bad PSU? After 3 dead videocards, I have to wonder...

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butch84

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2001
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So, over the past few months, I've been having nothing but videocard issues. In the process, I've gotten my 6800GT RMA'd twice. I also switched motherboards. The last time, I just gave up and bought a Sapphire x1950xt. Now, 2 month old x1950xt seems dead too!

I left my computer on overnight, and when I turned the monitor on today, it was locked up with display corruption. I rebooted, and there was no video on post. If I leave it running for a while, eventually the same corruption pattern shows up, but still no video. I reseated the card, but it made no difference. When I switch back to my old 9600pro, my rig boots just fine.

Now, as I see it there are two possibilities. 1. I have the worst luck ever, or 2. my psu is bad. Since I've basically replaced everything else, I'm out of ideas. I'm currently running an Enermax EG475P-VE-SFMA, which is 470 watt. Other than the dead videocards, I have no indication there's a problem with it - no random reboots, everything was stable until last night. My only other guess would be dirty power - I don't have a UPS, so theoretically there could have been a surge/brownout or something, but that seems like a longshot.

So, any thoughts? Should I get a new psu? If so, what psu's should I be looking at? I need to keep the budget down, but I'd like it to last me a good long while. Any suggestions are appreciated!

Thanks,
Dave

EDIT:
I thought I'd also re-iterated that the card died when the system was *not* under load. It was just on overnight. That would almost seem to rule out the psu, would it not?
 
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AlgaeEater

Senior member
May 9, 2006
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Strange that you say this since it happened to me the same exact thing one month ago with my Sapphire 1900GT.

My first card was a 6600GT that fried, then my 1900GT fried. I then decided perhaps my motherboard was bad, so I switched it out and put in my newly RMA 1900GT. So far no problems, but I still have that worry in the back of my mind.

For what it's worth, when I RMA'd the first video card, I noticed it got really, really hot. So now I'm keeping it cool with extra fans and WATCHING MY VOLTAGE. I'm assuming you might want to check your BIOS for voltage, because your video card might be over-drawing amps.
 
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Midnight Rambler

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Dave,

Incredibly, I had a similar experience with a rig I built for my brother.

With the EXACT same PSU. I even RMA'd the PSU and got a new one direct from Enermax. Still had problems. Bottom-line, I don't think these PSU's were necessarily "bad" but more like underpowered. Could also be due to poor design or poor quality components. Either way, I replaced the Enermax with a quality PSU and all is well.

Right now, the Corsair line of PSU's are very popular, and for good reason. Very high quality (made by Seasonic for Corsair), quiet, excellent modular cable system, and rock solid voltages and either 40A (520W) or 50A (620W) on the 12V rail(s). All backed with a rare 5 year warranty.

You will pay handsomely for a high quality PSU, but it is a good investment in many peoples' opinion. Eliminates a lot of potential problems/headaches, long useful lifetime, ie. re-use in future builds, etc.

You can find the 520W model for about $95 after rebate, or the 620W model for around $120 after rebate. I now own (2) 620's and (1) 520, and have used another (3) of the 620's in builds in the last month or so. VERY impressed with this product !

Need something cheaper ? Then browse the reviews on this site until you find something that fits your needs & budget --->JONNYGURU.COM
 
Puffnstuff

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
16,187
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Enermax is a quality ps. I would test the rails with a digital mm just to rule it out. My oldest was running with a noisetaker 485w and he's got an opty 175, 8800gts 640, 3 hd's, dual opticals and lots of fans and no problems. The enermax's have strong 12v rails, not to say that they can't go bad but test your ps to make sure before you pass judgement on it.
 
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butch84

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2001
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I borrowed a multimeter from a friend, but I have absolutely no idea how to use it. Do I attach the probes to the matching colored wires of a 4-pin connector on the same rail the video card is plugged into? I'll need to do that today or tomorrow, because I need to send the videcard in for rma Monday.

Thanks,
Dave
 
Puffnstuff

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
16,187
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Which psu tester are you refering to? Does it show voltage for each rail or does it just light up and cause the ps to turn on?
 
