[Wyatt]

As we discussed in this thread, I recently upgraded the video card in my PC. It (normally) runs great, but I have a problem now.

When I'm playing games, the screen occasionally will just go completely black. I suspect I need a new power supply, since the card I installed is a little power hungry and I'm only rocking a 250W power supply. At first I thought it was just the game I was playing (Oblivion), but it just happened while playing another game (Age of Empires III).

I would think it's the video card, but the audio cuts off as well. The machine doesn't completely shut down (the power light is still on), and it's not running particularly hot. It's almost like the power supply is cutting off everything that's asking for power when the video card is asking for too much.

Do I just need a beefier power supply? Or is something else wrong?

[PB PM]

Have you tried deleting the games profiles before trying to play the games again. I know some games will try to revert to old settings with new hardware. It does sound like a lack of power, a 250W PSU is rather weak for modern hardware you might want to upgrade to at least 300-350W.

[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by PB PM Have you tried deleting the games profiles before trying to play the games again. I know some games will try to revert to old settings with new hardware. It does sound like a lack of power, a 250W PSU is rather weak for modern hardware you might want to upgrade to at least 300-350W.

It's a clean install of WIndows that I put on after installing the current hardware, so old settings can't be the problem. The more I research my problem, the more I believe my power supply is the issue.

[Wyatt]

I just ordered a new PSU. Hopefully everything will be alright now.

[Suddoo]

That should work. A 250w is a little weak for anything above the average PC. By the sound of it, it's almost certainly your PSU shutting off circuits that are drawing too much power.

[Schnauzer]

WOW, u need a better PSU

[Suddoo]

Yups, even the 1337 gamer agrees

[Schnauzer]

[Wyatt]

Originally Posted by Suddoo Yups, even the 1337 gamer agrees

Maybe, but we were all wrong.

I replaced my PSU with a 450 W model, and it still doesn't work. I swapped my video card out and put my old FX 5700 back in, and it works fine.

Is it possible that my new card overloaded my wimpy CPU, or do I just have a bad graphics card?

It works for short periods of time, and it works wonderfully. After a few minutes, though, the whole thing just shuts down. This is so unbelievably frustrating. Anybody have any other ideas? Or is my video card just hosed?