GTX280 power issues?

[RyuuKi]

Hey folks

I recently had my BFG 8800GTX die on me and the kinda people at Ebuyer.com replaced it for me with a BFG GTX280 as the 8800s are no longer stocked.

While this is great news I've found something wierd. My monitor, or rather my graphics card will turn itself off if something heavy is going on. I've not tested with games yet as i've been fixing a few windows problems and none are installed. But while backing up my Windows installation and buning them to DVDs and running the Check Disk functions I found that my graphics card would effectively turn off or my monitor would go blank. I've tried 2 monitors and 2 DVI cables and the same happens so it's not a monitor or cables.

I'm running a 700 watt OCZ powersupply as listed in my signature with the rest of my specs and this PSU doesn't have a dedicated 8 pin PCIE power cable so I had to use the adapter included with the GTX280 to turn the 2 6pin cables into the 8 pin and then 2 molex connectors into a 6 pin. I'm not entirely convinced that the card is getting enough power despite specs saying a a minimum of a 400 watt PSU is required.

Anyone think it's worth getting a newer and more powerful PSU? I was thinking a 900w with the proper dedicated 6 and 8 pin PCIE cables instead of using the adapters?

[fvbounty]

Do you have the latest drivers, you would think a OCZ 700 watt would be enough? Make sure your video card is fully seated in the slot also.

[WhiteEclipse]

that powersupply should be "powerful" enough, but it could be defective - or even a defective adapter.

The 280 uses a lot less power in 2d, nvidia programmed energy saving features. so if the problem manifests itself outside of heavy graphics use, that is a good indication that something is not functioning properly, as opposed to not having enough power.

Before changing hardware, I would try another set of drivers and turn off all power saving functions just to double check.

[TQ]

I installed a GTX280 this morning on system with a PP&C Silencer 610 PSU. It's working just fine. I've been gaming for the last hour or so. No problems.

[SinisterAgent]

Originally Posted by RyuuKi

Hey folks

I'm running a 700 watt OCZ powersupply as listed in my signature with the rest of my specs and this PSU doesn't have a dedicated 8 pin PCIE power cable so I had to use the adapter included with the GTX280 to turn the 2 6pin cables into the 8 pin and then 2 molex connectors into a 6 pin.

Im sure your problem has been solved but if you read on the GTX280 8 pin adapter that it was for testing purposes only. It does not have a sufficent amount of power to supply the card under load. Also your using molex to a 6 pin pci xpress as well. My friend you are going to burn that card up. You need a PSU that has the pci express 8pin not the dongle adapter alog with a true 6 pin pci xpress. Good luck.

[wonderwrench]

Your PSU must be an old revision as they list this supply as having 1 six pin and 1 six + two pin PCIE connector. It might not be a bad idea to contact OCZ about this. OCZ Technology | Products | Power Management | OCZ 700W StealthXStream Power Supply

[RyuuKi]

Hey, thanks for the replies. I'm sorry if I'm late in replying myself but for some reason I have only just been notified by abx zone that the thread got replied to :S

Anyway, yeah I fixed it, i think about 2 or 3 days after this post only I didn't bother to update as I THOUGHT I hadn't got any replies (i'm not a regular forum user y'see) and that the topic would have got pushed down the bottom of the pile and no one would notice it anymore. After 2 or 3 days I ordered a Hyper Type M 880W with dedicated 8 and 6 pin connections. Problems have been sorted. In response to SinisterAgent, cheers for the info but there were no references to the 8 pin adapters being for testing purposes only anywhere in the literature with the card.

I guess I should update my signature now :P Thanks for the suggestions everyone, sorry I didn't get a chance to read them till now!