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butch84

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2001
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The multi meter I've got has two probes, an lcd screen, and a dial with a bunch of settings (voltage/amperage stuff I think.... or something like that). It's not a custom psu tester, but rather a general purpose tester.


I thought I'd also re-iterated that the card died when the system was *not* under load. It was just on overnight. That would almost seem to rule out the psu, would it not?
 
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butch84

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2001
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So, on the 4-pin connector, I'm getting 10.4v on the red wire, and 25.8v on the yellow wire. Would that be cause for concern?

And actually, now that I've rebooted to check the voltages in the bios, it fails to boot back into vista. As soon as I enter my credentials to login, I get a bluescreen. Looks like the psu really is dead.

With that in mind, what are the odds that the videocard is actually good, but didn't work because it wasn't getting enough juice from the psu? I don't want to send it in if I don't need to, but I only have a limited time to send it in. I really really need a recommendation for a psu for $100 or less!

What do you all think of the psu mentioned in this thead:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2046962&enterthread=y
Looks to be the Ultra Products XVS 600W modular power supply for $49.99. It fits my budget perfectly!

Thanks guys (and gals),
Dave
 
jonnyGURU

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
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Originally posted by: butch84
So, on the 4-pin connector, I'm getting 10.4v on the red wire, and 25.8v on the yellow wire. Would that be cause for concern?
Click to expand...

Are you joking???

If that's for real, I hope nothing else is fried. Red is +5V. Yellow is +12V. Your voltages are double, which I didn't think was possible.

Originally posted by: butch84
What do you all think of the psu mentioned in this thead:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2046962&enterthread=y
Looks to be the Ultra Products XVS 600W modular power supply for $49.99. It fits my budget perfectly!
Click to expand...

I think the reviews linked there speak for themselves.
 
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Nathelion

Senior member
Jan 30, 2006
697
1
0
Yeah those voltage are so far off... I have to wonder if there's a major measurement error somewhere here? Are you sure you had the voltmeter on DC and not AC and stuff? I would think that everything would have been fried long ago with those voltages...
 
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Sdiver2489

Senior member
Nov 7, 2003
303
0
0
Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Originally posted by: butch84
So, on the 4-pin connector, I'm getting 10.4v on the red wire, and 25.8v on the yellow wire. Would that be cause for concern?
Click to expand...

Are you joking???

If that's for real, I hope nothing else is fried. Red is +5V. Yellow is +12V. Your voltages are double, which I didn't think was possible.

Originally posted by: butch84
What do you all think of the psu mentioned in this thead:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=2046962&enterthread=y
Looks to be the Ultra Products XVS 600W modular power supply for $49.99. It fits my budget perfectly!
Click to expand...

I think the reviews linked there speak for themselves.
Click to expand...

He is probably measuring between the + and - 5 volt pins and between the + and - 12 V pins. That would easily explain the doubling. OP you should be measuring between a colored wire and the ground pin.
 
bruceb

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
OP ... if you are not sure which is the Ground it is usually the BLACK Wire
You can also use the Case of the Power Supply or the Computer as the
Ground Point for the "-" wire from the Multimeter ... It should be on DC Volts
and you will need to use the settings of 20V for the 5V / 12V rails
and it should be tested with the computer fully booted up, so it is under a
load condition. The voltages should be within 3/4V Max of whatever the
voltage is supposed to be
 
jonnyGURU

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
104
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Originally posted by: Sdiver2489
He is probably measuring between the + and - 5 volt pins and between the + and - 12 V pins. That would easily explain the doubling. OP you should be measuring between a colored wire and the ground pin.
Click to expand...

But he said he measured on the 4-pin. Last I checked, there's only one -5V and one -12V and they're on the 20/24-pin. ;)
 
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butch84

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2001
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0
76
Well, I'll definately try it again. What setting should the multimeter be on? I figure I must have screwed it up.
 
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butch84

Golden Member
Jan 26, 2001
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Okey dokey. Looks like yellow is 12.16, and red is 5.13. Unfortunately I can't put it under load, since it bluescreens when I try to login.
 
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