"Steve Thackery" wrote:

In summary, if you measure the voltages and they are low, you should change
the PSU. However, if they are within spec, you might still have to change
the PSU.

Then what's the point in measuring? HMMM?

2x 8600 GT running in Sli uses 250W of power.Your cpu will consume up to
115W at full load.3 x 1Gb 533Mhz ram around 35-45W each(depending on
load ofcourse).So just right there you have 500W under full load.This
doesn't take into account all your HDD and other peripherals.All these
are worst case scenarios (all under full load), but you get the idea.I
had the same problem when I upgraded drivers for my old 8600GT Sli
system and getting a decent 750W PSU fixed the problem.Make sure you
have enough cooling also.


--
mika7367

Then what's the point in measuring? HMMM?

Because if they are low, you definitely need to change the PSU.

If they aren't low, you must continue with further diagnosis.

Or don't bother. PSUs are cheap. Just change the damn thing.

SteveT

Get a multimeter and test the Red and Black (+5V) and Yellow and Black
(+12V) under various loads. If they drop below 5V and 12V, replace the
power supply. What are the specs on your power supply? What are their
combined specs? You have a pair of 8600 in SLI?


--
SCSIraidGURU

Michael A. McKenney
'www.SCSIraidGURU.com' (http://www.SCSIraidGURU.com)

SCSIraidGURU wrote:

Get a multimeter and test the Red and Black (+5V) and Yellow and Black
(+12V) under various loads.

GEESH. Why didn't _I_ think of that!? I'll just reach back on my
workbench and pull a multimeter outta the pile of 'em I have.

Like most everyone reading these groups have /sarcasm off.

Get a multimeter and test the Red and Black (+5V) and Yellow and Black
(+12V) under various loads. If they drop below 5V and 12V, replace the
power supply. What are the specs on your power supply? What are their
combined specs? You have a pair of 8600 in SLI?

And as I've said elsewhere, that is NOT a reliable indication of whether the
lines are being overloaded.

SteveT

On Nov 5, 1:32*pm, "Steve Thackery" wrote:
And as I've said elsewhere, that is NOT a reliable indication of whether the
lines are being overloaded.

Swapping a power supplly is not a reliable indiciation of whether
the lines are overloaded. Those who do this stuff professionally know
that. There is no other method of identifying an overloaded supply
without much more expensive equipment.

An overloaded supply can still boot and run a computer. And a
perfectly good supply can appear defective in an otherwise perfectly
good computer. Swapping power supplies may create additional computer
damage. It does not report anything useful. It also takes
significantly longer. Longer because the meter reports on the supply
and other possible problems - in much less time.

Due to no numbers from a meter, then no useful reply exists. And
with numbers, other information may also be obtained from the better
informed responders. No meter numbers means only the naive can
reply. Only useful reply occurs when those meter numbers are
provided. And if an power supply is defective, the meter must again
be used to confirm the new supply is both good and sufficient. Just
another reason why the electrically knowledegable technician uses a
meter.

The meter will easily identify an overloaded power supply when the
computer is doing many things simultaneously. Professionals routinely
knew before PCs existed even 40 years ago.