Do I need a better power supply?

[Schwan]

I have a new system and am trying to iron out everything. Sometimes when I'm playing a game it will freeze for a second, then display multi-colored artifacts all over the screen and I have to hit the power in the back. I originally thought it was the overclock on the video card, but it's still doing it at default settings. So I was starting to think it was a faulty video card.

However, as I've read in the forums I'm thinking my power supply might not be powerful enough.

Here is my system:

athlon 64 3200
Soltek sl-k8tpro-939
1 gig mushkin 3200
radeon x800 pro
120 gig sata hd
4 or 5 system case fans + cpu fan
DVD drive
nothing is overclocked right now.

I'm using the 420W PSU that came with the case.

This is the case I bought: Link

They have a picture that shows the rail ratings on the psu.

So what do you guys think? Is this something that a new high quality PSU would fix or is it a problem with the video card??

 

[MustISO]

13A on the +12v is terrible for a 420W PSU. That could be the cause. You could try unplugging everything but the bare minimum, no fans and no DVD drive and see what happens. Maybe buy a more powerful PS at a place that allows returns within 30 days and if it's the video card then you can return it.

 

[tarv]

I had similar problems with a 9800 pro that i RMA'd back to newegg. I think it might be the graphics card not running in the specs that it should be with crappy memory on the card.

 

[Arcanedeath]

You need a min of 18Amps on the 12V rail to power that system safely 13A will not even come close to providing stability for your setup. I'd get a new PSU asap.

 

[Schwan]

Thanks for the responses.

So I need at leastn 18a on the 12v hmmm.

So what power supply would you guys reccomend? Antec, Enermax, Thermaltake, etc....

I have about $80 dollars to spend.

 

[Schwan]

anyone?