video card performance degradation (8800GTX specifically)

[nZone]

This is my system specs:

CPU: Pentium D 945@stock speed.
MB: Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
HD: 2x160 raid0, 1x80 (all sataII drives)
DVD: 1x NEC
Memory: 4x512MB
FANS: 4x120mm; 1xPCI Antec cyclone; 1x Antec SpotCool.
Graphic: 8800GTX (non-OC).
Power Supply: Antec 550 NeoHE

Edit:
Sound Card: Creative ExtremeMusic
TV Tuner: VisionTek (ATI 550pro chip)

This is the game I play recently; Titan Quest: Immortal Throne. It's a good expansion .
I don't know the specific problems that I have but I know the symptoms.

1. If the 8800GTX temperature maintains less than 65C; the game suffers no stutter or lag.

2. If the 8800GTX temperature goes beyond 65C; the game starts to suffer stutter and lag. The temperature was never gone beyond 75C by the way.

With these symptoms; my speculations:

1. The high temperature of the video card throttled the GTX performance? I'm kind of doubted since nVidia designed this card to operate around this temp range.

2. May be my power supply cannot supplies enough power to the system. I encountered few shutdown by the way. I noticed also the power supply is kind of warm and the fan spin fast.

Please offers suggestions; thanks!

 

[chizow]

Hmm those temps are definitely within working limits of the G80, although the fan spinning up sounds like it could be a heat related problem. Looks like you have plenty of case cooling and overall 65C is pretty good under load (I get 65-75C under load OC'd at 630/1000).

I'd probably pursue the PSU lead with the system restarts. Check your voltages when running games and see if they're within nominal ranges or if you get big fluctuations. I run dual monitors which helps a lot, since I can run all my various utilities while running a game. Also, make sure you don't have any other devices (HDD, optical drives, or even fans) on the same cables that are feeding your GTX.

Edit: Your system looks pretty loaded for a GTX on a 550W PSU. I think a GTX consumes around 200W by itself, which is worst if your PSU doesn't have a dedicated rail for the GPU. I think some of the better 500-600W PSUs isolate the 12V rail to the video card but I doubt the NeoHE does (not sure though). Check voltages with something like SpeedDisk under load, if that's inconclusive, maybe start pulling stuff like PCI cards and unused HDDs and see if that helps stability.

 

[nZone]

The NeoHE has 3 V12 rails each rated at 18amp. I use two for PCIE connector for the GTX which requires 32Amps. The 3rd v12 I use for 3 120mm fans; the 4th 120 fan is connecting to the motherboard.

Most games I played; they never pushed my GTX beyond 65C. But the new Titan Quest: Immortal Throne has pushed the GTX temp up to 75C. I guess the game puts a lot of stress on the GTX; that is why I started to see problem now.

I use this site to see the power requirements:

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculator.jsp

It said with my configurations while CPU utilization is about 85%; the power requirement is 680 watts power supply.

 

[moonboy403]

the last time my pc was shutting down on me was because of a dying antec power supply

maybe try swapping your psu with your friend's?

 

[nZone]

I will try that and see what happens.

 

[Captante]

The Neo 550 watt psu isn't the best power supply around by any means, but it should have more then enough amps on the +12v rail to handle a single 8800GTX in your system unless its failing. I've actually purchased 5 of them & 3 of 5 are running fine to this day & 2 ot these 3 are running beefier systems then yours with similar power-drawing X1900XTX's (one of which is mine), however two of them crapped out in another similar system under sustained heavy load.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: Captante
The Neo 550 watt psu isn't the best power supply around by any means, but it should have more then enough amps on the +12v rail to handle a single 8800GTX in your system unless its failing. I've actually purchased 5 of them & 3 of 5 are running fine to this day & 2 ot these 3 are running beefier systems then yours with similar power-drawing X1900XTX's (one of which is mine), however two of them crapped out in another similar system under sustained heavy load.

Unless I plugged the PCIE connectors incorrectly?

http://www.antec.com/images/400/NeoHE_back.jpg

Looking at the picture; which connectors are the +12v? Currently I connect the two PCIE cables to the first two ports (starting above the main power cable moving right..)

EDIT:
This is directly from the manual; looking at picture above which is the FIRST socket?

NOTE: For Neo HE 500 and Neo HE 550 only. When using dual graphic card systems
(i.e. SLI), we recommend that the PC I connectors be attached as follows: one PC I
connector to one of the first two 6-pin sockets and the second PCI connector to one of the
next three sockets to the right.

 

[nZone]

Ok, I think it is my power supply (maybe on it's way to hell) and part of the problem was mine. I have a P180 case; few days ago I removed the 120mm fan from the bottom chamber. Last night I have my pc run idle for 30 minutes then I open the case. The power supply was hot to the touch; hot even on the case frame. I put the fan back in @medium speed; now the graphic (game) performance is way better now. However, with the fan reinstalled, the PSU is still feel warm (not hot anymore) and the graphic still affect by it occasionally.

May be I just go buy a good PSU.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: chizow
Hmm those temps are definitely within working limits of the G80, although the fan spinning up sounds like it could be a heat related problem. Looks like you have plenty of case cooling and overall 65C is pretty good under load (I get 65-75C under load OC'd at 630/1000).

I'd probably pursue the PSU lead with the system restarts. Check your voltages when running games and see if they're within nominal ranges or if you get big fluctuations. I run dual monitors which helps a lot, since I can run all my various utilities while running a game. Also, make sure you don't have any other devices (HDD, optical drives, or even fans) on the same cables that are feeding your GTX.

