Recommend a PSU

byron_hinson · 25 Jun 2009 at 20:20

I currently have an old (not the newer model) Dark Power Pro 1000 W PSU - yet in games when overclocking my processor slightly games crash etc. My specs are as follows

Q6600 - right now had to put this to stock but used to run at 3.0hz before i got my GTX 295
BFG GTX 295
8 GB DDR (4x2)
2xSATA Hard Drives
1xSata DVD-RW Drive

siumatfung · 25 Jun 2009 at 20:23

replace it with another 1000W PSU?

or personally the CORSAIR 750W modular will be fine

byron_hinson · 25 Jun 2009 at 20:25

Is it likely that the crashes are due to the 20A on the various 12V's on the PSU? Specifically with the GTX 295?

cmndr_andi · 25 Jun 2009 at 20:25

siumatfung said:
or personally the CORSAIR 750W modular will be fine

+1, here is the link to that rather awesome PSU (80 PlUS Gold Certified)

TheOtherOption · 25 Jun 2009 at 21:04

The Corsair HX850w gets my vote - but then I did just recently upgrade to one

That PSU can only output 20A on its 12v rail - ouch! The HX850w can do 70A overall and then HX750 is only a tad less so either would be perfect!

byron_hinson · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:10

No it can do around 80a across the 4 12v rails it has

Plec · 25 Jun 2009 at 23:31

byron_hinson said:
I currently have an old (not the newer model) Dark Power Pro 1000 W PSU - yet in games when overclocking my processor slightly games crash etc. My specs are as follows

Q6600 - right now had to put this to stock but used to run at 3.0hz before i got my GTX 295
BFG GTX 295
8 GB DDR (4x2)
2xSATA Hard Drives
1xSata DVD-RW Drive

Why do you suspect the PSU - have you tested it and found it to be faulty? Have you tried another PSU in the rig? (That PSU should be able to power 2 of your setups – if working properly)

Have you ruled out other factors such as a dodgy clock due to erroneous BIOS settings or fluctuating temps etc..?

If you haven’t done the above you may want to spend some time finding out for sure at it would be an expensive mistake if you were to replace the PSU only to find yourself faced with the same problem.

CyZMyAssBaby · 26 Jun 2009 at 06:40

I agree with plec, and it is sound advice imo. Checking other factors as mentioned would be beneficial before assuming the PSU is a fault.

Bony Maloney · 26 Jun 2009 at 08:13

Are you running Windows 7? Sometimes a new beta OS doesn't like overclocks. Have you run memtest86+ http://www.memtest.org/ on your ram? I'm running an overclocked Q6600 @ 3.4GHz, Gtx 295 and a Dark Power Pro 850W no problems. Have you also proved your overclock stability with Prime95,Intel Burn Test etc. As Plec has already asked what temps does your cpu reach when overclocked? Check these things out first before you can say it's your PSU

byron_hinson · 26 Jun 2009 at 08:48

Before I put in the GTX 295 I was overclocked at 3ghz with no problems what so ever with a gtx 280. As soon as I put in the gtx 295 the stabilityproblems started. If I remove the overclock it all works fine. Memoryis fine. Same happens in win 7. Done a bios update too and still the same. Just have a feeling it is the psu. I have had it for 3 years and it is the older design of the dark power pro.

Plec · 26 Jun 2009 at 09:51

I can understand why you suspect the psu reading the above - and it could very well turn out to be the cause if it's flaky.

However, it could just be that your BIOS settings need fine tuning to allow for the introduction of the 295 - when your system is clocked. The clock would only draw a fraction more power and as such the PSU is unlikely to be causing the problem - but not impossible.

I would spend a few hours tweaking the BIOS using the clock speed of your choice and see if you can get the system stable again. (Use prime95/orthos/memtest to speed up this process)

Better still try a diffent PSU if you can get your hands on one - a decent 550W+ will be adequate for testing - this would be a very fast and definitive test.