Power supply question

~~craig588~~ · Apr 14, 2003, 01:43 PM

I recently slapped together a 2nd rig out of components I had laying around.
Specs:
PIII@933
Abit SE6
512MB pc-133
SoundBlaster Live value
Geforce 4 TI4200
8/4/32 burner
20GB HD

Now I have run into a problem, I only have a 235 watt generic brand power supply running all of this gear. I think it is the source of all of my problems, but I wanted a 2nd opinion. The main problem is that while running a graphicly intense game, say GTA3, I can only play for a few minutes before the whole screen gets completely full of garbage and I am forced to reboot. In Warcraft 3 I can't even get past the menus before the screen screws up. So, do you think it's my power supply causing this?

Talon · Apr 14, 2003, 01:53 PM

That definately could be an issue Craig. You can get a relatively cheap 300watt PSU to test it out. The worst thing that can happen is you have a better PSU for you computer.

~~craig588~~ · Apr 14, 2003, 01:55 PM

I should try throwing the 550 watt power supply from my main computer in there to see if it gets better. Why didn't I think of that before? hmmmm

Talon · Apr 14, 2003, 02:32 PM

Sometimes it's the simple things that elude us! Don't worry, we have all done it at least once before! Let us know how you make out with it!

~~craig588~~ · Apr 14, 2003, 04:49 PM

Yep it works with the 550, I just ordered a pc power and cooling 350 watt power supply.

Talon · Apr 14, 2003, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by craig588
Yep it works with the 550, I just ordered a pc power and cooling 350 watt power supply.

Great! Glad you got it working, and excellent choice on the PSU.

DrBeltway · May 1, 2003, 02:48 AM

Ditto, good deal... For the record, Allied PSUs are pretty good, too. At least in my experience...

kuzujanakis · May 1, 2003, 02:53 PM

If you overclock at all, bigger is always better when it comes to the power supply,
for a number of reasons.

The two most important are:

Power requirements - when you overclock your components need more power and
you need the bigger power supplies to provide that.

Heat - this is overlooked but very important. Heat is the absolute enemy to those
that overclock. When you use a power supply that just meets the power requirements,
it runs very hot. When you use a power supply that far exceeds the current power
requirements, it stays cool because it doesn't need to work very hard to supply the
required power.

Just some thoughts...

Apr 14, 2003, 01:43 PM	#1
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	Power supply question I recently slapped together a 2nd rig out of components I had laying around. Specs: PIII@933 Abit SE6 512MB pc-133 SoundBlaster Live value Geforce 4 TI4200 8/4/32 burner 20GB HD Now I have run into a problem, I only have a 235 watt generic brand power supply running all of this gear. I think it is the source of all of my problems, but I wanted a 2nd opinion. The main problem is that while running a graphicly intense game, say GTA3, I can only play for a few minutes before the whole screen gets completely full of garbage and I am forced to reboot. In Warcraft 3 I can't even get past the menus before the screen screws up. So, do you think it's my power supply causing this?

Apr 14, 2003, 01:53 PM	#2
Talon DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 108 Rep Power: 0	That definately could be an issue Craig. You can get a relatively cheap 300watt PSU to test it out. The worst thing that can happen is you have a better PSU for you computer. __________________ AMD Athlon XP 1800+ (1533MHz)/EPOX 8KHA+ Motherboard/1024 Crucial DDR 2100 RAM/Seagate 80GB Barracuda HD ATA100 @7200RPMs/GeForce FX 5200 Ultra Video Card/Hercules Game Theater XP 7.1 Sound Card/Antec SX835II Tower with Antec 350W PSU. View it here

Apr 14, 2003, 02:32 PM	#4
Talon DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 108 Rep Power: 0	Sometimes it's the simple things that elude us! Don't worry, we have all done it at least once before! Let us know how you make out with it! __________________ AMD Athlon XP 1800+ (1533MHz)/EPOX 8KHA+ Motherboard/1024 Crucial DDR 2100 RAM/Seagate 80GB Barracuda HD ATA100 @7200RPMs/GeForce FX 5200 Ultra Video Card/Hercules Game Theater XP 7.1 Sound Card/Antec SX835II Tower with Antec 350W PSU. View it here

May 1, 2003, 02:48 AM	#7
DrBeltway DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Ditto, good deal... For the record, Allied PSUs are pretty good, too. At least in my experience... __________________ Bennown.

Apr 14, 2003, 01:55 PM	Thread Starter #3
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	I should try throwing the 550 watt power supply from my main computer in there to see if it gets better. Why didn't I think of that before? hmmmm

Apr 14, 2003, 04:49 PM	Thread Starter #5
~~craig588~~ Banned Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: In clothing Posts: 3,510 Rep Power: 0	Yep it works with the 550, I just ordered a pc power and cooling 350 watt power supply.

May 1, 2003, 02:53 PM	#8
kuzujanakis DriverHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0	If you overclock at all, bigger is always better when it comes to the power supply, for a number of reasons. The two most important are: Power requirements - when you overclock your components need more power and you need the bigger power supplies to provide that. Heat - this is overlooked but very important. Heat is the absolute enemy to those that overclock. When you use a power supply that just meets the power requirements, it runs very hot. When you use a power supply that far exceeds the current power requirements, it stays cool because it doesn't need to work very hard to supply the required power. Just some thoughts...