Power supply causing ctd!?

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 02:49 AM

I am experiencing ctd and I've heard it might have something to do with my power supply....

I play at high settings without lagg or hack but in battles it just suddenly crashes....

My power supply is 550 watt and I found this about my graphic card:

"The card requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 40 Amps available on the +12 volts rails"

So I was wondering maybe buying annother power supply will make this problem go away but I want to know if it worked for any of you guys?!?!

Greetings from Sweden...

**Totalheadache** · February 14, 2010, 05:01 AM

Originally Posted by anthrax

I am experiencing ctd and I've heard it might have something to do with my power supply....

I play at high settings without lagg or hack but in battles it just suddenly crashes....

My power supply is 550 watt and I found this about my graphic card:

"The card requires you to have a 500 Watt power supply unit at minimum if you use it in a high-end system. That power supply needs to have (in total accumulated) at least 40 Amps available on the +12 volts rails"

So I was wondering maybe buying annother power supply will make this problem go away but I want to know if it worked for any of you guys?!?!

Greetings from Sweden...

Could be any number of reasons. You need to list all systems specs including brands. E.g I own a coolermaster 550w psu and a xfx 5970 graphics card.

Once I know details can start to figure it out what the Problem is. Could be overheating, in fact start there.

Download these programs.

For gpu to monitor temps/to oc/inc fan speed,

http://downloads.guru3d.com/MSI-Afte...load-2471.html

To check cpu temps..

http://downloads.guru3d.com/CoreTemp...load-2344.html

I would run this program and do some testing (ram large data sets/cpu burn tests). Note monitor your temps with normal/gaming use first before stress testing as these will push your cpu to the max. But it will soon crash if you have cpu/ram problems.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/OCCT-(Ov...0.0_d1880.html

Use this to clean out drivers...(worth using to see if its a driver issue).

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D--...load-1655.html

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 05:57 AM

Originally Posted by Totalheadache

Could be any number of reasons. You need to list all systems specs including brands. E.g I own a coolermaster 550w psu and a xfx 5970 graphics card.

Once I know details can start to figure it out what the Problem is. Could be overheating, in fact start there.

Download these programs.

For gpu to monitor temps/to oc/inc fan speed,

http://downloads.guru3d.com/MSI-Afte...load-2471.html

To check cpu temps..

http://downloads.guru3d.com/CoreTemp...load-2344.html

I would run this program and do some testing (ram large data sets/cpu burn tests). Note monitor your temps with normal/gaming use first before stress testing as these will push your cpu to the max. But it will soon crash if you have cpu/ram problems.

http://downloads.guru3d.com/OCCT-(Ov...0.0_d1880.html

Use this to clean out drivers...(worth using to see if its a driver issue).

http://downloads.guru3d.com/Guru3D--...load-1655.html

Thx for your reply.

Where do I find all my specs most easily?

**newt** · February 14, 2010, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by anthrax

Thx for your reply.

Where do I find all my specs most easily?

If you have a pre-built, give the model #

If you have a custom built, go here, download and install, then run. (beware the toolbar install) tell us the cpu, mainboard and graphics card and how much memory you have. Also need to know how many hard drives and dvd/cd drives, and any USB devices hooked to the computer, but only if they don't also plug into the wall.

As for your PSU, you can only tell by looking at the sticker

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by newt

If you have a pre-built, give the model #

If you have a custom built, go here, download and install, then run. (beware the toolbar install) tell us the cpu, mainboard and graphics card and how much memory you have. Also need to know how many hard drives and dvd/cd drives, and any USB devices hooked to the computer, but only if they don't also plug into the wall.

As for your PSU, you can only tell by looking at the sticker

Okey I hope it's not to long...

**newt** · February 14, 2010, 07:52 AM

That was a bit much, pics of the tabs would have been better, or just write down the stuff I asked for.

Unless you have an insane amount of hard drives, dvd drives, or flashy lights your power supply is fine, unless it's a crap brand.(open your case and see if the sticker is showing-or check the back and see if it tells you)
I get crashes in battles sometimes, but not often. How frequently does it happen for you?

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by newt

That was a bit much, pics of the tabs would have been better, or just write down the stuff I asked for.

