Graphic's card advice

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 19:46

Hi all,

I've just changed my computer, its no where near the "latest equipment" but it is faster than what I had and it's mainly for my children to play modern'ish game's on,

I wanted to install a newer graphic's card and tried to via ebay.

so I brought an EVGA Nvidia Gefore GTX 970, after it arrived I installed it connected up the extra power connectors and fired her up.

loading to windows and installing the driver's where no problem either, but every time I tried to play a game or even run furmark it would shut my whole computer off (as if I'd pulled the power cable out) then it would restart on itself and load back into windows without any error messages.

Games tried were:
Feed and grow fish
ARK combat evolved
and furmark GPU stress test

I had to debate with the seller to return the item and in the end paypal stepped in as I believed the card was defective?

I tried re seating the card, enabling and disabling power loading in the bios along with many other options but nothing would stop it, at a last resort I took it out and enabled my on board graphic's and repeated the same games and they worked but very laggy same with furmark.

now I've been refunded the money I wanted to tried a new card from OC but I'm just concerned it may happen again? back in my day (win 95/98) you could just install a card and drivers and away you go lol

I have roughly £150 to play with and would like to stay with Nvidia.

My current setup (don't laugh)

Gigabyte GA-H81M-S2H Motherboard
Intel Core i3-4160 Processor @ 3.6GHz
8GB RAM
700w PSU
Windows 10 pro x64

I was interested in this card but unsure?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/inno...ddr5-pci-express-graphics-card-gx-06l-in.html

Thank you.

melmac · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:01

The 1050ti is a lot worse than the 970. If you could push your budget to £180, you could get a 1060 which would be a much better buy then the 1050ti.

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:05

melmac said:
The 1050ti is a lot worse than the 970. If you could push your budget to £180, you could get a 1060 which would be a much better buy then the 1050ti.

hi thanks for the quick responce. would that work ok in my current setup?

the seller kept suggesting it was my setup as to why it kept cutting out.

thanks

Shiari · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:27

Usually restarts like that would be because of a problem with power delivery, with your power supply not being able to supply enough stable current to keep up with the demands of the system. You've not specified what power supply it is, but if you experience these problems again that would certainly be my first suspect to see if you can try a different one somewhere.

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:32

hi.

that card was tested with 2 psu's but if that was the case again, what cheapish psu would you guys recommend? based on that card suggested?

I'll get the details of current psu for you in a second

thanks

arby1 · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:33

I had the exact same thing 2 weeks ago with a 980ti.
If i slowly increased the load on it then it would downclock itself sufficiently to keep itself stable (but with massively reduced speed), but if I just started a game or stress test then it'd fail in a few seconds.

Sent it back under warranty. Instantly deemed as faulty and given refund.

While it could be a power issue, it's impossible to diagnose from the info you have.

Shiari · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:41

Dave Draycott said:
hi.

that card was tested with 2 psu's but if that was the case again, what cheapish psu would you guys recommend? based on that card suggested?

I'd never recommend a cheap power supply. They may be lacking protection circuitry that more expensive power supplies are much more likely to have; they may be using cheaper components such as Chinese rather than Japanese capacitors aor they are poorly constructed, and as such they are more likely to fail or may not be able to provide good stable power. If a power supply would fail there's the chance of it sending a surge to the rest of the system, causing expensive damage ... so cheaping out on it, you don't really want to do that.

So I can't in good conscience recommend something cheap. You need that budget for that new GPU though, so unless you're budgeting extra there's really no way to get a different PSU that's at least decent.

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:43

arby1 said:
I had the exact same thing 2 weeks ago with a 980ti.
If i slowly increased the load on it then it would downclock itself sufficiently to keep itself stable (but with massively reduced speed), but if I just started a game or stress test then it'd fail in a few seconds.

Sent it back under warranty. Instantly deemed as faulty and given refund.

While it could be a power issue, it's impossible to diagnose from the info you have.

well this was second hand lol so could have been the case.

for info wise psu states "cit model 750ub"

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 20:46

Shiari said:
I'd never recommend a cheap power supply. They may be lacking protection circuitry that more expensive power supplies are much more likely to have; they may be using cheaper components such as Chinese rather than Japanese capacitors aor they are poorly constructed, and as such they are more likely to fail or may not be able to provide good stable power. If a power supply would fail there's the chance of it sending a surge to the rest of the system, causing expensive damage ... so cheaping out on it, you don't really want to do that.

So I can't in good conscience recommend something cheap. You need that budget for that new GPU though, so unless you're budgeting extra there's really no way to get a different PSU that's at least decent.

yes I do understand where your coming from.

I'll rephase it

is there a cheap psu that ocuk do that would be sufficient enough?

thanks

melmac · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:09

Shiari said:
Usually restarts like that would be because of a problem with power delivery, with your power supply not being able to supply enough stable current to keep up with the demands of the system. You've not specified what power supply it is, but if you experience these problems again that would certainly be my first suspect to see if you can try a different one somewhere.

Would you think that's the problem here? I mean the 970 barely uses any power.

melmac · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:11

Dave Draycott said:
hi thanks for the quick responce. would that work ok in my current setup?

the seller kept suggesting it was my setup as to why it kept cutting out.

thanks

I think it will work ok, the 1060 uses even less power than the 970. Your PSU isn't the greatest, but I would suggest you try it out before buying new one.

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:14

ok thank you I might just try the 1060. but if it still fails what would you guys recommend on a budget wise.

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:23

the only power wise things in my computer are the motherboard, cpu fan, 2x sata harddrives 1x sata dvd writer, 1x memory card reader and the external case fan.

thanks

southernorth · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:27

Dave Draycott said:
the only power wise things in my computer are the motherboard, cpu fan, 2x sata harddrives 1x sata dvd writer, 1x memory card reader and the external case fan.

thanks

I can find that PSU for around 30 new. It doesn't look like a quality unit at all. I'd recommend a new one.

melmac · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:31

Dave Draycott said:
ok thank you I might just try the 1060. but if it still fails what would you guys recommend on a budget wise.

What's your budget? Just buy a 500w one that's on this site. You will get a decent one for £50

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:46

melmac said:
What's your budget? Just buy a 500w one that's on this site. You will get a decent one for £50

I wil definitely take the advice onboard what are your thoughts on this one?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/kolink-core-series-700w-80-plus-certified-power-supply-ca-02q-kk.html

thanks

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 21:56

im just thinking get both psu and gpu at the same time then if it still happens after im completely stumped.

melmac · 14 Nov 2017 at 22:02

Dave Draycott said:
I wil definitely take the advice onboard what are your thoughts on this one?

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/kolink-core-series-700w-80-plus-certified-power-supply-ca-02q-kk.html

thanks

I would go for this one

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/kolink-kl-600-600w-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-ca-012-kk.html

Dave Draycott · 14 Nov 2017 at 22:03

melmac said:
I would go for this one

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/kolink-kl-600-600w-80-plus-bronze-power-supply-ca-012-kk.html

thank you

southernorth · 14 Nov 2017 at 22:04

Dave Draycott said:
thank you

Don't get that PSU - it's another low quality cheap unit with only a 2 year warranty. Don't ever skimp on the PSU, as it can take out your entire PC.

Get one of these instead:

My basket at Overclockers UK:

1 x Super Flower Platinum King 550W 80 Plus Platinum Power Supply - Black= £74.99
1 x Bitfenix Formula Series 550W 80 Plus Gold Power Supply= £66.95

Total: £153.04 (includes shipping: £11.10)