If I bought A new PSU, would this fix....

Pchelpp · Feb 21, 2010

My ATI Radeon™ HD 4870 is electronically underpowered b/c my pc only has 450 watts, while it's recommended at 550. I'd open up games like Sims 3, and I always played on the highest of high settings for that game, and until recently, I decided to alter the factory settings on my graphics card. I set the card settings all the way up, and when I go in game, the trees and hair are glowing green boxes. If I was to buy a better power supply, would this issue go away? Also, what are some symptoms to know about a failing graphics card?

PC Specs: http://www.slashgear.com/gateway-fx6800-01e-review-intel-core-i7-nehalem-powered-gaming-rig-0221147/ Read the bottom comment.

On high settings:

Low Settings: [/IMG]

I've played on high settings for 7months, is it time for a new card, OR a new PSU?

Burrell · Feb 21, 2010

Yes, i would say a new higher quality, higher power output PSU is needed.

Go for a corsair TX 650.

Even if it is the GPU that has gone, you would have to replace that, and you would probably go for a higher powered one which might not even run on your old PSU.

Burrell

pclover · Feb 21, 2010

I'd would look at a Corsair TX750W since I think it's only around 20 more then the TX650W

collinsl · Feb 22, 2010

In case you do not choose either of those models, please read this canned text wich highlights the importance of a good PSU. This text was kinly supplied to me by Digerati and is reproduced here with permission:

Digerati said:

It is important to ensure power supplies are capable of supporting the demands placed on them. A stressed or overworked power supply can cause stability problems, system lockups and reboots. In worse-case scenarios, a stressed supply can fail catastrophically and damage any device connected to it. Sadly, many computers, especially factory made computers, come with PSUs that are barely adequate to support the existing hardware. Simply adding two more RAM modules (sticks) can overtax them. Therefore is important to consider the greater power demands whenever adding or upgrading hardware. This is critically important with graphics card as they can, and often do demand more power than CPUs.

There are several calculators out there but I have found this to be the best. Note the results indicate the minimum size supply you need. And the default settings do not take into consideration how the computer is used, future upgrades or hardware changes. To ensure your new supply will provide years of faithful service, has enough horsepower to support heavy demands and is ready for future hardware upgrades, please follow the advice below to modify the specified parameters.
Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply unit requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom of the page. To ensure the supply has adequate head room for stress free operation and future demands, I recommend the following settings:

CPU Utilization (TDP) - 100%

Capacitor Aging - 30%

System Load 100%

Motherboard - High End Desktop (optional but recommended)

Research your video card and pay particular attention to the power supply requirements for your card listed on your video card maker's website. If not listed, check a comparable card (same graphics engine and RAM) from a different maker. The key specifications, in order of importance are:

Current (amperage or amps) on the +12V rail,

Efficiency,

Total wattage.

Then look for power supply brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Ensure the supplied amperage on the +12V rails of your chosen PSU meets the requirements of your video card. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. And don't count on supplies that come included with a case. They are often underrated, budget or poor quality models "tossed in" to make the case sale. Digital electronics, including CPUs, RAM, and today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room. I strongly recommend you pick a supply with an efficiency rating equal to, or greater than 80%. Look for the 80 Plus - EnergyStar Compliant label. And don't forget to budget for a good UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation), as surge and spike protectors are inadequate.
Note: There is often some confusion over buying too big of a supply. It is important to remember that electronics draw from their power supplies what they need and not what the supply is capable of delivering. That is, if the motherboard plus the RAM, drives, fans, and graphics card all need 360 watts of power, they will only consume 360 watts regardless if the power supply is a 400W, 650W or a 1000W supply. And the power drawn from the wall outlet will also only be 360W (plus up to 30% more for PSU inefficiencies). So there is no risk of damage from using too big of a supply, except to your budget. That said, if the calculator says you need a 400 watt supply, a quality 400 watt supply will work, but note it will be working near its peak capacity full time. This will likely cause its internal fan(s) to spin at full speed, and maximum loudness. A 500 - 600 watt PSU will be under less strain, and not require the fans to run at full speeds.
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If I bought A new PSU, would this fix....

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