Underperforming PSU

If the PSU is faulty and isnt supplying enough power to the gpus then it could cause crashes, but I would have thought that a psu preforming in this way would have issues across the rig and not just gpus - i.e. on day it might cause a gpu issue the next cpu etc
Are the crashes only recent/have to you recently updated your drivers that may explain the problem without you forking out money for a new psu, your 1000w supply should be ample to power your system, is their any reason in particular that you think it might be this causing the problem? (such as clicking noises coming from it etc?)
 
I assume if the voltage on the PCI-E rails aren't stable/what they should be that could cause isssues..

Especially with overclocked GPU's.

Are you having any probelms like this mate?
 
If the PSU is faulty and isnt supplying enough power to the gpus then it could cause crashes, but I would have thought that a psu preforming in this way would have issues across the rig and not just gpus - i.e. on day it might cause a gpu issue the next cpu etc
Are the crashes only recent/have to you recently updated your drivers that may explain the problem without you forking out money for a new psu, your 1000w supply should be ample to power your system, is their any reason in particular that you think it might be this causing the problem? (such as clicking noises coming from it etc?)

Thanks for the quick reply!

I've only just really been thinking about the PSU as a potential issue for a while now, I've had issues with the graphics drivers stopping unexpectedly causing the games (Crysis 3 & BF3) to crash. This then requires a reboot as the system cannot always recover.

Another point to make would be that when I attempted to O/C the GPU's, the motherboard seemed to struggle with the extra load causing BSOD's and CPU errors. CPU was running at 4.4ghz and would every so often reboot my PC. It's been hard to pinpoint if the CPU/MOBO/PSU has been the cause here.

The 1kw PSU is competitor branded and has been solid for a while, but getting worried it's on it way out and reluctant to replace it (not sure why). There is also a whine when the g/cards are under heavy usage, but cannot pinpoint if the GPU's/PSU is the cause.

I'm looking to replace anyway, but keep putting it off as other things get in the way. :(

I assume if the voltage on the PCI-E rails aren't stable/what they should be that could cause isssues..

Especially with overclocked GPU's.

Are you having any probelms like this mate?

GPU's are stock and the CPU has been put down to 4ghz as I was having stability issues at 4.4 - 1.3v. CPU now at stock vcore.

What made me think about this? I'm working from home and using a 4 page word DOC and getting black blobs in the tables. This really made me think about the PSU being the cause.
 
Last edited:
If you have suspicions about a few different components I'd say your best bet would be to perhaps run everything at stock speeds for say a week or too (I know blasphemy lol) and see if any issues continue to arise, maybe even run a stress test on the system at stock and see if theirs any errors, then if everythings okay slowly start to up the ante, oc the cpu and keep gpu at stock and stress test the cpu, then return cpu to stock and oc the gpu and stress then etc - I know it sounds like a lot of tedious work but if theirs a few components you're worried about your best to slowly check/eliminate the components as you go along
 
Good advise there Doco.

Also worth checking the PSU voltages with a multimeter, I had a cheap PSU powering the family socket A system for years, eventually it went unstable and blew a MB. I didn't suspect the PSU at the time though so kept using it, in the end it deteriorated so much the GPU started complaining of insufficient power so I checked the PSU voltages and they were low on idle and all over the place under load. Needless to say I only use quality PSUs these days. Luckily it only blew the MB while it was slowly dieing and going out of spec.
 
Good advise there Doco.

Also worth checking the PSU voltages with a multimeter, I had a cheap PSU powering the family socket A system for years, eventually it went unstable and blew a MB. I didn't suspect the PSU at the time though so kept using it, in the end it deteriorated so much the GPU started complaining of insufficient power so I checked the PSU voltages and they were low on idle and all over the place under load. Needless to say I only use quality PSUs these days. Luckily it only blew the MB while it was slowly dieing and going out of spec.

The rig with cpu OC has been fine until i added another card which made me suspect the psu. I think its about time it was replaced and sooner rather than later as this 1kw competitor branded ocz thing its, i think, giving up.

So....spec me a new psu to power the rig in my sig. Needs to be fully modular really. I've been looking at the 650 Seasonic X and G series and the 759.

What you rekon?
 

They are all great units, id personally go for the seasonic out of those.

The only other one id throw into the mix is this Silverstone: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-225-SV&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=2283

There is also a 850W varient. :)
 
They are all great units, id personally go for the seasonic out of those.

The only other one id throw into the mix is this Silverstone: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-225-SV&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=2283

There is also a 850W varient. :)

I do like that, but my fussy nature doesn't like the end of the wires being exposed. Needs to be neat and tidy, braided or thick mesh.

I've heard a lot about the Corsair PSU's developing faults and more so over the last few weeks. Do you think the investment in one of their units would be a wise move? I really like it, but undecided.

HX+ or AX?
 
Last edited:
What make is your current Psu? As I would have thought a 1000W unit to be more than sufficient for your system.
And are you using the latest Nvidia drivers?
 
I do like that, but my fussy nature doesn't like the end of the wires being exposed. Needs to be neat and tidy, braided or thick mesh.

I've heard a lot about the Corsair PSU's developing faults and more so over the last few weeks. Do you think the investment in one of their units would be a wise move? I really like it, but undecided.

HX+ or AX?

You can also get nice coloured sleeving for Corsair PSU's too.. Ohhh.. I see your point now. :)

I've always been a fan of the HX series. I'd go for that. :)
 
What make is your current Psu? As I would have thought a 1000W unit to be more than sufficient for your system.
And are you using the latest Nvidia drivers?

Yes it is more than enough and the most recent drivers are causing more problems than before. The competitor branded PSU is made by OCZ and for the best part of a year (ish) has been working fine. I think the OC on the CPU and the addition of an additional g/card has taken it's toll.

You can also get nice coloured sleeving for Corsair PSU's too.. Ohhh.. I see your point now. :)

I've always been a fan of the HX series. I'd go for that. :)

Yeah, that was my thinking.

Also according to the Thermaltake PSU calc, I currently only draw 462w, so a 750w should be perfect and keep me going into Sandy/Haswell depending on cash.
 
Last edited:
You can also get nice coloured sleeving for Corsair PSU's too.. Ohhh.. I see your point now. :)

I've always been a fan of the HX series. I'd go for that. :)

What's the difference with the AX, TX+ & HX? It would also seem the HX models are not 100% modular where the AX models are.
 
Last edited:
Did some testing over the last few days and it would seem the card is at fault. RMA in progress, lets hope it's a quick turn around.
 
Back
Top Bottom