just barely. Meaning, they leave little to no room for hardware upgrades.

What do you mean you come up with 262 watts for my pc assuming 2 ram sticks? I have 4.

Well, did you tell us you have 4 sticks before now? No, so I just guessed at 2. Using 4 sticks, the calculator reports you need 275W minimum, using the settings from that link.

That is the model of my GRaphics Card.

No it is not. NVIDIA does not make graphics cards. They make graphics engines and sell them to card makers.

The graphics card might place a little stress on the supply, but really it is on the lower end. It was 40 bucks. I don't see that happening, in fact it doesn't feed directly into the power supply.

Huh? I am afraid you lack a basic understanding here, or are not following or reading what I am saying. Please go back and read my post above, and follow my link for the PSU calculator. Note in my post above I also included a link to a $40 Jaton GeForce 8400GS card - just like your card. Note the minimum PSU requirements. Your card has the same GPU and RAM amount therefore the your minimum requirements are the same, or very close to it.

I do think my PC has overheated before though, my CD drive went haywire from it if I'm not mistaken.

I attributed that to a pc intrusion though, so it doesn't matter according to this topic, anyway please...go on.

Unless the CD drive was damaged, heat would have affected a more sensitive device first - such as the CPU, RAM, GPU, chipset, or some other motherboard mounted device. And if by intrusion you mean malware infestation, that would not result in an overheated CD either.