How to determine if I have a bad graphics card or need better PSU?

[axemanxt40]

Yesterday I posted saying how my Sapphire Radeon 9600XT failed to execute directx commands, making 3dmark01 SE pop up with its own fatal error (not a windows one). And ATI's VPU recovery process took place but failed to fully reset the hardware please restart.

So yesterday I thought it could be the drivers, or a bad card...so I switched drivers...nothing same crash over night. Then yesterday I saw someone post that it might be my PSU not pumping out enough power.

So what would be a way to test that? I only have my 2 RAID HDDs so I can take one out to lower power consumption. However, I can take out a Audigy sound card.

Also I have no spare PSU to test with...so I'd rather not have to plunk down 70 bucks for a 480 watt PSU...if its not necessary.

Here is my computer rig (every single part in the PC that would consume power):
Antec 350 watt PSU trueblue
P4 2.6C
1024 Corsair XMS PC3500
Asus P4P800 mobo
Sapphire Radeon 9600XT
2 x 80 GB Hitachi SATA 7200 RPM drives in RAID 0
Sound Blaster Audigy
Lite On DVD ROM
Lite On DVD Burner
2 x Vantec HDD coolers, take about 2.17 watts each
2 x LED Case fans
1 x LED light strip

 

[ipsquitch]

If you feel like doing some research and math, the AMD website has a nice worksheet for determining your system power requirements. I see that you're running a P4, but the worksheet is pretty generic and you should just be able to put your proc specs into it and get a legitimate value. You can access the worksheet here:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_869_4348^4358,00.html

under the "Builders Guide for Desktop/Tower Systems" link. It's in PDF format. Just look under the section "Calculating System Power Consumption". The worksheet and how to use it are right there. Hope this helps. Good luck!

 

[Viper96720]

Find another computer to put your video card in. If you know no one find a shop. They usually have a computer around to test hardware with.