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Nvidia card slowdown by lack of power !
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Nvidia card slowdown by lack of power ! // Hardware
Post by Shike // Mar 9, 2007, 11:45am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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Ok, since I've put an order for a new computer I can laugh about this ! :D
I guess my PowerSupply is starting to give up, because sometimes the Nvidia drivers pop up a warning that the power isn't enough (for my 6800 Ultra) and it has lowered the speed to prevent damage.
( Noted in EventViewer in the System log as a ERROR, source NV, code 14 )
Most of the times this happens (during games or booting) my computer locks up and I have to turn off the power the hard way (reset doesn't work)
But this time it didn't lock up, and I got a chance to run 3Dmark05:
3DMark05 score when computer was healthy: 5198
3DMark05 score when GPU slow down: 3891
Also, now when I run 3DMark05's system info it says the
VGA Core clock is 12.8 MHz
Impressive eh?
What's the opposite of Overclocker...:D
Currently I don't dare to run ts7 or ZBrush out of fear that the computer will crash and corrupt the software or project....:(
Only thing that might slow down the delivery of the new computer is the Core2QUAD CPU which for some reason is rare!?
If any of you live near the INTEL factory, please tell them to HURRY UP ! ;)
(And I will get a new PSU for this computer when I've safely moved everything important to the new on...don't want to risk any loss of data ) |
Post by jamesmc // Mar 9, 2007, 11:58am
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jamesmc
Total Posts: 2566
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Ok, since I've put an order for a new computer I can laugh about this ! :D
I guess my PowerSupply is starting to give up, because sometimes the Nvidia drivers pop up a warning that the power isn't enough (for my 6800 Ultra) and it has lowered the speed to prevent damage.
( Noted in EventViewer in the System log as a ERROR, source NV, code 14 )
Most of the times this happens (during games or booting) my computer locks up and I have to turn off the power the hard way (reset doesn't work)
But this time it didn't lock up, and I got a chance to run 3Dmark05:
3DMark05 score when computer was healthy: 5198
3DMark05 score when GPU slow down: 3891
Also, now when I run 3DMark05's system info it says the
VGA Core clock is 12.8 MHz
Impressive eh?
What's the opposite of Overclocker...:D
Currently I don't dare to run ts7 or ZBrush out of fear that the computer will crash and corrupt the software or project....:(
Only thing that might slow down the delivery of the new computer is the Core2QUAD CPU which for some reason is rare!?
If any of you live near the INTEL factory, please tell them to HURRY UP ! ;)
(And I will get a new PSU for this computer when I've safely moved everything important to the new on...don't want to risk any loss of data )
You're gonna have to wait for mine to get out of the factory first. :D :banana: |
Post by Shike // Mar 9, 2007, 12:15pm
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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You're gonna have to wait for mine to get out of the factory first. :D :banana:
Aaw, I know I should have ordered the QUAD as soon as I heard about it, now I'm last in a huge order-list.... :D
BTW: Hope you're a overclocker. I would love to see how much power a QUAD can give...even though I'll be to chicken to try it myself :o
In Sweden, the Quad EE QX6700 cost about 9800skr (including the horrible 25% tax we have to pay for everything!:mad: )...about $1400.
Since I put my economy into the red field with this purchase I can't afford to risk the CPU :rolleyes: |
Post by Alien // Mar 9, 2007, 12:57pm
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Alien
Total Posts: 1231
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What's the opposite of Overclocker...:D
Underclocker. :D
Only thing that might slow down the delivery of the new computer is the Core2QUAD CPU which for some reason is rare!?
I've not heard of any shortages, but then maybe it's only in Sweden? Not that I tend to pay as much attention to news about Intel as I do about AMD anyway. :)
In Sweden, the Quad EE QX6700 cost about 9800skr (including the horrible 25% tax we have to pay for everything!:mad: )...about $1400.
According to xe.com, 9800skr is about £716, which does make them a bit dearer than here, where they can be had for about £625 [about 8568skr], but then our tax is "only" 17.5%.
Since I put my economy into the red field with this purchase I can't afford to risk the CPU :rolleyes:
That's why I don't overclock as well. |
Post by rj0 // Mar 9, 2007, 1:01pm
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rj0
Total Posts: 167
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Over last Thanksgiving's sales blitz (I stayed home), but managed a good internet deal on an nVidia 7600GT card. When it arrived, it indicated that I would need to upgrade the lowly 300watt power supply on my PC (if I wanted it to work). Oh well, live and learn ...
rj |
Post by jamesmc // Mar 9, 2007, 2:54pm
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jamesmc
Total Posts: 2566
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I always used Ultra Power supplies on my self builds. There is a nice 550W on TigerDirect.com for $100.00. |
Post by Shike // Mar 10, 2007, 5:31am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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@Alien:
Yup, Underclocker is what I am ! :D
It wasn't much cheaper across the big water !? I expected a bigger difference. :confused:
@rj0:
Ah, 300W... it was the good old times when that was enough :)
7600 GT is a lot faster than my 6800ultra, isn't it? Does it require more or less power?
( I vaguely recall that later cards where improved regarding powerconsumption...?)
@jamesmc:
Typical, I've been looking all over but can't find the invoice for the old computer...don't know how many Watts the PSU has and can't check the unit without completely removing it from the case...but I think it might be a 400-450W ? :confused:
UltraPower 550W you say, I'll have to check with the store if that will work with my MB...price too cheap not to try. :)
(even I should be able to switch PSU without the computer exploding ;) )
The old one didn't even have 2 separate connectors for the GFX card...and even though I've disconnected one of the DVD players and even the old "really useful" floppy-drive, it's not enough. |
Post by Alien // Mar 10, 2007, 2:17pm
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Alien
Total Posts: 1231
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It wasn't much cheaper across the big water !? I expected a bigger difference. :confused:
£91 is a fairly decent difference for that price bracket.
