Upgraded stock PC's GPU. Power problem? Driver problem?

[Coldkilla]

I upgraded my stock HP P6230y PC's ATI Radeon HD 4200 to an eVGA Geforce GT 430.

Other specs:http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/hp-pavilion-p6230y/4507-3118_7-33777302.html
-Ram: 8GB
-CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 810 / 2.6 GHz

The problem? After installing the card and installing the newest Nvidia drivers, the system crashed multiple times shortly after startup (freezes, system restarts), and artifacting occured before and after the operating system loaded up. If the crash was before OS load - you would see a number of strange strings of zeros in random places, or a BSOD (nvlddmkm.sys) screen. If it cashed after the OS loaded - you would see various color inconsistances (checkered boxes on the windows loading screen, misplaced graphics etc).

My question(s) are:
1. Could it still be a software issue? I have tried 4 different WHQL drivers (3 of which were installed in safemode after a previous GPU driver uninstall).
2. Could it be a card issue? DOA?
3. Could it be a heat problem? (GT 430 ran at 97'F running for 5 minutes).
4. Could it be a power supply issue? 300W not enough?

After reverting back to stock GPU and drivers, the system works great.

 

[mindless1]

Assuming the video card's fan is running it's not likely to be a heat issue... that, and the card hasn't had much of a chance to heat up yet if this problem also occurs from a cold (cool down period with it not running) boot.

PSU is suspect given it is only 300W and you moved from an IGP to separate card, but if I were to guess then I'd guess one of the memory chips on the video card is damaged or defective. Certainly it would help if you could get a hold of another system to double check this but the graphical glitches are consistent with the card itself being malfunctional.

 

[Coldkilla]

I can take the video card down the road to a friends house, (lives 40 minutes away) and test it. In the meantime, would a new power supply be the next likely culprit? If so, any suggestions on a [extremely cheap/reliable] PSU that will fit this system? This coolermaster was sub $35 w/ free shipping http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-...d=1339174289&s - not sure if I can do better.

 

[mindless1]

^ That or a Corsair Builder 430W (when it's on sale w/rebate) seem two good bang for the buck options, but extremely cheap/reliable tend to be opposing qualities.

It's quite a bit more likely to be the video card itself because of the symptom of garbled on-screen display, generally PSU issues would cause shutdown, even crashing OS or downclocking of the GPU but not corrupt video output.

 

[Ken g6]

After installing the card and installing the newest Nvidia drivers, the system crashed multiple times shortly after startup

Did you remember to uninstall the ATI drivers before installing the Nvidia ones? Those two companies really don't like each other, and neither do their drivers.

 

[mfenn]

Did you remember to uninstall the ATI drivers before installing the Nvidia ones? Those two companies really don't like each other, and neither do their drivers.

This.

Also, the GT 430 is not a very power hungry card (49W), so I would think that even the 300W PSU in your HP would be fine. I'm with mindless1 on this one, the symptoms you're experiencing seem more like a defective card or software problem.