Problems after PC build

[ian_chase]

Hello everyone, I am new to posting any sort of forum.

I recently built my own PC. I have built a few in the past so i knew what to do.

My problem is after i turn it on, and start to use it, the computer starts to lag, and i mean every second to where it is hard just to navigate my mouse. I thought i was my mouse at first, but even when i switched that out, it still happened.
Then my video card fried (this was a hand-me-down card, just over a year old) so i figured it could have been that, and when i purchased my new one, i thought the problem would be fixed.

i then replaced the video card and kept my tower open (for cooling purposes until i get some fans) and figured i can now be at ease, but to my dismay, it kept happening.

My next conclusion was a virus. but i ran my software and there was nothing found. i used microsoft security essentials on quick, and full, and even downloaded my dad's McAfee, and it found nothing as well.

So i turned to one last attempt. Power. I am running alot of power through this machine and used a 350watt Power supply, so i figured i am not using the right amount, so i switched it out to a 500w power supply and it still doing it, i feel like it is fewer and far between, so maybe i need a 600w or 750w power supply?

I need help with this before i spend 150 dollars on a power supply that wont fix this problem.

thanks to all who respond!

-Ian

[strollin]

When it's lagging, look at the Performance tab of Task Manager to see if the CPU is running at or near 100%, if so, check, the Processes tab to see which process or processes are hogging the CPU.

[glc]

Please post the specs of the computer - component brands and models.

[ian_chase]

oh and here are the specs to the computer


AMD Phenom II 3.40 x4
16g Ram DDR3 1600 240-pin (4 sticks of 4g) (corsair Vengeance)
XFX HD 7770 CORE Edition 1000MHz 1GB DDR5 graphics
AsRock motherboard (ill have to go home to get this, which will be later today)
500w power supply (Antec)
samsung 1tb Hdd @ 7200 rpm
windows 7 64-bit (completely legal copy)
Lian Li 'First Knight' series mid-size case

[jdeb]

What model motherboard and power supply.

I am not saying this is your problem but Asrock motherboards are notorious for voltage issues or at least that has been my experience. I need to know the exact model numbers for both.

[glc]

1. A 7770 requires 500 watts. Antec is generally a decent brand of PSU, but it's quite model-dependent.

2. XFX is not a good brand for video cards, they have a higher than normal defect rate.

3. Samsung hard drives are not particularly reliable.

4. The motherboard may not like having all 4 ram slots filled.

Considering your component choices, I feel that you most likely have a hardware issue, not a software issue.

[ian_chase]

Well I switched the video card out recently so I know it's not that, cause this was happening with the old one too

[ian_chase]

And my real question is am i trying to pull too much power from a 500w max psu

[glc]

Don't know yet, you haven't posted the model, but probably not. You certainly would have power problems with a 350 watt unit of ANY brand.

I have used a 350 watt bench unit to at least power on a system with a high power video card, but I don't stress it by trying to boot into Windows, I just make sure it completes POST.