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Is my PSU to blaim
OK here goes - have asked elsewhere and keep getting directed back to hexus for help. I bought a PC 2 years ago as follows:
AMD X2 4200+
1GB (2x512) PC 3200 DDR2
2xnvidia 7800GT SLI
500GB 5400rpm HDD
**Tagan 420W PSU**
Through a variety of component failures and upgrades, my system now looks like this:
AMD X2 6000+
2GB (4x512) PC 5400 DDR2
2x nvidia 7800GTX SLI
500GB 7200rpm HDD
**Tagan 420W PSU**
The last upgrade I made was to bump up the processor and add 2 more RAM sticks. Now the computer occasionally powers down (as in just completely stops and turns off) without warning.
Have done usual (run virus scans / adware etc and checked temps) but all seems ok there, but given the amount the machine has been upgraded I'm having a stab that the PSU is drastically underpowered. So questions are:
1. Do you agree that the PSU is too small
2. If so what would you recommend (any silent solutions would also be appreciated but not essential)
3. Size matters? Do I need to look at a specific PSU size dimensionally to fit my case.
Any help would be enormously appreciated so thank you in advance!
Tris
PS blame not blaim in the title - apols for poor spelling....
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
Try using this:
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/p...ulatorlite.jsp
be sure to enter that you have a SINGLE PROCESSOR, even though it's dual core. I entered your system in roughly and got about ~420 W, although this doesn't take into account that you might overloading one of your voltage rails.
I suspect that your PSU might be a bit underpowered when you're fully loading your system, although it depends on what your PSU can provide at various voltages. Either way it's a close call. A Corsair HW520 might make a nice silent replacement.
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
Actually, could you tell us when the system powers down without warning? Does it typically happen when playing games? I.e. when your system is under heavy load?
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
yes when it powers down its as if someone has pulled the plug out - no warning, no error msgs etc. From recollection, and the reason i suspected the psu, the last couple of times its gone down were when i was editing video.
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
sounds like PSU or overheating.
The AMD chips are not know for there low power consumption, top that off with a high end SLi setup And I'm guessing you're asking too much from that Tagan psu
EDIT: Just checked on the Nvidia website and the lowest rated Tagan PSU which is offically certified for 7800gtx in sli is 600w
Going from the Nvidia certified data you're looking at 600-650w minimum
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
thanks for your replies. Ive checked the CPU temps (holding at 50 deg C ish under heavy load) but have no idea how to check mobo / PSU temps. Have some internal probes but tbh not all that convinced these are reliable. Anyone know of any software which could do this?
Many thanks again for your help
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
great stuff - thanks to you both for your help - much appreciated!
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Re: Is my PSU to blaim
Most monitoring software (eg speedfan) will pickup the readings from the motherboard (alternatvely check the BIOS should be in there as system temp, although that will be an idel temp)
Check that in the BIOS if there a shutdown tempture setting enabled, if it's any ware above 60-65c then that shouldn't be the problem (assumeing that 50c under load is correct)
I don't know of any PSU that is tempture monitored and can be read by the pc.
some form of tempture probe or infared thermomiter used at the rear out put of the PSU is the only real way to check it accuratly.