Power supply?

[Lemish]

Greetings all,

Great site hoping I can get some help on a problem I'm having heat issues on my PC. So I have a AMD XP2400, 1024 ddr memory, 40 gig hard drive, ATI 9800 Pro 128, 5 case fans, volcano heat sink fan.

So the problem is I'm getting heat problems and it has been shutting down on me while gaming. When I turn on PC I get error stating that there is no power to the video card. The only thing I can think of is my power supply could be going bad or it's just not enough anymore, its a 300W Sparkle power supply.

I even took off the side panel which was okay for a while but again it shut off due to heat. I have adequate fans all around and the Volcano heat sink fan is on high which makes it loud.

The game I've been playing is City of Heroes which has not been a problem before.

[Tazzin]

Welcome to TechImo!!!

The ATI Radeon 9800 Pro video cards require you to plug in one of the power connectors at the end of the video card... close to where your HD's are. The video card needs straight power to keep that fan running under intense heat / load of gaming .. etc. more than what is supplied thru your mobo's AGP slot.

Do you have the a power connector plugged into it?

[Lemish]

Yes it's plugged into straight from the power supply, Not sharing that connection with fans or anything of the sort.

[gambler2611]

I would say you need a beefier power supply personally - in the event of your pc crashing feel the power supply. Is it pretty hot? In that case i would suggest getting a 450W minimum for a system like that.

[Tazzin]

That could be true depending on what all you have in your system.
If you have like 2 HD's and CD/DVD ROM's etc.. that might be what is causing the error message. A new PSU couldn't hurt.

[thePh@r@oh]

the molex plug on the PSu that you are using for the card could be bad. do you have another one you can try??

[Bill in SD, CA]

300W is not a lot of power IMO.

Bill

[Lemish]

Thanks for all the advice, great site lots of help.

So is it safe to say that a symptom of a underpowered supply is overheating?

[Bovon]

So is it safe to say that a symptom of a underpowered supply is overheating?

Not necessarily ...how many case fans do you have?..intake and exhaust. What is the ambient temperature of the room the computer is in?

[Lemish]

Well the constant temperature of the room is maybe 75-78 degrees, PC has ample room to wall. Case fans: 2 intake bottom front, 2 blowing out from back, 1 blowing in from side panel. Volcano heatsink on highest setting at all times.

I did not really have any issues with my previous ATI 8500 128 video card. I've had the ATI 9800 Pro 128 for about a month and that's when I started having issues. Yes I do have a power to the card directly from the supply, besides just AGP slot. I'm starting to think the 9800 is a power hungry wench and she's taxing my weak pwr supply of 300w. I reside in Kansas City MO and it is getting a tad warmer but no real difference in my finished basement.

I'm getting a 480w Pwr supply from a buddy afterwork, hopefully that will fix my issue.