2 issues which may be related?

[imported_Infiltrator]

Issue #1:
Usings Hardware Doctor 2.71 after not using it for a few months, i discover a warning alarm, showing in red the ATX+3.3v is lower then recommended at about 2.85v. After scaning afew forums for some guidance, people seem to indicate from simalar probems to get a new PSU. Is this what i need to fix this problem? and how serious is this problem?

This was my first box i've built about a year ago, which i bought a cheap 500W PSU with a case for about 35 bucks. At the time, not knowing the value of a good PSU... so i now realize this PSU is probably a pos, and should get a new one when i can afford to anyways, but must i do it now?

here is a list of voltages given from the bios:
CPU core: 1.50v
DDR: 2.60v
AGP VDDQ: 1.55v
DDR VTT: 1.29v
ATX +3.3v: 2.86v
ATX+5v: 4.83v
ATX+12: 11.73v
Battery(+3v): 3.29v
Standby(+5v): 4.77v


Issue#2:
While playing some games(such as Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory and Halo trial) i've been geting some sporadic images and colors which really look crazy and very hard to discribe. Sometimes its so horible i can't even play the games, due to all the crazy, random, irregular images (which also seems to be geting worse over time). Also when it gets really bad and i have to quit the game, and return to the desktop, which the desktop is also very distorted(looks like alot of the pixels are in the wrong places), which i have to restart to temporally fix. Anyone have any idea how i could fix this or know what i'm talking about? i'll try and give some screen shots if no one understands, later.

So is it posible that i could just have a bad PSU giving me low voltage making my video all messed up?

Here are my system specs:
Abit is7-G mobo
P4 2.4C
9800pro 128mb
corsiar XMS 2x512mb
120gb western digital SATA
and a 500W PSU with no labeling on it

I probably listed more info then needed, but i'm hoping something will pop in someone's mind and will be able to figure this out...

Thanking is advance for the help🙂

 

[febuld]

A bad PSU could be the cause to an infinite amount of problems...if you're seeing artifacts on your screen, then your video card might be running too hot. Definitely try running the system with a better quality power supply...

 

[febuld]

Please write your system specs, including the type and number of case fans and such...

 

[imported_Infiltrator]

I have 4 80mm case fans, 2 80 pointed in the back(smart case fan2 & tornado), and 1 on the side of the case pointed out(blue LED fan which came with the case and PSU), and a blow hole in the top of the case pointed out(smart case fan2). The fans are running on a fan controler, all but the blue LED fan are running on low, to be more quite. and a 92mm (this is the fan http://www.usereasy.com/product_5773.html) on a SLK-900U heatsink. And not to mention the stock heatsink and fan on the 9800pro. I think i have plenty of air blowing.... Still could maybe be too hot. But with summer ending(geting cooler), why wasn't i geting heat problems before when it was hotter mid summer?

Room tempature is 90F right now....sometimes i'll hit 100F, my room is always hot...
here are the temperatures(C) idle:
system:41
CPU:47-48
PWM:38.5

temperatures(C) while prime95 running:
system:43
CPU:58-59
PWM:46-50


I guess the best thing to do is to test a new PSU(from a friend) and see if it run any different...? to see if its cuasing the video problems, but i'm still wondering, if my voltage that big of a problem right now(will something bad happen)? or can i wait till i have a more money(i have to pay off other things too)...? how much does it matter?


Thanks again🙂