Symptom of an Inadequate Power Supply?

[Amplifier]

Since upgrading to a 7800gt I?ve had crash problems in graphically intensive games. Having just upgraded from a 6600gt I think the problem might be the power supply. Here are my symptoms:

1) Occasionally will get a blue screen.
2) Sometimes a game will freeze or simply crash and return to windows.

I?m using a 400watt Antec PSU with a 1.8ghz A64/gig of ram/7800gt. Am I reading this situation properly or could the cause of these crashes be something else?

 

[jiffylube1024]

It sounds like a PSU issue or a RAM issue most likely. Try dropping your RAM timings first of all (and maybe giving it a notch more voltage).

What are your voltage rails like idle/load? Try running MBM5 or another program to check your voltage rails.

 

[1Dark1Sharigan1]

What message is the Blue screen giving?

If it gives a message like IRQL_NOT_EQUAL then it's most likely a ram issue . . .

 

[Amplifier]

Thanks guys I'll check those.

 

[Powermoloch]

If it's more likely a ram issue, go give a try on a memtest 86 + and see if errors do occur.

 

[shabby]

You should be fine with a 400watt psu, i was using a 350watt enermax with my 7900gt for a week and had no crashes at all.
I would however check the 12v rail with a voltmeter during gameplay and see if it dips too low, or try underclocking the card.

 

[Shamrock]

I dunno about inadequate, but I had a failing PSU, and I would artifact, and freeze, BSOD, etc. I upgraded to an antec 550w, and was still getting the BSOD's (IRQ, Corrupt PFN, etc) I contacted Patriot RAM, and they said they always used 2.7-2.8v to pass their ram, to up the voltage to 2.7...I did that and everything is peachy!

 

[Amplifier]

Guys thanks. I upped my voltage to 2.7 and loosened the timings just a little bit. No crashes! Thanks.