PSU requirement

[t5brick]

I'm getting nasty video artifacts when I run 3dmark03. My first guess would be the video card, a single eVGA 7900GT KO, but before I take the time to send it in, I'd like to rule out a possible PSU issue.

I've tried the card in the following systems and the problems are present in both. The only thing I see in common is the 450W PSU and of course the video card. According to the eVGA site, this should be enough power.

I will note that my 7600GT runs flawlessly in either setup.

What do y'all think?

SYSTEM 1 no overclock

Asus M2N-SLI
3800+ single core
2 x 512MB PC4200 PNY
Maxtor 300GB HD
Antec Sonata II (w/ stock 450W PSU)

SYSTEM 2 CPU and RAM are overclocked

Asus A8N-SLI Premium
3800+ X2
2 x 1GB PC4000 G.Skill
36GB 15k.3 SCSI
500GB Maxtor SATA
SCSI card
802.11G wireless NIC
Antec Sonata II (w/ stock 450W PSU)

 

[Slartibartfast]

If it's only instablilty in 3D mark it's more likely the videocard. A good way to test is run something that's system intensive but doesn't use the videocard, like Prime 95. If the system freaks out when under heavy load that way, it could be the psu.

Also, the 7900 series has known issues.

 

[t5brick]

Prime95 loops for 24+ hours stable on both systems. Actually dual Prime95 on the X2.

Thanks! I'll be setting up the RMA now.

 

[Slartibartfast]

You know what you could also do is try taking the side off the case and blowing a fan over the videocard. I had a 6600gt once that would bomb out in 3D Mark. Blowing a fan over the card would make it last longer, so I knew it was an overheating issue with the card and RMA'd it.

 

[t5brick]

Yeah, had the A/C on in my room while I was testing. It blows air right by the front of the computers.

It's just been a while since I've worked with PCs and PCI-E and AM2 setups are totally new to me.