Graphics card, PSU or motherboard problem?

[reinis133]

Something was wrong with my PC (asrock extreme 3 gen 3, i5-2500k, hd7970, 550w psu). Mobo stopped on a3 code. I tried everything, in the end I got it to work with unplugging the 12v rail to the graphics card.
So what is the problem - PSU or graphics card or mobo?

 

[Darkbreeze]

This really would require further testing in order to determine the cause. I'd test the PSU, especially on the suspected circuit, but it would be a good idea to test it overall, using the following guide. If it works with the PCIe supply unplugged, or with onboard graphics enabled and no PCIe card installed, I'd say it has to be either the PSU or card. What is the model number and brand of your PSU?

Testing PSU:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac7YMUcMjbw

 

[reinis133]

This really would require further testing in order to determine the cause. I'd test the PSU, especially on the suspected circuit, but it would be a good idea to test it overall, using the following guide. If it works with the PCIe supply unplugged, or with onboard graphics enabled and no PCIe card installed, I'd say it has to be either the PSU or card. What is the model number and brand of your PSU?

Testing PSU:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac7YMUcMjbw

It's Thermaltake SMART M550W http://www.thermaltake.com/products-model.aspx?id=C_00001818

I have to add that trouble started about a month ago. It would turn on but after several turn offs (restart didn't work). Is that a sign of a PSU problem?

Tried a different card - 8800 GTS. It worked, but it's a much weaker one. If it's a PSU problem, could it just not handle the stronger one but handle this or is that not an option?

 

[Darkbreeze]

Replace it. Thermaltake does not make ANY good PSUs as far as I'm concerned (There might be slight opposition to this) and has many models of PSU that are on the Remove immediately category on the PSU tier list. I wouldn't take the chance of damaging something else. I've seen Thermaltake PSUs cause every imaginable symptom from motherboard issues to microphones that don't work and RAM that fails testing. Here is the Tier list:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

 

[reinis133]

Replace it. Thermaltake does not make ANY good PSUs as far as I'm concerned (There might be slight opposition to this) and has many models of PSU that are on the Remove immediately category on the PSU tier list. I wouldn't take the chance of damaging something else. I've seen Thermaltake PSUs cause every imaginable symptom from motherboard issues to microphones that don't work and RAM that fails testing. Here is the Tier list:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1804779/power-supply-unit-tier-list.html

I was thinking of replacing it, I guess it's time. Bought Seasonic X-750, it's still OK I hope? That list is quite old.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Anything by Seasonic, XFX, BeQuiet, Superflower and most of EVGA's products, are going to be good. The list IS a bit dated, but it's updated periodically and most everything on there is still sold currently. So that unit would be fine. It's actually a bit higher wattage than needed but that's ok, if you upgrade something or add a bigger card, or two, at any point, you'll already have a PSU capable of handling 90% of hardware configurations.