OCZ ModStream 520 + BFG 8800 GTX = Enough?

[Nikira]

This is not good. After week of flawless stability, my PC has decided to start acting peculiar.
Every time I start a game (Counter-Strike Source, Anno 1701), or benchmark (3Dmark2006), my PC freezes for a few seconds, blue screens and then finally restarts. On one occasion, I was able to enter Anno 1701 without problem only to be rewarded with strange textures that stretch the length of the screen, and little squares that vary in colour and size.

This looks very much like my PSU is slowly dying under the pressure of my 8800gtx. Have my initial fears materialised, is my PSU lacking?

My PSU is an OCZ ModStream 520 (Single rail 28amps).

P.S Does it strike anyone as a little strange that it worked, without issue and for a large amount of time, and then suddenly, out of no where, start showing symptoms?

Thank you.

 

[LoadsaMoney]

Could be a borked card by the sounds of 'little squares that vary in colour and size', sounds like a memory problem.

 

[Nikira]

My Graphics card, but it is brand new; I bloody hope not. If that is the case, then this will make it my second graphics do go bust due to memory failure. Looks like another RMA for Overclockers then.

Is there any way of finding out which component is the cause of my problem?

Cheers

 

[Mr Paul]

PSU not powerful enough mate.

 

[Nikira]

I am cursed; there cannot possibly be any other explanation! With open arms and an eager heart, I gladly took in my brand-spanking new PSU today and quickly set about on installing it. As soon as the PC was ready, I pressed the power button (fingers crossed) and waited for it to load up. As soon as it arrived at the window’s boot screen, it blue screened on me, and subsequently rebooted.

What in all that is f’ing holy is going on? I tried again, and low-and-behold it did it, once again! Therefore, I booted up in safe-mode - which led me to believe that my problem is a driver-conflict - and cleaned my HDD of all Nvidia files, then rebooted and installed the latest. Ok, seems good; my computer loaded up fine – no blue screens – and it settled on the desktop. Now, I start to run a few benchmarks, namely 3Dmark06, and guess what... artifacts, black squares, and stretched textures! The same problem I had before but with a different PSU.

Well, it looks like I have a faulty 8800GTX, which is in need of an RMA. Over the bank holiday, as well... joy.

 

[The Running Man]

PSU not powerful enough mate.

hmm dubious tbh a decent 520w psu should handle an 800GTX no probs...

 

[james.miller]

yes a 30a 12v rail is more than enough.


but anyway, reinstall windows. if that doesnt work, you know its probably the card at fault.

 

[Mr Paul]

hmm dubious tbh a decent 520w psu should handle an 800GTX no probs...

Nah, I spoke to OCZ about this and while it will be good enough (just) to power a GTS it will not reliably power a GTX.

They said it will probably work, but you run the risk of overloading the PSU sharpish.

 

[Mr Paul]

yes a 30a 12v rail is more than enough.

It's 28A mate

GeForce 8800 GTX requires a minimum 450W or greater system power supply (with 12V current rating of 30A). GeForce 8800 GTS requires a minimum 400W or greater system power supply (with 12V current rating of 26A).