New PSU = Unstable Graphics Card?

Rlad78

Rlad78

New Member
My 430w PSU had died 3 days ago so I went to Best Buy to pick up a new 600w Thermaltake TR2 PSU. I hook everything up and everything works except my GeForce 8800 GT, which fails straight after logging in and BSOD's.

I've read up on the problem, which has something to do with the nvlddmkm.sys file. One of the causes of the problem they listed was an "Insufficient PSU," which is strange because I increased the wattage with my upgrade.

So, my question is, is there a way to tell if the root of the problem is the PSU, or did my Graphics Card die along with my old PSU?
 
Brand and model of the old powersupply? The fact that it died could mean that it killed or damaged your graphics card. Powersupplies can do this. Voltage spikes.
 
linkin said:
Brand and model of the old powersupply? The fact that it died could mean that it killed or damaged your graphics card. Powersupplies can do this. Voltage spikes.
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Thermaltake TR2-430w. I'm guessing the reason it went out is because I forgot to upgrade it after I upgraded my RAM and CPU. I did some calculations and I should have been using at least a 460w. There was no power outage before it died. It just, sorta, quit.
 
Then it was overloaded as you suspected. The voltages probably fluctuated way out of spec and killed the card as the psu itself died. :(

If you can boot into safemode, try reinstalling the drivers for the 8800gt. If that doesn't work you're SOL and need a new graphics card.

My faulty Palit GTX 460 did the same thing. Only it artifacted as well, along with the bsods.
 
linkin said:
If you can boot into safemode, try reinstalling the drivers for the 8800gt. If that doesn't work you're SOL and need a new graphics card.
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Damn, I was hoping it wasn't that. I already did an automatic and manual update of the drivers, even the beta ones, and it still doesn't work.

Well, thanks for at least saving me the trip of getting a new PSU at Best Buy :(

Oh, and while I'm here, do you have any recommendations for a new graphics card? Might as well get the best deal while I can.
 
linkin said:
That depends on how much you want to spend and where you buy :)
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Well, I was gonna spend ~$200 anyway for a new 8800 GT, and I usually buy everything from Newegg, so...

Oh, and by the way, I have gotten the card to stabilize. It runs video (youtube) at very low framerates though. Do you still think it's broken?
 
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There is no evidence yet that the 8800GT is bad. Try it another computer if you can to verify the card's condition.

Reset the cmos by removing the battery on the motherboard.

Enter safe mode and uninstall the nvidia drivers via control panel method.

Use driversweeper (see sig) and use it to remove all nvidia drivers.

Restart.

Reinstall latest (non-beta) drivers

Restart.
 
Personally, I'd return that new PSU while you still can and buy a higher quality one. Thermaltake's TR2 line has a pretty bad reputation. Granted, you probably have the updated one with active PFC, so it's a bit better, but it's still an HEC-built unit that probably won't do its rated wattage. You can most likely find a much higher quality one at the same price...especially if you bought it at best buy. They overcharge by a lot on computer components.

edit: by the way, an easy way to tell which one you have is to look on the back by where the power cord plugs in. If there's a little red switch there, it's the old one, and is craptastic. If there's no red switch, it's still probably not that great, but it's much better than the other one.
 
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Drenlin said:
Personally, I'd return that new PSU while you still can and buy a higher quality one. Thermaltake's TR2 line has a pretty bad reputation. Granted, you probably have the updated one with active PFC, so it's a bit better, but it's still an HEC-built unit that probably won't do its rated wattage. You can most likely find a much higher quality one at the same price...especially if you bought it at best buy. They overcharge by a lot on computer components.

edit: by the way, an easy way to tell which one you have is to look on the back by where the power cord plugs in. If there's a little red switch there, it's the old one, and is craptastic. If there's no red switch, it's still probably not that great, but it's much better than the other one.
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If you look at the label, if its a E199442 its a Compucase/HEC. If its E161451 it is a Channel Well unit.
 
bigfellla said:
/\ +1

There is no evidence yet that the 8800GT is bad. Try it another computer if you can to verify the card's condition.

Reset the cmos by removing the battery on the motherboard.

Enter safe mode and uninstall the nvidia drivers via control panel method.

Use driversweeper (see sig) and use it to remove all nvidia drivers.

Restart.

Reinstall latest (non-beta) drivers

Restart.
Click to expand...

Nope. Didn't work :/

I realized I had a lifetime warranty on the graphics card, but apparently EVGA is having a hard time realizing that. Hopefully I can just get a replacement, since it seems to me that it's not working.


Drenlin said:
Personally, I'd return that new PSU while you still can and buy a higher quality one. Thermaltake's TR2 line has a pretty bad reputation. Granted, you probably have the updated one with active PFC, so it's a bit better, but it's still an HEC-built unit that probably won't do its rated wattage. You can most likely find a much higher quality one at the same price...especially if you bought it at best buy. They overcharge by a lot on computer components.

edit: by the way, an easy way to tell which one you have is to look on the back by where the power cord plugs in. If there's a little red switch there, it's the old one, and is craptastic. If there's no red switch, it's still probably not that great, but it's much better than the other one.
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I've got the newer one. The only other thing they have at my Best Buy is this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Corsair+-+Gaming+Series+600-Watt+ATX+CPU+Power+Supply/1073679.p?id=1218217268656&skuId=1073679&st=psu&cp=1&lp=2

Would this be much of an improvement? Or should I just wait and get one from Newegg?
 
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Ok, this has gone from bad to extremely bad.

Explorer.exe does not work anymore. The taskbar and desktop are gone now, even in safe mode. The only way I can access programs are cmd and New Task in the Task Manager.

I literally have done nothing to my computer since removing and re-installing those video card drivers. Is this a sign that nearly all my computer is screwed?


EDIT: Apparently it was due to the fact that my CD-Drive is dead too. Ejected the CD and everything went back to normal.

I also found out that my graphics card is working again! Thanks bigfella :D
 
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Rlad78 said:
I also found out that my graphics card is working again! Thanks bigfella :D
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You're welcome. I would suggest opening command prompt as an Administrator and typing (with the spaces)

sfc /scannow

This will ensure all the secure windows files are in tact.

Then run Windows Update.

Then ensure you have the latest DirectX

Then defrag your HD and ensure you have no viruses or spyware.
 
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