Graphically high end games suddenly starting to crash

[alphasyther]

Ok, so I just got back from a holiday, and now my computer cannot seem to work games for long at all. While trying to play Cod4 and Fallout 3, i freeze within 10 seconds of gameplay. I can alt tab out, or ctrl alt del out, which effectively minimizes it, and it tells me it's still running, then ill go back ingame and it will give me another 5 seconds of play time after maximizing. Now if i leave it to be frozen, the colours will end up going weird, HUDs will disappear, and the colour will look sort of inverted.
When this freeze happens, SpeedFan 4.38 will say I'm at 79C for both the Core and GPU. Right now on Idle, with only Firefox, Msn, and Xfire running, I'm at:


I updated my Gpu drivers, Directx, and Sound drivers already. Properly? Who knows.

-Power Supply – Antec Earthwatts, EA-500D, 500 Watts +12V1 & +12V2 Max Load is 408W

-Motherboard – Gigabyte, GA-P35-DS3L

-CPU – Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00 GHz.

-RAM – Patriot Memory Viper Series, DDR2, 1066 MHz 4GB (2X2GB)

-Video Card(s) – BFG NVidia Geforce 8800 GT (512mb)

-Hard Drive – Seagate ST3500320AS, SATA, 500Gigabyte

-Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

When I open the case both GPU and Core drop down to 63C

Now something else that caught my eye was:


Is this Normal?^
It can go from that 329% line up to 566%

Also my case is is an Antec Sonata III 500:
http://www.antec.com/Believe_it/product.php?id=MjA=
It came with the power source and a fan.

[manic]

Your underpowered, you should be running at least a 650watt quality
psu, corsair, seasonic,,antec is not a preferred unit any longer, even if
it was still underpowered. I think everest is misreporting the fsb read-out.
Weak power supply can cause overheating, are you running stock
hsf? You really should address the power issue....

[alphasyther]

Originally Posted by manic

Your underpowered, you should be running at least a 650watt quality
psu, corsair, seasonic,,antec is not a preferred unit any longer, even if
it was still underpowered. I think everest is misreporting the fsb read-out.
Weak power supply can cause overheating, are you running stock
hsf? You really should address the power issue....

This power source did come with my case and, I guess I'll have to make a trip up to the computer store. Any suggestions on a new power source that can handle my other hardware?
Also, any reason why this overheating issue has occurred 1 1/2 years after building the rig, and not immediately?

[manic]

Dust buildup, take pc outside and blow it out with some compressed
air. Power supplies lose strength over time, when that happens
it stresses your components, which in turn make them heat up.
I would get at least a 650watt psu,,a quality unit, you wont get quality
by spending $25.00..Read this, good info...
Power Supply Information and Selection
Toward the end it gets to preferred psu's.
Blow out the fan on the video card as well, you may consider getting
a better hsf for the cpu, if your running stock cooling...maybe some
extra 120mm fans, if you dont already have them..

[alphasyther]

I don't have any spare computer parts whatsoever, nor do I have compressed air.
My computer knowledge isn't that great either, what is a hsf if you don't mind me asking?

[manic]

The fan and metal heatsink that fits on top of the cpu.
With the 12mm fans, you really should have one pulling air in from
the front, and another sucking the air out of the back. Or at least
one in the back pulling the hot air out, the more flow the better.
If that power supply pops it could take out other components,,just
a word of warning..

[alphasyther]

Ok so basing this problem on needing a new power source, I concluded that Corsair is a pretty reliable brand (correct me if I'm wrong), and have located a store nearby which has 2 options that seem good, I'll link them both, one being a 750watt, and the other is a 850watt.
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...483&cid=PS.830
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...484&cid=PS.830
Are these any good, as I said before I'm not so hot at this stuff so most of the ampage, +12v, current, ectt confuses me.
If you aren't allowed to post link on this forum, just tell me.

Now the recommended ones in this sites "Power Supply Information" thread are TX:
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V
While the other ones I'm looking at are HX:
Corsair HX Series CMPSU-850HX 850W ATX EPS12V

Does this just distinguish If its Modular or not? HX being the Modular ones, and TX are not...

[RockmasteR]

well if you can get CorsairTX 850 W from Newegg.com it's even cheaper than the 750W from CC
here is the link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=Corsair%20850

the HX series are Modular PSUs

http://www.corsair.com/products/hx750/default.aspx

From Wikipedia:
A modular power supply is a relatively new approach to cabling, allowing users to omit unused cables. Whereas a conventional design has numerous cables permanently connected to the power supply, a modular power supply provides connectors at the power supply end, allowing unused cables to be detached from the power supply, producing less clutter, a neater appearance and less interference with airflow. It also makes it possible to supply a wider variety of cables, providing different lengths of Serial ATA power connectors instead of Molex connectors.

While modular cabling can help reduce case clutter, they have often been criticized for creating electrical resistance. Some third party websites that do power supply testing have confirmed that the quality of the connector, the age of the connector, the number of times it was inserted/removed, and various other variables such as dust can all raise resistance. However, the amount of this resistance in a good connector is small compared to the resistance generated by the length of the wire itself

[alphasyther]

Well I can't buy anything from a website because I don't own a credit card, but I will go to CC to pick a PSU up. When I first got my rig, they suggested I might need to get a new PSU for upgrading, so it might be good for the future. I'll post hear in half a weeks time to post if it worked or not.

[wrench97]

The Corsair 750 and 850 HX models are new and so far look to be as good or better then the TX models.

We have previously recommended the 520 and 620 HX.

[alphasyther]

Well, sorry for posting on this old thread, but it's been fixed, wasn't the Power Source, but the case, which obviously didn't have enough circulation
I replaced my case fan with a 2000rpm 120mm fan, and added an Arctic Cooling Accelero L2 Pro to my Gpu
Compare from before with my new idle temps:

[Lord Sirian]

That's good to hear that the heating problem is solved. However you should certainly still get a new PSU like the ones suggested above. - Underpowered PSU's will cause damage to your system over time.

[Mcninjaguy]

I would have to agree with lord Sirian. The PSU you have is not enought o power your computer go with the PSU here.

Corsair 750w
$120
after rebate $100