Unless you have an insane amount of hard drives, dvd drives, or flashy lights your power supply is fine, unless it's a crap brand.(open your case and see if the sticker is showing-or check the back and see if it tells you)
I get crashes in battles sometimes, but not often. How frequently does it happen for you?

My computer is pre built, radeon 5870 graphic Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 4gb ram (3,25 visible for some reason) 1 harddrive 2 dvd what else you need?

Yesterday it crashed very frequently, 4-5 times in a few hours and only in battles....I play at high settings but my comp. should be good enough and it didn't even hack or lagg....

You will be my hero if you can find an answer to this mistery....

**newt** · February 14, 2010, 08:39 AM

How about hooking me up with the power supply model #? or the computer model #?

Also, have you ever cleaned your computer? It could be overheating like Totalheadache said. Open it and blow out the dust

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by newt

How about hooking me up with the power supply model #? or the computer model #?

Also, have you ever cleaned your computer? It could be overheating like Totalheadache said. Open it and blow out the dust

My power supply is 550 and I read that my graphic card need 500 alone....can that be it?

My computer was cleaned and reinstalled when I put my new graphic card and ram memory in it, and that was last thuesday

**newt** · February 14, 2010, 09:02 AM

It doesn't need 500 alone, it recommends that much for high end systems. Since you don't have many drives, and your cpu and ram use low voltage, you are fine, unless the power supply is a crap brand. It says you need 40 amps on the 12 volt rail. That's the important part.

Since I don't know what psu you have, I can't help.

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by newt

It doesn't need 500 alone, it recommends that much for high end systems. Since you don't have many drives, and your cpu and ram use low voltage, you are fine, unless the power supply is a crap brand. It says you need 40 amps on the 12 volt rail. That's the important part.

Since I don't know what psu you have, I can't help.

what is psu?

**newt** · February 14, 2010, 09:19 AM

Originally Posted by anthrax

what is psu?

Power Supply Unit

You know, the thing I've been asking about this whole thread

**anthrax** · February 14, 2010, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by newt

Power Supply Unit

You know, the thing I've been asking about this whole thread

It's a Corsair powersupply 550 W bulk, black atx/eps, 120 mm fan, 4xsata, sli....

Now was that of any help?

**Totalheadache** · February 14, 2010, 09:45 AM

I run a 5870 of a 850w but then I might run two of them at some point. I would say that PSU should be ok, but personally I would have gone for something a bit higher. I.E 650w.

What are the temps of the 5870? You need to use msi afterburner and monitor the temps and turn fan to around 35 percent for stock clocks. Also check it's not your cpu overheating.

CPU/GPU overheating will cause switch off as in the Bios on default there should be a cut out. Saying that what happens with gpus is that if they get 2 hot they throttle back or you will notice your framerate go down as the gpu wont be running at max perf.

You need to run those programs I told you about. If you get bsod while testing the cpu/gpu/ram could be the psu cant handle the stress when the parts are at full load. i.e a heavy game like ETW or could be you have a faulty part.

Process of elimination. First check temps, then ram stability (memtest) then do some burn tests or a 3dmarkvantage.

If you havent done a correct os/driver install/ dx11/runtimes/c++ could also cause problems.

I would have said go for a quad-core cpu but if you get that E8500 to around 4ghz shouldnt be bottlenecking the 5870 much. Btw dont overclock CPU on a stock cooler.

(i am guessing this is a pre-built pc and i rem some other stories of friends buying supposedly high end setups and them not being stable..in the end i helped someone sort it out and he's now very chuffed. it's a steep learning curve but you are better off in long run to learn about all of the testing software/correct temps/bottlenecking/overclocking as it's not as easy as some people think that you can just power on a pc and expect it 2 work flawlessly. can be a nightmare).

and they shoulndt have sold u vista 32 bit. that is why your os is only showing 3.5gb. you need 64 bit or windows 7 for os to fullly recognise 4gb. they should have told u that. really annoys me that people cant be more helpfull. but i guess they like to cut corners on the pricing. grrrrrrrrrrr!

ideal for 5870 24inch screen cpu (a quad at 4ghz) 4-6gb ram on vista/windows 7 64 bit. 650w. but that's not to say yours wont fly in the end!