7600 GT is a lot faster than my 6800ultra, isn't it?
Err... actually, I'm not so sure the difference is as big as you might think, infact it's possible the 6800 Ultra might come close to equalling the 7600GT, based purely on the numbers (http://www.techarp.com/showarticle.aspx?artno=88&pgno=1) of course. I'm not so familiar with Nvidia cards, but I think the 7600 is a mid-level card in the 7 series, whereas your 6800 Ultra looks like it's a high end [of the 6 series] card. If they were more than 1 generation/series apart it might not count, but as they are... well, have a read of the explanation I give towards the end of this post (http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showthread.php?p=26076#post26076). The specific model numbers won't apply as it's about ATI cards, but the overall theory is the same for both ATI & Nvidia.
Typical, I've been looking all over but can't find the invoice for the old computer...don't know how many Watts the PSU has and can't check the unit without completely removing it from the case...but I think it might be a 400-450W ? :confused:
The sticker with the details tends to be either on the top of the PSU, or more commonly on the side that faces you when you take the side of the case off. If it's not facing you, you wouldn't need to completely disconnect it from everything to find out, as long as you're careful. Turn off, unplug the mains lead, then undo the 4 screws on the back of the PSU. Then just carefully slide the PSU out just far enough to see the label, making sure not to pull on any of its cables that are still attached to stuff.
Having said that, I suppose it's possible that your case might be some sort of weird/awkward design that would prevent you from doing as I described, but thankfully those are becoming fewer in number as case manufacturers get the message that people want cases that provide easy access.
UltraPower 550W you say, I'll have to check with the store if that will work with my MB...price too cheap not to try. :)
There's something you ought to know about Ultra PSUs. Whilst jamesmc said he's been happy with those he's used, & I've had mine for... over 2 years I think, & it's behaved flawlessly, there are some people who say that they've had some really bad experiences with the brand. All I know is that most of the people who have bad stories about them seem to be in the US, & some of them quoted prices they paid that were ridiculously low [1 example was $10, IIRC], so I'm not sure what was going on there. I do also know that I've checked several times in the last year or so for any UK online retailers that still stock them & couldn't find any. Whether that means anything or not though... http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alien42/smilies/dunno.gif
The old one didn't even have 2 separate connectors for the GFX card...and even though I've disconnected one of the DVD players and even the old "really useful" floppy-drive, it's not enough.
IIRC, HDDs are a fairly big drain on power, although I think that's mostly just when they 1st spin-up, but it does definitely sound like your PSU's getting a bit long in the tooth [as they get older PSUs aren't able to maintain the same amount of power output as they used to when they were new, something to do with the capacitors I think - will also vary in how much this effect happens depending on the brand & quality of components]. |
Post by Shike // Mar 12, 2007, 12:13am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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@Alien:
Ah, I constantly forget to take exchange rate into accont...91skr isn't much..£91 is slightly more threatening to the wallet ;)
Wonder why ATI and Nvidia have these GT, GTX, ULTRA instead of just a numerical that shows exactly where in the familytree it is performancewise :confused:
( like a benchmark score :) )
Regarding the PSU, I have transparant top and side, but I couldn't see the sticker. And the cables are a tight mess, not sure I can move the PSU without disconnecting everything.
However, I did find the invoice-number and will check with the store if they can find the original order... and perhaps guide me in what PSU would work.
They didn't have any Ultras so I'll get something else...might even go for 600-700W and add some drive...would be nice with a fileserver. :D
Oh, and on the invoice I found the purchase date: July2003, which means it lasted almost 4 years ! ( The 6800Ultra was a later update) :rolleyes: |
Post by Shike // Mar 14, 2007, 12:03am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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Bought a new PSU, 600W (previous was 400), and it didn't help.
Then tested to downgrade to earlier Forceware version 71.89, and suddenly the NV didn't just have a blank entry in the event log:
"Silent running: HW clock slowdown due to missing auxiliary power"
Which still can't be correct...now I have 3 12V lines from the PSU, one is powering the DVD and the 2 HDrives, one is only powering the GFXcard, and one is going to the GFXcard and the two fans in the front.
And unless the two fans somehow requires 20-30A...my guess is that the grafixcard is starting to die on me. :(
So, the PSU was money down the drain.....ooh, how I love hardware problems ;)
Oh, and with the old FW drivers, 3Dmark05 seem to get the correct feedback (think I've read something about problems with later ones)
At slowdown - Score: 2729, Vga Mem clock 600.8MHz, Vga Core clock 199.8MHz ( the previous result with Mem 1GHz, Core 12MHz did seem straange ;) )
According to Nvidia papers a health ultra should have Mem 1050MHz, Core 400MHz....so it has slowed down a lot! |
Post by Shike // Mar 15, 2007, 2:44am
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Shike
Total Posts: 511
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And the final solution:
Got a Geforce7600GT card to replace the old 6800ultra.
Amazing ! It's half the size, only requires a single cardslot, have a puny gpu cooler compared to the 6800ultra huge wraparoundthecard block of copper, and only requires a single 12volt cable.
And it performs 1-4 fps better than the old one in 3Dmark, ond only cost a fraction of what that card cost when I got it.
Gotta love the GFX card evolution ! :D
Still, I'm anxiously awaiting the store to be finished with my new computer ! :D |
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