Starcraft freezing on Quadcore PC and need advice maybe for PSU

[narvie]

configuration is as below
CPU quad q6600(b3 stepping)
mobo Gigabyte x48-dq6
graphic Inno3d 8800gt
ram samsung ddr2 1g x 4
harddrive WD SATA 200G + 250G
PSU Antec 550w

before this machine, I had Abit mobo + 8600gt with same others. I experienced a crash while playing starcraft and slight system instabilities. I thought it's a defective mobo or graphic card. so I bought this Gigaboard and 8800gt.
but same symptom and even things got worse. 8800gt made me stop playing 3d games like COH,Bioshock because they always freeze or crash when i play. at least 8600gt allowed me these games. I thought it may be a poor Nvida driver. but my another Pentium4 machine run starcraft well with this 8800 and no problem.
and now what? yeah.. I wasted my money. now the culprits are CPU,RAM,PSU,Harddrive. I tested RAM with memtest up to 120~130% and no error. checked harddrive with WD diagnostics. no error.
i can run starc with affinity to 1 not 4 of them which is forcing the process use single core. but when i installed old ATI X700 instead of Nvidia card, the quad CPU run starc well without changing affinity. it's weird.

so my explanation is this.
my PSU has enough wattage of power but it has three 12v rails limiting its currents below 19A. i think only one of these rail provide currents to both mobo and VGA card. i don know how many wattage 8600 and 8800 use. but in my theory they must be higher than x700 and temporalily requiring more than 19A therby causing some local lack of currents and freezing the system. am i thinking right?

I am thinking to buy 600w PSU which have two 12v rails each provide 22,30A.
but I am afraid it will be another waste of money. i still can't eliminate the possiblity of defective CPU,Motheboard.. i need some educated guess of yours

[pharoah]

it could be to small a power supply.if you do get a new one be sure its a quality unit.the antec true power trio 650 should run that system fine.

[narvie]

thank you pharoah. if i fix this symptom by changing PSU i will report here later

[pharoah]

your welcome have you tried checking your temperatures as well?that can be a sign of insufficient power.if its overheating that is,but may not be.

[narvie]

I got new PSU now and played Starcraft 1 hours without freezing and Company of Heroes too. but i can't sure even now it is really fixed. because there is still temporal lags when playing COH. there is something more on mobo or CPU. and about temperature. my 4 cores are 51,46,45,49 when idle and goes up to 71 at most when full loaded with EVEREST stress testing. and CPU outter plate 39 degrees at idle and up to 52~53 at full. 1~2 degrees higher than previous PSU. yes. higher than before. i am worried if my CPU is runing under overheated condition. intel spec finder says b3 stepping's thermal specification is 62.2 degrees and g0 is 72. does this mean b3 is vulnerable for heat than g0? do you think i need another cooling fan like Zalman?

[pharoah]

if your seeing temps as high as 71c that is to hot!i would consider a better cooler.

[narvie]

it seems that the 62.2 of intel spec finder is cpu CASE temperature.. i mean the heat spreader of CPU. in that case my CPU is fine... but i googled about quad core temperature and found out CORE temp is +5 degree to CASE temp. it must be below 67~68. but there is possibilty EVEREST is giving wrong information..... for the time being i will keep my eye on pc. until any new new symptom comes out it would better for me to be easy on this.. anyway thank you for input pharoah. see you later :)

[Tumbleweed36]

I would suggest a Corsair, Seasonic, or PC Power & Cooling, Thermaltake "toughpower" brand name power supply of AT LEAST the 650 watt range. While a 650 will pull that video card, you will be maxed out if you try to upgrade. Future proof your build and go for a 750 is what I would recommend. I also would not recommend the Antec power supply at this time, they are having some difficulties with their products. In addition, reapply the artic silver.
Applying Artic Silver Thermal Paste