How can I tell if my video isn't getting enough power?

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meauounji

n00b
Joined
Oct 16, 2004
Messages
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Well, the title says it all, just about. I keep hearing about people's 8800 series is operating in 'low power mode' or something like that. My question is, where on earth do you check for that? I have an 8800gts and a 430w, which meets the minimum requirements, and I don't appear to have any problems, but...well.. just checking, I guess.

Thanks ahead of time!
 
My old 6800 used to do the same with an old PSU. In the nVidia Control Panel there is a debugging tab or something where system notes are displayed and there it read something about not enough power -> low power mode. Check it out if you can find it.
 
If your 3DMark scores are ok and you don't get blue screens or the game shut down to windows destop you should be fine ;)
 
I can tell you right now that the 430w is not enough power. You are running a VERY good risk of toasting your videocard.
 
Well, I can run the games I want to run just fine, and don't seem to get any thing weird, so I'm not all that worried.

lloose:

Why do you say that 430 is not enough? If the card goes as high as 160w, and the processor goes to 65w, hypothetically, that's only 220w, that leaves 80w before I hit even 300w, which is well under 75% of the 430w max. I'm not saying you're wrong, just asking where you're getting your comment from.
 
meauounji said:
Well, I can run the games I want to run just fine, and don't seem to get any thing weird, so I'm not all that worried.

lloose:

Why do you say that 430 is not enough? If the card goes as high as 160w, and the processor goes to 65w, hypothetically, that's only 220w, that leaves 80w before I hit even 300w, which is well under 75% of the 430w max. I'm not saying you're wrong, just asking where you're getting your comment from.
Click to expand...

Because I have NEVER heard of a 430w powersupply that has 26 amps on the 12v rail. The card requires it. I assume that you are probably running a thermaltake psu. If you want to chance it and see if it will last you, then go for it. But if I had $20 and had to bet if it was going to last or fry, I would put in on you toasting the card from it not having enough amps.
 
..., toastin vc doesn't happen if u have low amp... u only toast the psu due to the demand of wattage... :eek:

it wont happen cuz nvidia designed their current vc to prevent from damaging psu, i believe. this appear that meauounji is runnin fine so far...
 
So, BigDaddy, I guess what you're saying is that, if anything, it'll jump to that 'low power mode' I was asking about earlier and not just *poof* am I right? I guess it makes sense, why else would the low power mode be there if all the card was going to do was blow up the moment it gets lower than required power.


lloose, where are you getting your information that the card will blow up if it gets low amps? Again, not saying you're wrong, just wanna know your source, because if you're right, then I need to know about it so I can get a new PSU.


By the way, I'm running the whole rig through a Belkin 600w 1000va ups, so, I dunno, maybe that helps stabilize the power some too. Currently, the load level indicator says it's at about 50%, but that includes things like monitor and speakers and some other accessories too, so I think I'm pretty well under 430w on just the pc alone.
 
lloose said:
Because I have NEVER heard of a 430w powersupply that has 26 amps on the 12v rail. The card requires it.
Click to expand...

A 430 watt with 29 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151023



A 420 watt with 40 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194012



A 430 watt with 48 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103939


Another 430 watt with 48 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103942


Shall I keep going?
 
AMDcrash said:
A 430 watt with 29 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151023



A 420 watt with 40 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194012



A 430 watt with 48 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103939


Another 430 watt with 48 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103942


Shall I keep going?
Click to expand...

Sure, keep going.
I wouldn't trust a single one of those. 16a, 18a or 14a on ONE 12v rail is asking for trouble.
 
loose, where are you getting your information that the card will blow up if it gets low amps? Again, not saying you're wrong, just wanna know your source, because if you're right, then I need to know about it so I can get a new PSU.
Click to expand...

Customers coming in with their powersupply and toasted card, reviews on the web, the threads started here about bad 8800gts's/gtx's that go bad.
 
lloose said:
Sure, keep going.
I wouldn't trust a single one of those. 16a, 18a or 14a on ONE 12v rail is asking for trouble.
Click to expand...


I wasn't asking if you would trust one of those. You said you never HEARD of a 430 psu that had 26 amps on the 12v rail, and I just showed you 4.


I've been running an 8800 GTS on a 450 watt psu for months now with no problems.
 
Nevermind.. im eating my words. For some reason, I thought you were trying to run 2 in sli. Your 430w should be fine as long as you have at least 26amps combined on the 12v.


Sorry.
 
Thanks for the input y'all, but at this point, let me just revise my question.

