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Thread: Is my PSU to blaim

  1. #1
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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....
    Last edited by Tris; 17-09-2007 at 12:03 PM. Reason: typo

  2. #2
    Get in the van. Fraz's Avatar
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    • Fraz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte X58A-UD5
      • CPU:
      • Watercooled i7-980X @ 4.2 GHz
      • Memory:
      • 24GB Crucial DDR3-1333
      • Storage:
      • 240 GB Vertex2E + 2 TB of Disk
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Water-cooled Sapphire 7970 @ 1175/1625
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Modu87+
      • Case:
      • Corsair 700D
      • Operating System:
      • Linux Mint 12 / Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 30" 3008WFP and two Dell 24" 2412M
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 60 Mbps

    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.

  3. #3
    Get in the van. Fraz's Avatar
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    • Fraz's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte X58A-UD5
      • CPU:
      • Watercooled i7-980X @ 4.2 GHz
      • Memory:
      • 24GB Crucial DDR3-1333
      • Storage:
      • 240 GB Vertex2E + 2 TB of Disk
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Water-cooled Sapphire 7970 @ 1175/1625
      • PSU:
      • Enermax Modu87+
      • Case:
      • Corsair 700D
      • Operating System:
      • Linux Mint 12 / Windows 7
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 30" 3008WFP and two Dell 24" 2412M
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media 60 Mbps

    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?
    Last edited by Fraz; 17-09-2007 at 12:29 PM.

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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.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
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    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    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
    Last edited by Pob255; 17-09-2007 at 01:43 PM.

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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!

  8. #8
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
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    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    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.

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