PSU problems (coupled with RAM issues)

[KyroExtreme]

Hi,

I currently have an eVGA 8800 GTS 320MB vid card. I?m also using a Thermaltake ToughPower 550W PSU.

http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/...er/w009697/w009697.asp
http://www.evga.com/products/m....asp?pn=320-P2-N811-AR

As you can see, there seems to be a mismatch in the 12V PCI rail. My card requires a single rail with 26A, while my PSU only provides 19A.

Would this cause major issues?

The reason I?m asking is that until recently, my computer was working fine. I?ve played Crysis, Gears of War, Neverwinter Nights 2, Bioshock without a hitch. And until recently, World of Warcraft.

My problems started a few weeks ago with WoW. I was using 4GB of OCZ memory (OCZ2P800R22GK).

http://www.ocztechnology.com/p...evision_2_dual_channel

My computer would start freezing up after a certain time spent playing the game. I would see certain artifacts on the screen, and would have to reboot. It wasn?t an overheating issue (my temps were kept well within specs, typically under 60 Celsius). This problem was made worse by Alt-tabbing out of the game to check info on the web. I then proceeded to check my RAM using memtest. Sure enough, one of the dual-channel kits came up with errors. So I RMA?d it to OCZ. My computer worked fine using the other 2GB, and I was error-free for over a week. Then, this morning, I started getting the same errors. I left for work, and left my computer running memtest. I?ll check it out once I get home.

Would my PSU somehow be responsible for these errors? This RAM was fine the last time I ran memtest. Now it?s acting up.

If it is my PSU at fault, why would it run fine for months?

 

[HOOfan 1]

stupid errors

 

[HOOfan 1]

stupid errors

 

[HOOfan 1]

No your videocard does not require 26 Amps from a single rail. That is how much 12V power nVidia estimates an entire system with videocard, CPU, fans, harddrives etc. will use. Your videocard probably doesn't even use more than 10Amps.

Sounds like you have the problem narrowed down to RAM of possibly your videocard is overheating.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Look at the total amperage the PSU offers which is 38A. More then enough for your system. The PSu isn't the problem. You may have RAM issues. So try the system with just 2 Gb and go from there. Also run Memtest to check the ram for errors.

 

[bryanl]

Originally posted by: KyroExtremeIf it is my PSU at fault, why would it run fine for months?

Accumulation of dust, fan slowdown (possibly by the dust), gradual failure of electrolytic capacitors, power connections expanding and contracting from heat and thereby loosening. To tell if the PSU is fault you'll need to take voltage readings with an accurate meter (not software), at the points where the current is drawn (power connectors for motherboard, video card, disk drives).

But I would not let the remaining OCZ memory stick off the hook yet, as it is OCZ, after all, not something made with name brand chips.

 

[KyroExtreme]

The memtest that I left running all day came up with zero errors on my remaining RAM. My guess is it may have been a memory leak, as WoW is known to do that.

As for OCZ, it looks like it's been a while since I researched RAM sticks. You're saying OCZ is sub-par in terms of memory? What would you recommend?