Will this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023 be a problem if I keep using it.

My rig:

e6400 @ 3.2
2GB RAM
Gigabyte 965p-ds3
DVD+-RW dirve
250gb SATA drives x2
8800GTS 640MB (it's factory oc'ed to 575 core)
Creative X-Fi (basic)
Firewire card

I mean, it's pretty basic outside of the video card, I didn't think anything wild and wacky was really needed, but hey, what do I know?
 
lloose said:
Because I have NEVER heard of a 430w powersupply that has 26 amps on the 12v rail. The card requires it. I assume that you are probably running a thermaltake psu. If you want to chance it and see if it will last you, then go for it. But if I had $20 and had to bet if it was going to last or fry, I would put in on you toasting the card from it not having enough amps.
Click to expand...

Seasonic S12-430.
 
You're really pushing it, I'd say... if only because until very recently (with their switch to a different OEM and the 800/1200watt supplies) I could throw a Thermaltake PSU farther than I'd trust it.

Seasonic, PC Power and Cooling, Enermax, Antec (though they seem to be going downhill lately), Silverstone... all good brands.

Running a ~$400 card off a $40 supply just scares me on general principle, besides.
 
What about the 'lower end' Thermaltake toughpower units, by low end, I mean, between 600-750. The reason I'm asking is because they look like they have a slightly lower efficiency rating than the 850+, which seems identical, for the most part to the 1200w that [H] reviewd. Has anyone heard anything about them, the lower end ones, I mean?
 
meauounji said:
What about the 'lower end' Thermaltake toughpower units, by low end, I mean, between 600-750. The reason I'm asking is because they look like they have a slightly lower efficiency rating than the 850+, which seems identical, for the most part to the 1200w that [H] reviewd. Has anyone heard anything about them, the lower end ones, I mean?
Click to expand...


Why are you dead set on getting Thermaltake?:confused:
 
well, I'm not really 'dead set' necessarily, just like them. I don't really see any other 750-ish power supplies that has modular cabling and is also as reasonably priced. I mean, the corsair 620 and the thermaltake 750 practically costs the same. But no, I don't have to have it, I just like the bigger fan, high capacity, and modular cabling.
 
meauounji said:
well, I'm not really 'dead set' necessarily, just like them. I don't really see any other 750-ish power supplies that has modular cabling and is also as reasonably priced. I mean, the corsair 620 and the thermaltake 750 practically costs the same. But no, I don't have to have it, I just like the bigger fan, high capacity, and modular cabling.
Click to expand...

Here if you need a good modular power supply for a reasonable price this is a good one that is over 700W's.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817128009
 
AMDcrash said:
A 420 watt with 40 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194012



A 430 watt with 48 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103939


Another 430 watt with 48 total amps on the 12v rail.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103942


Shall I keep going?
Click to expand...


Hahahaha. Are you kidding me? How can a 430w PSU supply 40 amps on the 12v line? 40a x 12v = 480w on the 12v line alone.

So that's what... -50w on the 5v and 3v line :rolleyes:

OP: I'd never run a thermaltake PSU, regardless of it's specs... Just my opinion though.
 
Arcygenical said:
Hahahaha. Are you kidding me? How can a 430w PSU supply 40 amps on the 12v line? 40a x 12v = 480w on the 12v line alone.

So that's what... -50w on the 5v and 3v line :rolleyes:

OP: I'd never run a thermaltake PSU, regardless of it's specs... Just my opinion though.
Click to expand...

Agreed Thermaltake isn't really a good brand...for PSU's at least.
 
How can you guys make blanket statements about Thermaltake PSU's like that when 1) they don't even make their own PSU's, and 2) clearly, at least their top end is very good, according to [H].

Really, I'm not a Thermaltake rep, honest.

Just to prove it, I decided on the Corsair 520w afterall, only because I like the 620 so much but don't need the power :p
 
meauounji said:
How can you guys make blanket statements about Thermaltake PSU's like that when 1) they don't even make their own PSU's, and 2) clearly, at least their top end is very good, according to [H].

Really, I'm not a Thermaltake rep, honest.

Just to prove it, I decided on the Corsair 520w afterall, only because I like the 620 so much but don't need the power :p
Click to expand...

Thermaltake simply isn't known for quality PSU's is all, I'd rather go for good quality brands specfically good in a large percentage of their PSU's such as PC Power and Cooling, Seasonic, Silverstone. Being good in 1000W and 1200W PSU's just isn't gonna really cut it.

Simply because the majority don't buy super top end PSU's.
 
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