MSI 460 GTX artifacting

[Ampacity]

I have been having artifacts on my computer for awhile. The problems started about 5 months ago never in game, the computer screen would go black for about 5-15 seconds then come back with windows has recovered drivers which would always be nvidia drivers. This went on randomly until it began to happen at least 3 times a week. With in the last 3 weeks the screen would go black and then the computer would crash to bios where i would have little white blocks like a checker board all over the screen. As the computer would boot into windows the blocks when away but the screen was unreadable with pink and green dots plaster all over. The card never went over 60 C even in metro 2033 on max settings. I have RMA'd the card to MSI and they are sending me something via ups. I don't know if they repaired the card or not.

Now going on.. when i RMA'd the card i put in my stable ol'EVGA 9800 GT. which was fine until today. It now has artifacts in game that stay on the desktop. I have little green and pink specks all over my screen. I tried a new DVI cable and even switched monitors, the dots still remained. After a power down the dots are gone.

I worried that the power supply is either faulty or going bad. Or i have a bad PCI-E slot in my mother board. With the new card (or repaired card) on the way i don't want cause the problem again if it is other hardware causing it.
I'm just looking for help or guesses as to what i can do at this point. If i need to pick up a new Psu that wouldn't bother me, or even a new mother board if the psu has damaged it along the way.

System specks
AMD 1090T x6, MSI 870 G45, 4 gb of Gskill 1600 DDR3, 2 500 gb HD's in raid 0 and a 1 TB drive, 2 dvd drives, EVGA 9800 GT (current) , (RMA'd MSI 460 GTX) , cooler master 600 watt 12 volt single rail psu (site says 80 amp total but only 40 on the 12volt rail) , 7 120mm fans, no pci cards in any slot,

Bios psu rails 3.3v - 3.344, 5v - 5.016, 12v - 11.928

I checked several psu calculator sites and this psu should be well within the limits. I'm just wondering if i need to change something with my 9800 GT artifacting it scares me into thinking that maybe my psu is torching graphics cards for fun until it takes my whole pc with it.

Any input is welcomed! thanks!

[emosun]

It very well could be the power supply. Coolermaster isn't that bad but they also aren't that great either.

Try to get a voltage reading while the gpu is actually being used.

In the bios the gpu isn't under any load.

[Ampacity]

Well I did a lot of goggling and found a few programs to let me see the voltages from the psu. AMD overdrive gives my 12 volt rail a 9.59, speed fan a 9.59, Hardware monitor (got it from guru 3d) gives me a 4.34 which i know has to be wrong. I wonder if the computer could start with less than 10 volts on the 12 volt rail? Even if it could you think that it wouldn't stand up to any gaming at all even Diablo II surely would put it down if that was the case.

With that said i seen many people doubting these programs. Software glitches and what not. I don't have an actual psu tester. I have a volt meter but i'd be scared to go poking about in the case with the computer on.

thanks for you input!

[emosun]

You can use a voltmeter while the machine is on (thats the only way it works). It's actually the very best way to get a true reading.

Attach it to an extra power connector on the 12v rail and monitor the voltage while your gaming and see what you get.

[dai]

Driverheaven Guides: testing your psu with a multimeter

[Ampacity]

Thanks emosun and dai for your input. I tested from a spare mo lex as the alternative method (from dai link ) as i really don't want to get around that main connector for the motherboard. It is a single rail psu so i figured it wouldn't hurt to test from there. I used metro 2033 on max settings where i only got 13-15 FPS in the tunnels and settlers rise of an empire where my FPS bounces from 15-60 FPS (it only goes down when i move over my massive colony). The lowest reading i got was a 12.18 volt the highest which is right now posting with a game running in the back ground is a 12.28. From what I've read thats right in the sweet spot for a psu to operate.

Maybe the 460 was just bad, and the 9800 GT is just old.. I'm not sure, I just didn't want to burn up what ever MSI is sending to me. Anything else you guys think I could try? I've tried a lot of drivers at least with the 460 GTX ranging from the ones from the disk that came with it to the latest from MSI web site to the latest from Nvidia. Once again any input is really appreciated.