Edit: Your system looks pretty loaded for a GTX on a 550W PSU. I think a GTX consumes around 200W by itself, which is worst if your PSU doesn't have a dedicated rail for the GPU. I think some of the better 500-600W PSUs isolate the 12V rail to the video card but I doubt the NeoHE does (not sure though). Check voltages with something like SpeedDisk under load, if that's inconclusive, maybe start pulling stuff like PCI cards and unused HDDs and see if that helps stability.

how do you do that?

i don't have enough leads

personally i don't think that is a big deal at all, anyway

 

[KutterMax]

Slightly off topic but I installed the Titan Quest expansion this past weekend.

I run with V-sync and Triple Buffering enabled (in expansion there is now a checkbox for this - prior you had to edit the settings file).

On my BFG 7950 GT OC I've found that the game now seems to run smoother than prior to the expansion being installed. It may be that I didn't properly have triple buffering enable before but I'm not certain.

I do notice a slight bit of stuttering when I first come through a portal, but this goes away within one or two seconds.

 

[Gstanfor]

Originally posted by: nZone
This is my system specs:

CPU: Pentium D 945@stock speed.
MB: Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
HD: 2x160 raid0, 1x80 (all sataII drives)
DVD: 1x NEC
Memory: 4x512MB
FANS: 4x120mm; 1xPCI Antec cyclone; 1x Antec SpotCool.
Graphic: 8800GTX (non-OC).
Power Supply: Antec 550 NeoHE

Edit:
Sound Card: Creative ExtremeMusic
TV Tuner: VisionTek (ATI 550pro chip)

This is the game I play recently; Titan Quest: Immortal Throne. It's a good expansion .
I don't know the specific problems that I have but I know the symptoms.

1. If the 8800GTX temperature maintains less than 65C; the game suffers no stutter or lag.

2. If the 8800GTX temperature goes beyond 65C; the game starts to suffer stutter and lag. The temperature was never gone beyond 75C by the way.

With these symptoms; my speculations:

1. The high temperature of the video card throttled the GTX performance? I'm kind of doubted since nVidia designed this card to operate around this temp range.

2. May be my power supply cannot supplies enough power to the system. I encountered few shutdown by the way. I noticed also the power supply is kind of warm and the fan spin fast.

Please offers suggestions; thanks!

I think you have diagnosed your own problem. You need a new, high quality power supply.

Even though you are not running SLI, a good place to start looking is nvidia's list of certified PSU's at SLIZone

 

[chizow]

Originally posted by: apoppin
how do you do that?

i don't have enough leads

personally i don't think that is a big deal at all, anyway

lol, ya when I was setting up my new rig it made it a lot easier than with my TrueBlue 480W. The TP-650W has its faults, but having enough leads isn't one of them. Makes me wish I got a modular PSU since I have at least 2 leads that aren't being used at all.

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: KutterMax
Slightly off topic but I installed the Titan Quest expansion this past weekend.

I run with V-sync and Triple Buffering enabled (in expansion there is now a checkbox for this - prior you had to edit the settings file).

On my BFG 7950 GT OC I've found that the game now seems to run smoother than prior to the expansion being installed. It may be that I didn't properly have triple buffering enable before but I'm not certain.

I do notice a slight bit of stuttering when I first come through a portal, but this goes away within one or two seconds.

No doubt, the Iron Lore made performance improvement with the expansion. The performance is good until system heat rises.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: nZone
Ok, I think it is my power supply (maybe on it's way to hell) and part of the problem was mine. I have a P180 case; few days ago I removed the 120mm fan from the bottom chamber. Last night I have my pc run idle for 30 minutes then I open the case. The power supply was hot to the touch; hot even on the case frame. I put the fan back in @medium speed; now the graphic (game) performance is way better now. However, with the fan reinstalled, the PSU is still feel warm (not hot anymore) and the graphic still affect by it occasionally.

May be I just go buy a good PSU.

oh yeah!
:Q

why take a chance on a failure?

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: Gstanfor

Originally posted by: nZone
This is my system specs:

CPU: Pentium D 945@stock speed.
MB: Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe Motherboard
HD: 2x160 raid0, 1x80 (all sataII drives)
DVD: 1x NEC
Memory: 4x512MB
FANS: 4x120mm; 1xPCI Antec cyclone; 1x Antec SpotCool.
Graphic: 8800GTX (non-OC).
Power Supply: Antec 550 NeoHE

Edit:
Sound Card: Creative ExtremeMusic
TV Tuner: VisionTek (ATI 550pro chip)

This is the game I play recently; Titan Quest: Immortal Throne. It's a good expansion .
I don't know the specific problems that I have but I know the symptoms.

1. If the 8800GTX temperature maintains less than 65C; the game suffers no stutter or lag.

2. If the 8800GTX temperature goes beyond 65C; the game starts to suffer stutter and lag. The temperature was never gone beyond 75C by the way.

With these symptoms; my speculations:

1. The high temperature of the video card throttled the GTX performance? I'm kind of doubted since nVidia designed this card to operate around this temp range.

2. May be my power supply cannot supplies enough power to the system. I encountered few shutdown by the way. I noticed also the power supply is kind of warm and the fan spin fast.

Please offers suggestions; thanks!

I think you have diagnosed your own problem. You need a new, high quality power supply.

Even though you are not running SLI, a good place to start looking is nvidia's list of certified PSU's at SLIZone

Yes, I've been thinking on my next PSU. I want my next PSU to be 8800GTX SLI-compatible--in case I add another GTX. PCPowerCooling 750Quad is on my list of the next PSU purchase.

 

[apoppin]

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38182

OCZ announces 1010 Watt PSU

this one looks nice

my 850w OCZ is already obsolete ....

 

[nZone]

Originally posted by: apoppin
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=38182

OCZ announces 1010 Watt PSU

this one looks nice

my 850w OCZ is already obsolete ....

going for the latest and greatest eh?