Power supply & new video card problem

[clark1221]

I recently purchased/installed a new video card (MSI NX6600GT). Everything was running beautifully for the first three or four days...........playing games including Doom3 and Half-Life2. Now the games are basically un-playable........blank screen (Doom3) with game audio in background.........anomolies and artifacts in Half-Life2. I also can't play any DVD movies..........just lines of colors with no picture.
I know I'm stretching it a bit because I'm running a 330watt PSU, so I'm wondering if something may have happened to my power supply, or do I have a bad video card. I spoke with MSI tech. support, and they seem to think I have a defective card, even though these cards supposedly should have a minimum 350watt PSU. I've also spoken with others running the same card with the same set-up as myself, including the power supply, and they are having no problems at all. I'm in the process of exchanging my MSI card for another one, but I'm not ruling out a power supply problem as well. When I tried to run a DVD movie, I noticed in the Event Viewer this entry.........Event 106..Source NV...Description: Silent Running Stress Test Transition L2->L1
I suspect that this is related to power in some way.
At the desktop, it's basically ok, however, there are a few little quirks such as my animated icons flickering, and other subtle weirdness.
I should know for sure when I get the replacement card in a couple of days and install it.
My question is.........is it possible that something could have happened to the PSU from over-stressing it, and are there any other signs I should be looking for? Can an under-powered PSU damage a video card if it's not getting the power it needs? What's throwing me is the fact that everything was great for those first few days.
Thanks very much.......

Dell 8100
P4 2.0 ghz.
1024 mgs PC800 RDRAM
Quantum Fireball 20 g HD 7200
MSI NX 6600GT VIVO 128 mg
WD 40 g HD 7200
16x DVD Drive
12x8x32 CD/RW
330watt max PSU
Windows XP SP2

 

[jackschmittusa]

I'm not sure how underpowering a vid card could damage it. Pure speculation here, but most psus are not designed to operate at max output for extended periods. If the psu was maxed out, it may have worked for a while and gone downhill from there.

 

[imported_Kensai]

I'd suggest grabbing a new PSU, since you'll need one eventually.

 

[clark1221]

One thing is certain, something has happened to the video card,with what's going on graphically, and it doesn't sound like the PSU could have caused it, which would suggest a defective card. I did read somewhere that, supposedly, Nvidia inadverdently shipped a bad batch of GPU's sometime around the holidays, and that mistakenly, they made their way into cards. Whether this is accurate, and whether I happened to get one......I have no idea. The suggestion that running the PSU at it's max or near max capabilities for extended periods would cause adverse effects/damage the PS, makes total sense, but yet it's still working. The entry in the Event Viewer is suspect, and I'll probably get the custom Dell PSU from PC P&C at some point, but if the replacement card solves the problem....do I spend more money I don't have?? Sorry about all the rambling on.....I've just never experienced this type of problem. Is there any way of testing the PS for problems?
Thanks again for the input..anything is appreciated.

 

[vertigo220]

If the power supply wasn't putting out enough power, I would think it would shut off, not freeze. Probably a defective video card, but you'll only know for sure when you get the new one and put it in. You could get a bigger PSU as kensai said, since you'll probably need one soon, or if you're strapped for cash you could run the one you have until it dies, assuming the new video card works. You have to be careful doing that, though, b/c power supplies can take other things with them when they go.