okay, here's my problem:

i recently purchased a refurbished geforce 6600 from newegg.com (i know 6600gt is mucho better get off it) and i think that it is overheating, because after about 10-15 minutes of just surfing the web, it freezes. Sometimes it auto-reboots, sometimes it doesn't. When I restart the computer, it will only work for about 5 mins before it freezes again. I opened the case and felt the back of the card (opposite the fan) and it was pretty warm. i'm not sure if it this is causing the crashes, but i don't have anything else to compare it to. I also think it might be my power supply. the new card has a fan on it, but my old card doesn't. would i need to get a new power supply?

I am running a pentium4 2.8ghz
Nvidia GeForce 6600 256MB from AOpen
~360mhz core (stock 300)
~660mhz memory (stock 500)
512MB RAM

i'm open to all suggestions.

How many watts is your current PSU rated?

Quote: Originally Posted by cptcupcake okay, here's my problem: i recently purchased a refurbished geforce 6600 from newegg.com (i know 6600gt is mucho better get off it) and i think that it is overheating, because after about 10-15 minutes of just surfing the web, it freezes. Sometimes it auto-reboots, sometimes it doesn't. When I restart the computer, it will only work for about 5 mins before it freezes again. I opened the case and felt the back of the card (opposite the fan) and it was pretty warm. i'm not sure if it this is causing the crashes, but i don't have anything else to compare it to. I also think it might be my power supply. the new card has a fan on it, but my old card doesn't. would i need to get a new power supply? I am running a pentium4 2.8ghz Nvidia GeForce 6600 256MB from AOpen ~360mhz core (stock 300) ~660mhz memory (stock 500) 512MB RAM i'm open to all suggestions.

If you are only surfing the web (not online gaming) chances are that the video card is not overheating.
It is entirely possible that you don't have a big enough supply, but you failed to supply specs for that.

To eliminate the overheating possibility, have you tried to run the machine without the cover/side panel on? How many fans and what orientation are they blowing? If the machine works without the side on, then you can assume that the airflow is the problem.

or it might be the card its self... if you replace the pws and you still have an issue... i would try geting some burn in software and push your video card... ( and do this quickly b4 your 30 day warranty is up /w newegg)

if you need links to some free linux based burn in software let me know (they boot off cd so u do not have to install linux)

but i'm not sure what the power suply is rated for. would i find it in the case in the tower? and thecard was "refurbished, and i remember somewhere that refurbished cards come "at your own risk" or something like that

Quote: Originally Posted by cptcupcake but i'm not sure what the power suply is rated for. would i find it in the case in the tower? and thecard was "refurbished, and i remember somewhere that refurbished cards come "at your own risk" or something like that

Don't worry about the refurbish part yet.

To find the output of the power supply, find where your plug to the wall comes into your case. There should be a couple screws that mount a 6" x 6" x 4" box with a fan and a whole bunch of cables (depending on your case.) If you undo the screws the power supply should be able to be removed. On the supply itself should be the rating information.

alright, i don't know what to put, so i'm going to put it all:


Model: NPS- 250KB F Rev: 3
Input: 100-120V ~ /9.0A, 50- 60Hz
200-240V ~ /4.5A,
Output: +5V --- / 22.0A, -12V --- /1.0A
+12V --- / 16.0A, +3.3V --- / 18.0A
+5VSB --- / 2.0A,

Max combined power on +5V and +3.3V OUTPUT is 170W.
that's all there was on the psu.

Quote: Originally Posted by cptcupcake alright, i don't know what to put, so i'm going to put it all: Model: NPS- 250KB F Rev: 3 Input: 100-120V ~ /9.0A, 50- 60Hz 200-240V ~ /4.5A, Output: +5V --- / 22.0A, -12V --- /1.0A +12V --- / 16.0A, +3.3V --- / 18.0A +5VSB --- / 2.0A, Max combined power on +5V and +3.3V OUTPUT is 170W. that's all there was on the psu.

170watt??? yea dude---get a new power supply. you need at least a 350 watt. i looked it up, and i guess you have a dell. 170 watt...how does your comp even run??? and yes---it is total 170 watt......look it up....

I had the same problem with my Aopen 6600GT. You might want to rma it even though your PSU sucks. They sent me my card in a week.

I'd probly go with RMA just because I like getting new items, but If you are going to upgrade your power supply as well (which I would recommend seeming your running only a 170watt) heres a good deal thrasher found on a 500watt for only $15 Linkage

I've had more than 1 or 2 Nvidia and ATI cards burn out unexpectibly because I didn't pay attention to the cheap Heatsink and fan they put on stock cards. Get one of these. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835118117
I would also get a couple of case fan too. This is not to say your P/S isn't weak also

Quote: Originally Posted by LwrS10 170watt??? yea dude---get a new power supply. you need at least a 350 watt. i looked it up, and i guess you have a dell. 170 watt...how does your comp even run??? and yes---it is total 170 watt......look it up....

well i don't know. you're saying it like i can't turn it on. i have a cd-rw, dvd-rom, 2 hard drives (one came with) that vid card, and the psu fan, and the other fan for my motherboard.

