8800gts...can't even run a game

[edouble]

Hey all, I just built my first computer. Everything seems to be fine, put in my PNY 8800GTS, installed drivers, set my windows resolution, etc. etc.

Then I tried to play HL2. Crashed during the loading screen. Then I tried performing a PCMark score. Again, crashed in the middle. Then I tried playing Civ IV, game just aborts during the loading screen.

Sooo...any ideas? I'm using all of the new drivers and DX9c. Oh, and I'm on XP. It's perplexing. I also ran Performance Test, but that actually worked. Very strange.

 

[blade85]

whats your overall system specs + psu details

 

[edouble]

whats your overall system specs + psu details

E4300 @ 2.5ghz
GIG 965P-DS3 (1.3)
2GB 667mhz 55515
PNY 8800GTS 320 MB
Vigor 500W PSU (my first thought of being the culprit, kind of a cheapo PSU, but I wasn't sure how to go about diagnosing it)
SB X-FI (but haven't installed that yet)
Seagate 250GB SATA
Windows XP Home (SP2)
Samsung 206BW (DVI)

I went online to DL the new Forceware drivers, but ended up rolling back to the ones released in Dec. of 06. Still no luck.

 

[Heyyou27]

I'd throw out that PSU and get a real one; if the PSU is not the problem, you may have a faulty card.

 

[edouble]

I did notice that my rail voltages fluctuated a good bit while doing TTs, but I didn't know if that was normal or not. When the TT ended, they went back down.

 

[haywood]

Get a new PSU. See sig, rock solid stable.

 

[edouble]

So, in essence, is the card just crapping out because it's not getting enough/inconsistent juice? My rail voltages, come to think of it, would go up and down when monitored with Speed Fan, by several full volts, it appeared. Egads.

 

[haywood]

So, in essence, is the card just crapping out because it's not getting enough/inconsistent juice? My rail voltages, come to think of it, would go up and down when monitored with Speed Fan, by several full volts, it appeared. Egads.

Correct! If the PSU goes, it can take everything else with it. Always, always buy a good PSU. See the stickies in the PSU forums for suggestions. Mpilchfamily has put together some really good info.

 

[stefx]

You might also try to bring your BIOS settings to default values ( I see you overclocked your e4300). It might not fix the problem, but it would remove one potential source.

Do other games work?

 

[edouble]

Other than the two I mentioned above, haven't installed anything else.

 

[chowner]

You might also try to bring your BIOS settings to default values ( I see you overclocked your e4300). It might not fix the problem, but it would remove one potential source.

Do other games work?

ding try this willing to bet its the problem.

 

[edouble]

Yea I'm wondering if I need to up my voltages somewhere to get the GPU more stable. I'll try that before grabbing a new PSU.

 

[spongebob]

Yea I'm wondering if I need to up my voltages somewhere to get the GPU more stable. I'll try that before grabbing a new PSU.

Is this your PSU?

http://www.techfreaks.org/reviews/vigor500w.shtml

http://www.techfreaks.org/reviews/vigor500w/Img_1143.jpg

Only one 12v supply at 19A ???? :?

 

[edouble]

Indeed that is the one I have.

I take it this would not be an adequate PSU. Ha.

 

[spongebob]

Indeed that is the one I have.

I take it this would not be an adequate PSU. Ha.

I'm afraid not.

Check this out (from PNY's 8800GTS 320MB specs page)

Minimum System Requirements
Intel Pentium® III, AMD Duron™ or Athlon™ class processor or higher
256MB system RAM
A minimum 400W system power supply (with 12V current rating of 26A)
A PCI Express® compliant motherboard with one x16 graphics slot
1 6-pin supplementary power connectors
50MB of available hard disk space
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
Microsoft® Windows® 2000, XP
VGA or DVI-I compatible monitor

 

[edouble]

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Well, this is obviously the problem.

I had always planned on getting a budget card, but then when the 8800GTS dropped down to $200, I just bought it without thinking if my other components could handle it.

So the question is, until my new PSU arrives, is it ok to run the computer for web surfing and such (no gaming, obv.)? I don't want to damage anything.

 

[goldragon_70]

You might also try to bring your BIOS settings to default values ( I see you overclocked your e4300). It might not fix the problem, but it would remove one potential source.

My first thought too.