Change my CPU power supply?

[tigersty1e]

I just bought a BFG Geforce 6800 OC 128 MB video card. One of the minimum specs for the card is that it needs at least a 300 Watt power supply. I can run the card fine and play games fine like half-life 2 ... But when I run Doom 3, I can run it for 15 -20 minutes then my computer will freeze on one frame with the sound either running normally, looping, or just no sound. After about several minutes of freezing, the computer will restart. I have tried everything and think it's the power supply.

Doom 3 is the only game that demands the most out of my system, so I only encounter this with doom.

Myspecs:
Pentium 4 2.66 mhz
512 mb ram
BFG geforce 6800 oc 128 MB

I've browsed the doom and half-life forums and noticed that people encountering my same porblems had the 6800.

So how do I find out what power my video card is receiving?
Can I alter or modify it without having to change my power unit?

Thanks

 

[racolvin]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e

Can I alter or modify it without having to change my power unit?

Thanks

Personally, changing power supplies would be easier, cheaper, and non-warranty-voiding. There's no way to make the card need less power that I am aware of - it needs what it needs. Its not like a voltage mod to make a fan run slower or anything. You can get a good 400W+ PSU for under $100 and they're very easy to replace.

R

 

[tigersty1e]

My power supply model is Raidmax RD-350W. It says in parenthesis that 350 W is the max so I should be fine.

 

[Astu222]

yeah but thats a POS psu. the 350w means nothing. get a nice antec true 380. should run it no problem

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
My power supply model is Raidmax RD-350W. It says in parenthesis that 350 W is the max so I should be fine.

Typically, cheap PSUs are not properly rated. And given that new video cards are wicked huge hogs, I suspect that is a possible problem.

 

[slash196]

I heartily reinforce what other peope have said: ratings mean nothing if the PSU is crappy. An Antec or Enermax of some capacity should keep you quite well; you might even notice a stability boost in your everyday computing. [
L=Antec True 380...a mere 61 dollars.]http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-907&depa=0[/L]

 

[Budman]

Change my CPU power supply?

I'm afraid cpu's dont have power supplies,cases have power supplies.

 

[Maxil223]

Thank you for clearing that up for him. Althought you should have noticed he is new.