PSU/RAM problems

PC_NEwb · 05-25-2009, 09:54 PM

I recently built my first PC and for about a week it was working great. But i noticed it only recognized about 3GB of RAM (I have 6GB installed). also, during startup, my comp would sometimes start then shutdown 1 sec. later, then 5 secs. later start back up. this continued to worsen and eventually would taken many tries to start. My PSU is a 580W sunbeam and i think it may be too small to handle all my other hardware.
I have:
Intel Core i7 CPU
Zotac X58 Mobo (480W min.)
EVGA Graphics card (285 series i think, cant remember 480W min)
6GB Corsair ddr3 designed for X58 mobo
640W WD Harddrive

any help/ advice to fix these problems would be greatly appreciated.

**floop12444** · 05-26-2009, 03:32 AM

On XP, the maximum RAM it can read it 3.25gb. And to be honest, your PSU has a very small wattage to be running this mobo and graphics card. I would say you need at least a 650W good quality corsair. Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...650W%20corsair

dai · 05-26-2009, 06:04 AM

sunbeam are low quality at best

you may get away with a corsair 750w but the 850w would be the best option for that card

PC_NEwb · 05-26-2009, 02:36 PM

so then i guess I dont have to add up the min power requirements to determine whats power supply i get? i heard someone say that once.

thanks for clearing up the RAM question btw.

Also I see two different opinions on PSU wattage so is that just a difference of opinion? or a difference in quality?

dai · 05-26-2009, 10:07 PM

whatever is on the box for the card we found that adding 50% puts you in the ballpark

**floop12444** · 05-27-2009, 02:52 AM

Dai was right in saying that you need a least a 750w PSU (A good quality corsair or similar brand).

PC_NEwb · 05-27-2009, 06:48 AM

thanks guys

PC_NEwb · 06-13-2009, 04:50 PM

so do you think this PSU would be sufficient?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

dai · 06-13-2009, 04:54 PM

this is on special better value

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nc.-_-17139009

PC_NEwb · 06-13-2009, 06:51 PM

yea i saw that. I guess thats the safer choice. after all, having a working PC is more important than 20 extra bucks.

05-25-2009, 09:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
PC_NEwb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	PSU/RAM problems I recently built my first PC and for about a week it was working great. But i noticed it only recognized about 3GB of RAM (I have 6GB installed). also, during startup, my comp would sometimes start then shutdown 1 sec. later, then 5 secs. later start back up. this continued to worsen and eventually would taken many tries to start. My PSU is a 580W sunbeam and i think it may be too small to handle all my other hardware. I have: Intel Core i7 CPU Zotac X58 Mobo (480W min.) EVGA Graphics card (285 series i think, cant remember 480W min) 6GB Corsair ddr3 designed for X58 mobo 640W WD Harddrive any help/ advice to fix these problems would be greatly appreciated.

05-26-2009, 03:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
floop12444 Senior Tech, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 1,002 OS: Windows XP SP3 My System	Re: PSU/RAM problems On XP, the maximum RAM it can read it 3.25gb. And to be honest, your PSU has a very small wattage to be running this mobo and graphics card. I would say you need at least a 650W good quality corsair. Something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...650W%20corsair __________________ Everest Home Edtion ♦ System requirements test ♦ Nvidia Drivers ♦ ATI Drivers ♦ Revo Uninstaller ♦ GPUz Forum Rules Steps Before Posting

05-26-2009, 06:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,659 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: PSU/RAM problems sunbeam are low quality at best you may get away with a corsair 750w but the 850w would be the best option for that card __________________

05-26-2009, 02:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
PC_NEwb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: PSU/RAM problems so then i guess I dont have to add up the min power requirements to determine whats power supply i get? i heard someone say that once. thanks for clearing up the RAM question btw. Also I see two different opinions on PSU wattage so is that just a difference of opinion? or a difference in quality? Last edited by PC_NEwb; 05-26-2009 at 02:39 PM.

05-26-2009, 10:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,659 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: PSU/RAM problems whatever is on the box for the card we found that adding 50% puts you in the ballpark __________________

05-27-2009, 02:52 AM	#6 (permalink)
floop12444 Senior Tech, Games Team Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: England Posts: 1,002 OS: Windows XP SP3 My System	Re: PSU/RAM problems Dai was right in saying that you need a least a 750w PSU (A good quality corsair or similar brand). __________________ Everest Home Edtion ♦ System requirements test ♦ Nvidia Drivers ♦ ATI Drivers ♦ Revo Uninstaller ♦ GPUz Forum Rules Steps Before Posting

05-27-2009, 06:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
PC_NEwb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: PSU/RAM problems thanks guys

06-13-2009, 04:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
PC_NEwb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: PSU/RAM problems so do you think this PSU would be sufficient? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

06-13-2009, 04:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,659 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: PSU/RAM problems this is on special better value http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nc.-_-17139009 __________________

06-13-2009, 06:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
PC_NEwb Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 5 OS: xp	Re: PSU/RAM problems yea i saw that. I guess thats the safer choice. after all, having a working PC is more important than 20 extra bucks.