Graphics Card Too Powerful

Kazaanova

Hey, I have a Compaq Presario 6000, 512 MB, AMD Athlon 2200+. I wont be able to get a new PC untill the end of year and I've started to get into gaming so I got a GeForce 6600 GT. Problem is it wont work, I get loads of artifacts, its awful. Now I'm not 100% sure what it is, but I know its NOT a driver problem or anything like that. I'm pretty sure its a power problem, my PSU says "Max 240W" and the 6600 needs at least 300.

So I was thinking, should I stick with my 6600, and get a new PSU? I always have trouble upgrading this PC, I got it when I diddnt know any better. I know getting a new PSU would cause problems, I dont even think it would fit in there. Would a cheap 300W/350W from Komplett do me? Are all PSU's generally the same size?

My other option is to sell my 6600, because its causing me trouble and I know its going to be bottleknecked by the rest of my system. If I sold my 6600 and got a 9600XT instead, would it make much difference with a PC like mine? And also would I definitely have no problems at all getting a 9600XT to run on my system?

1)How can I tell if I have a faulty card or a weak PSU(most people I know wont let me open their PC)?
2)Would a 9600XT and a 6600 perform about the same on my current PC?
3)Would running a 9600XT cause me any problems? I know it was risky getting a 6600 on such a bad PC

cregser

I think this is an easy question:
You need a new PSU.

240W is a bit crap to be honest. Go for about 350-400W from Komplett and I RECOMMEND you restrict your choices to the top 2 or 3 most expensive. The PSU is supposed to be the most important part of your PC as it supplies all the juice. If you buy the cheapest one you'll simply regret your choice in a few months time.

[EDIT] Actually scratch that, their range is limited. I'm trying to say, don't make your decision lightly. Avoid the Q-Tec as they have a really bad reputation. The other makes on their PSU list are reputible enough.

Take note of the amount of pins your motherboard needs. There's 20pin and 24pin. Most of Kompletts' PSUs seem to be 24pin. I'm guessing your mobo may need 20pin. Google your mobo and check or count them yourself. It's the big white connector that is plugged into your mobo. Just make sure you take all necessary precautions (PC unplugged, your not staticly charged etc.)

rsynnott

Caution, most big-brand computers have at least slightly ****ed-up power systems. It may look like ATX and yet not BE atx.

Kazaanova

OK I measured inside and it looks like most PSU's on Komplett are smaller so that shouldnt be a problem. I'll have to look again for the pin because its extremely difficult to get at. The PC's a few years old so it should be 20pin right?

Is this definitely a power problem? I guess it seems pretty obvious if my current PSU is probably around 200W.

rsynnott

Kazaanova wrote:

OK I measured inside and it looks like most PSU's on Komplett are smaller so that shouldnt be a problem. I'll have to look again for the pin because its extremely difficult to get at. The PC's a few years old so it should be 20pin right?

Is this definitely a power problem? I guess it seems pretty obvious if my current PSU is probably around 200W.

It's prob'ly a power problem, yep. The PC may not use a standard pin layout at all, and that may not be obvious from looking at it. Search for the computer name and number in relation to power supplies.

Dr_MalPractice

the most important thing IMHO, is to make sure that the +3.3v, +5v and +12v have seperate circuits, because most upgrades these days tend to be power hungry sods.

don't be seduced by massive wattages on the packaging. it's not as important as STABILITY. random crashes and freezes can be down to cack PSU's.

spend as much as you can afford on one, with a view to hanging on to it when you upgrade.

check out toms hardware guide for more indepth info about chosing a PSU.
http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20030609/

hope this helps

Kazu

ah **** i just bought a 9800 pro and i have a dell deminson with 240w power supply

HungryJoey

Well 1 thing also....dont be sucked into buying a Big juicy "Looking" PSu like a 450Watt Qtec as imade a mistake doing... It really did suck and i reckon it killed my Motherboard. Anyway... Make sure the Amps on the +12V Rail is over... That will push plenty of power around your system. Qtec's PSU's really do suck ...My old 450Watt 1 had only 12A on the 12V Rail...And man did that suck !

Just go for decent branded PSU and you will be sorted.

Kazaanova

Thanks everyone. I've read too many bad things about q-tec to go near them. I would spend as much as I can on one, but I'm too afraid that the PSU isnt the problem and I'll be left with a big expensive PSU that I dont need.

Kazaanova

I've been reading around a bit more, and I've seen a lot of people say that if the PSU isnt powerful enough, the system will just shut down. Can someone clear this up for me, what will happen if the PSU isnt powerful enough?

RicardoSmith

Kazu wrote:

ah **** i just bought a 9800 pro and i have a dell deminson with 240w power supply

Me too and it runs fine. Don't believe all you read.

RicardoSmith

Kazaanova wrote:

I've been reading around a bit more, and I've seen a lot of people say that if the PSU isnt powerful enough, the system will just shut down. Can someone clear this up for me, what will happen if the PSU isnt powerful enough?

Lost of different things could happen, however you get a lot of crashes and lockups. If removing components fixes crashes then you know its a problem with that component. If you can run the component wilth all the other stuff unplugged, CD/DVD drives, extra HD's etc. Then you know its a power problem. If this still doesn't solve the problem, then in the case of a card like a 9800/6600GT if you swap with a lower power card like a 9600 and it runs fine, then that also points to the power. Unless of course its a faulty card to begin with.

Atlas_IRL

my comp is nearly the same as yours 250 watt PSU as well..

if your case is small though u wont be able to fit a big PSU in it so watch out for that..

i bought a cooler for my 9800 pro as it was crashing my comp.. its holding out now till i get my upgrade only cost bout 20 euro in maplins..

aaf

I have a brand new Antec 380W TruePower Silent PSU that I'm willing to part with. PM if interested.

Gilgamesh

don't bother with getting a PSU, low wattage would cause the Graphics to be faulty.
the Card would be able to run fullstop.
the issue is more likely to be a thermal issue.
if you have an AMD in the case plus a new Graphics cars, then it is probaly causing a hotspot.
try the following,

open the side of the case and get a normal ventilator and get it to blow into the case and run the computer.

I am quite sure this will resolve the matter for you.

have seen 9800 Pros running with 200W PSUs, so don't bother trying the PSU, also, might be worth changing the thermal compound on the CPU, if it is a older machine, never a bad Idea

Mutant_Fruit

well, my 9600pro can't run on a 200watt psu. it plays games, but i get loads of VPU recovery errors. All the errors vanished on a 350 watt PSU.

Gilgamesh

Mutant_Fruit wrote:

well, my 9600pro can't run on a 200watt psu. it plays games, but i get loads of VPU recovery errors. All the errors vanished on a 350 watt PSU.

switch off the VPU recovery then, most game developers recommend this anyway

Mutant_Fruit

Well, the point is it wasn't getting enough power. Even with the VPU recovery software turned off, i got occasionally freezes. Sometimes complete freezes, sometimes the game would just vanish and i'd be left sitting on the desktop.

I'm not sure if permanent damage would have been done if i had kept running it on the 200watt, i doubt it, but its something i wasnt going to risk

padraigf

Just get the 26 euro powersupply off komplett. Hiper are a decent brand, it has enough juice and its nice and quiet. Problem solved