[dai]

it amps not volts that is needed

40a on the label is only equal to a 80+ quality 550w psu

which is not enough for a 460 and barely enough for a 9800gt

would prefer to see this

Newegg.com - CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750M 750W ATX12V v2.31 / EPS12V v2.92 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular High Performance Power Supply

[Ampacity]

Thanks for your input dai. This is the link to my psu right at the bottom it shows the psu label could you tell if i read it right?

Silent Pro M600 - Cooler Master - Leading Provider of Computer Case | Cooler | Power Supply

[dai]

yes

it's just not up to running a 460 only enough amps on the 12v line for a basic card

[emosun]

Hmm that is odd , It's actually the same power supply I use to power my 5770. Granted a 460 uses more power so it could have been wrecked.

[dai]

nothing odd about it 5770 only pulls basic power also

[A1tecice]

Another suggestion. Check your RAM, bad RAM can cause theese pink and purple squares you mention. But i agree with what has already been said. PSU or GPU could also be bad.

But its worth checking your RAM as well.

[Ampacity]

So its no so much the wattage is more of the amps? My friend has the same psu in his computer, he has an I7, asus motherboard and a 470 GTX. He claims that my computer draws less power than he and nothing is wrong with it.

I beg to differ i just wanna be sure. I can tell a big difference in performance though, like with settlers rise of an empire with the 9800 GT back in the day i had a 800 watt silver stone with a core 2 duo. It NEVER droped below 40 fps with ever thing on max EVER.

So Dai you think is the psu because of amps?

I went to MSI website and i couldn't find the requirement that where listed when i bought the card. They changed it ...

This is the link to the card.. it is a triple over volt card.
MSI Global ? Graphics Card - N460GTX Hawk

I downloaded the PDF manual and found these small bits of info..

In requirements it list as the minimal:
Minimum 450W or greater system power supply (with a minimum 12V current rating of 24A) is recommended.

Then off to the side in Hawk features it list:
7+1 Phase PWM Design
N460GTX Hawk uses 7+1 Phase PWM design which increases the maximum current value up to 120A. With extra 30A current output, overclocking power capability of N460GTX Hawk will be largely improved!

I not sure about the 120A with a 30A current output it doesn't make since if its required is 24A? Once again any input is appreciated, I'm currently looking on newegg at PSU's if i have to replace it. Any points to a good PSU would be greatly appreciated i've used several myself over the years enermax (had 2 they didn't work) silver stone, coolermaster, and a few cheapo's but not for gaming computers.

[Ampacity]

A1tecice Do you mean my motherboard ram? If so what software should i use to test them? Thanks for your input!

I downloaded Memtest-86 v4.0a, burnt the iso to a cd and ran it.

L1 Cache: 128k - 48487 MB/s
L2 Cache: 512K - 16932 MB/s
L3 Cache: 6144k - 8226 MB/s
Memory : 4088M - 8526 MB/s
Time ran: - 1:03:00
Iterations: - said 6 - 300
Test_sel: - std
pass: - 2
Errors: - 0

It also showed 6 cpus and tested all of them

I hope i used the right test software.

[A1tecice]

Hmm seems as if we have cleared your RAM out of the equation. If this is your second card then i can only think its your PSU causing the problems with lack of power.

Might be worth changing, Post back if you need help selecting an appropriate Replacement

[Ampacity]

Well A1tecice the RMA card hasn't got here yet and if my 9800 GT is artifacting then I'm guessing that it is the PSU being short on amps. I would like help on selecting a psu. I'm looking at this one Newegg.com - PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 950W High Performance 80PLUS Silver SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply its way over qualified watts but has 83.4 amps for the 12 volt rail. Thanks again for your help!

[dai]

that will be fine it has enough power to run the latest cards

[A1tecice]

Yup that PSU is fine :).