Nvidia Graphics Card Power Issue

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
4,698
0
71
Whenever I start up the computer I get a pop-up that says

"To protect your hardware from potential damage or causing a potential system lockup, the graphics processor has lowered its performance to a level that allows continued safe operations."

This is a new error message, I never used to get it, I switched the power supply.

The system specs are

Dell XPS 700
Intel Pentium D 930 3Ghz
3GB DDR 2 667Mhz
256MB Nvidia Geforce 7900 GS (Not the most power hungry card)
250GB Sata 7200RPM
16x dvd+-RW

The power supply I changed it to is a new one of this:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...s=19&sku=PM480

Is it a motherboard issue? Video card? Drivers?
 

M0RPH

Diamond Member
Dec 7, 2003
3,302
1
0
Did you plug a 6-pin power connector into the card? You went a little overboard on the power supply, btw.
 

betasub

Platinum Member
Mar 22, 2006
2,677
0
0
The driver is responding to a low-power sensor and downclocking your graphics card.

The reason for the sensor detecting low power could be one of many possibilities. When I received this message on an old system, the cause was a fracture in the soldered connection between power socket and PCB. I recommend checking your power cables and connectors.
 

LuNoTiCK

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2001
4,698
0
71
Dell uses proprietary motherboards, 750 and 1000 Watt are all that works. I figured better being safe, at least I KNOW the power supply can handle the load.

I did not plug in a 6 pin connector, I didn't see any on there. Maybe I just missed it?

I reinstalled a power supply, so I wouldn't expect a connectino issue, but maybe in something else? I'll check all the connections.