Quote: Originally Posted by cptcupcake well i don't know. you're saying it like i can't turn it on. i have a cd-rw, dvd-rom, 2 hard drives (one came with) that vid card, and the psu fan, and the other fan for my motherboard.

No, what they are saying is that the more drives, fans, and the more powerfull the video card, the more juice it takes to run. And 170W is low, but was acceptable when you had the older card in. You were just at the upper limit then. With the addition of the new card, you are pushing the draw over the limit that your PSU can supply... which is why you are experiencing the troubles you are.

Hi. Even if you could get this combo to run,the power supply is so overdrawn that it will eventually overheat and die possibly taking out your Mobo,Vid card ect... Never run a power supply past 85% of it's rated output. Since your running a less then steller setup any 350 watt brand name P.S would be suitable.or you could buy a kick*ss 500 + for your next upgrades

firstly, i just wanna say thanks to everybody who has helped me so far, and there is one (or more) last thing(s) i would like to ask. here is a picture (made in paint) of my tower on the inside:(the arrows in the back indicate fans, the one in the front is the face of the tower)

i would like to know, if i was going to buy a seperate fan, where i could put it. It is pretty full now, and there isn't much room to put anything. Also, where the psu is, there is a giant string of cords zip-tied together which is blocking the removal of my psu. i will need to get a new psu, so what kind should i get and how would i remove it? do i have to unplug everything? is there any special one that needs a certain chipset? pentium 4? xp home? should it matter? once again, thanks for all your help.

Quote: Originally Posted by cptcupcake firstly, i just wanna say thanks to everybody who has helped me so far, and there is one (or more) last thing(s) i would like to ask. here is a picture (made in paint) of my tower on the inside:(the arrows in the back indicate fans, the one in the front is the face of the tower) i would like to know, if i was going to buy a seperate fan, where i could put it. It is pretty full now, and there isn't much room to put anything. Also, where the psu is, there is a giant string of cords zip-tied together which is blocking the removal of my psu. i will need to get a new psu, so what kind should i get and how would i remove it? do i have to unplug everything? is there any special one that needs a certain chipset? pentium 4? xp home? should it matter? once again, thanks for all your help.

Unless I am misreading your diagram, you have ZERO fans blowing cool air into your case, and have all three blowing out?

If this is the case, you need to turn the front fan around to blow cool air into the case to replace the hot air you are venting out. Now there are lots of opinions about which is better, having negative pressure (more fans blowing out than in) or having positive pressure (more fans blowing in than out), but the closer you get to balance, the better off you will be.

As to the PSU, I am going to be posting a review of a nice one shortly.

Get a new PSU. End of debate surely?

170W trying to run a 6600?? It clearly states on my 6600GT that you MUST HAVE at least 350W supply to run it and i doubt that the standard card would be much different... let alone a generic dell unit.

Ive just replaced my 420W unnamed supply with the 580 Hiper Type-R modular because computer was randomly restarting... these cards do NOT like crappy power supplies! lol

Just my thoughts though...

Mark

Quote: Originally Posted by Im_gumby Unless I am misreading your diagram, you have ZERO fans blowing cool air into your case, and have all three blowing out? If this is the case, you need to turn the front fan around to blow cool air into the case to replace the hot air you are venting out. Now there are lots of opinions about which is better, having negative pressure (more fans blowing out than in) or having positive pressure (more fans blowing in than out), but the closer you get to balance, the better off you will be. As to the PSU, I am going to be posting a review of a nice one shortly.

well the middle fan of top of the mobo might be blowing out, but it would make sense if it was blowing in, and i just assumed the first because i am an idiot. of course i need it backed up to the wall to work my comp, so i am not 100% for sure, but now that i think about it, i think it does blow in.

Quote: Originally Posted by markwalker84 Get a new PSU. End of debate surely? 170W trying to run a 6600?? It clearly states on my 6600GT that you MUST HAVE at least 350W supply to run it and i doubt that the standard card would be much different... let alone a generic dell unit. Ive just replaced my 420W unnamed supply with the 580 Hiper Type-R modular because computer was randomly restarting... these cards do NOT like crappy power supplies! lol Just my thoughts though... Mark

okay. i have accepted the fact that i need a new psu, and quickly for fear of damaging my comp. on newegg, there are a bajillion different psu's, and i am not sure which one comes with what i need, because some look like they come with a big cord thinger, and some don't. I am assuming i need that cord, but which ones are reliable? will any different psu fit into every different tower?

*EDIT* Is this worth my money?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182011

Quote: Originally Posted by cptcupcake okay. i have accepted the fact that i need a new psu, and quickly for fear of damaging my comp. on newegg, there are a bajillion different psu's, and i am not sure which one comes with what i need, because some look like they come with a big cord thinger, and some don't. I am assuming i need that cord, but which ones are reliable? will any different psu fit into every different tower?

They all come with "a big cord thinger" as that is the main power to the board. It will also come with a lot of little cord thingers to power your drives.

Here's a picture of the modular PSU from ePower that I will be posting on. I would also suggest going through the REVIEW section and checking out the supplies listed there.

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