Power supply question.

[FireByyrd]

I have a question with power supplies.

How will you know if you are using a computer with un sufficient power? Would things stutter, and performance will suffer? Will the graphics card stutter in games or load times are really slow and messed up.. what would happen if you have lack of power.

Graphics card importantly, what would you expect to see if your card is lacking the power.

[Freakitchen]

An underpowered system shows general instability. Complete lockups are the most common, particularly if they occur when the system is under load (e.g. gaming), and the system is pulling more power than your PSU can supply.

If this is happening to you, perhaps post your full system specs for advice?

Freakitchen

[Cricket]

Another thing you would see if the power supply isn't up to snuff is random reboots.

:) Cricket

[FireByyrd]

I'm using a THERMALTAKE 430 Watt power supply.

AMD 4000+
1GB DDR3200 RAM 2x512mb
5 Case Fans, 2 90mm, 3 80mm
WD Hard drive 250GB SATA3.0
EVGA 7800GT CO (470,1100)
ABIT AN8Ultra Motherboard

Hopefully the 430 watt provides adequate supply? please help. thanks. Would the stuttering of graphics (like when I play there is no frame lag, but when i walk around in Quake 4 it locks up for a sec or two, and then it starts moving again. would this be the problem because of the power supply or a bad video card.. im just trying to see whats wrong, thanks.

[blue60007]

If you aren't experience lockups or the like you should be alright.

That suttering is caused probably when you round corners and geometry takes a second to load. Probably not a lot you can do but make sure all background apps are killed...

[FireByyrd]

Oh okay, anyways I'm probably expecting too much from a 7800GT anyways :P 1154 res ULTRA settings, maxed everything on quake 4..... sooooo that might explain the stuterring :)

[blue60007]

I can run the Quake 4 Demo at 1280 pretty well max settings on a slower X800 XL with no problems. I've got 2 gigs of RAM though.

Try this: Run through a level once, and then at the end don't load a new level, but go back and load to the point where you started. Does that make sense?

[A2TheRizzo]

It does specify that the 7800GT's need at least a 430 Watt PSU, and you're cutting it real close.. Especially with the nice proc. and the fans. I am currently running on this PSU and it serves my 6800GS nicely. :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104934

Fortron Source is a smaller company than most of the PSU companies out there but they can really hold their own. I knew it was to be when my computer is black with blue LED's and LED fans..Also the pre-sleeving is a plus in my book.

[Cricket]

Fortron Source is a smaller company than most of the PSU companies out there but they can really hold their own.Fortron Source/Sparkle Power isn't that small...they're actually fairly big and they've been around a long time.

:) Cricket