GTX 780 might be causing possible BSODs due to lack of power?

[spagolatehd]

Hi everyone,

I've been getting bluescreens for quite some time now, with no success of what's been the cause of the BSOD. However, I recently noticed that the cabling for my graphics card is a bit odd, I'm wondering if the lack of power might be causing bluescreens and if I might have to attach an additional cable from the PSU to the graphics card, I'll post an image below for a better idea at what I mean; the power cable looks like it's just a cable that's attached to one VGA1 port in the PSU (8 pin) and then it splits off into the graphics card (8 pin + 6 and 2 pin), is it possible that there's a lack of power in the graphics card that it blue screens at times? I can run the computer just fine, I just run into very random BSODs.

http://i.imgur.com/feN1l1c.jpg

PSU: EVGA Supernova 550 GS
GPU: EVGA GTX 780

EDIT: For those who need this info, the BSOD is an 0x124 error, stating "... encountered a hardware error."

Cheers,
David

 

[Lakken]

Its possible that the psu are just alittle too weak.
this chart shows the power requirments for different cards.

http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

I do think you should get an 600w/650w or 700w.

 

[RobCrezz]

His PSU is more than enough for a GTX 780.


OP: Try a small underclock on your graphics card. Run Afterburner, or precision X, and lower the GPU clock speed by 50mhz, apply it, then test again.

 

[Lakken]

ok.. even on EVGA own product specs is says:
600 Watt or greater power supply with a minimum of 42 Amp on the +12 volt rail.****

Remember that the PSU also gives power to MoBo, cpu etc.

 

[RobCrezz]

ok.. even on EVGA own product specs is says:
600 Watt or greater power supply with a minimum of 42 Amp on the +12 volt rail.****

Remember that the PSU also gives power to MoBo, cpu etc.

This is the problem with answering questions without knowing what your talking about...

His psu has 45amps on the 12v rail, which is more than enough.

EVGA state these amounts to account for poor quality psus which dont deliver enough power on the 12v rail.

 

[Lakken]

ok...

I only answer on q's with problems I have experienced.
My first build I made, I got similar problem. For me it was too weak psu. But I always go for how much watt the psu have.

yes, he can try to underclock the card, so it reguire less power. If that work, then you know the card gets too low power at standard.

I am not trying to get into an argument with you, RobCrezz.

 

[RobCrezz]

No, ive already shown his psu has enough power.

Underclocking the card is to prove that the gpu is unstable at the stock clock speed, but is stable at a slightly lower speed.

 

[Lakken]

yes.
it proves that either the gpu or psu are faulty.
So he could try another GPU or PSU.

 

[RobCrezz]

Sure, but his PSU is a good quality unit and can supply more than enough power, so very unlikely to be at fault.

I dont approve of posts telling someone to buy a different PSU when the current one is a good unit with enough power - we dont want the OP wasting money for no reason.

For info, the gtx 780 only uses around 240w. Whole system under load probably around 400w max.

 

[Lakken]

No, I suggested he could try another psu, if he can. if he got another laying around or a friend got one he can borrow for check.
.
in worst case, he needs to replace psu or gpu.

OP: does the Blue screen happens only while gaming or just randomly, like watching YT, reading news etc?

 

[Lakken]

RobCrezz, can I ask you somehing since you have more experience with gpu's than me?
When using MSI Afterburner, can I see how much power my card uses? and should it be constant or fluctuating on load?

its a Zotac 970 GTX. no OC.

 

[RobCrezz]

RobCrezz, can I ask you somehing since you have more experience with gpu's than me?
When using MSI Afterburner, can I see how much power my card uses? and should it be constant or fluctuating on load?

its a Zotac 970 GTX. no OC.

You can get a rough idea, GPU-Z (on the sensor tab) can show you how much of its power limit (usually set at its tdp in the firmware, but can be increased/decreased in afterburner).

It will be up an down a bit as in games depending on whats on the screen, some frames will need more power to render than others.

If you enable vsync, you should see it usually limited if you gpu has the capacity to go above your vsync refresh rate.