After installing new graphics card PC randomly restarts.

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

This is my first time installing a graphics card.

I installed an EVGA GTX 970 into my Alienware X51. The drivers disc that came with the GPU couldn't be read so I installed the drivers with GeForce experience. It seemed to work ok. I could play Arkham Knight few about a half hour but then the PC turned off without warning. Lights fans everything. Then it booted back up with the "Windows did not shutdown properly" screen.

This happened 3 times so I know its not a fluke and I don't want it to keep happening and damage the PC any further.

The card is the ACX 2.0 FTW and is advertised as having better cooling capabilities but I think that it still might be a heat problem. How could i remedy this?

ThatVietGuy · Jun 25, 2016

I would be more inclined to point at the PSU being the problem. If you think it's a temperature problem, install a monitoring program (e.g. MSI Afterburner) and check it for yourself.

Martell1977 · Jun 25, 2016

Did you remove the old GPU driver? If not, Try using DDU (Display Driver Uninstaller), then install the latest driver from nVidia.

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

Martell1977 :

GeForce uninstalls previous drivers before installing new ones. Wouldn't a driver issue merely cause the game to crash and not the entire PC to shut down?

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

ThatVietGuy :

How would I test to see if the problem is my PSU? Also if my PSU is the problem would it be because I need a different one or would it be because my current one is faulty?

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

I looked up the PSU requirements for the GTX 970 and found that it needs at least a 500 watt PSU. How do I find the wattage of my current PSU?

ThatVietGuy · Jun 25, 2016

The PSU on the X51 isn't the greatest and it might not be supplying enough power to your GPU (even though the GTX 970 is pretty thrifty on power).

So, it's not necessarily BAD, it's just not good enough.

The max wattage the X51 had from the factory is 330W - which is far below the 500W recommended by Nvidia. Granted, some people have been able to get a GTX 970 to work in the X51, but you might just have the short end of the stick.

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

ThatVietGuy :

What would it take to get a 500 watt PSU for the alienware X51?

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

I have the Alienware X51 R2 which has an external power supply. Is there any way to upgrade the external power supply? Would it be as simple as buying a different power cord (which has the external PCU attached along it) and swapping them out?

ThatVietGuy · Jun 25, 2016

No, the wattage from an external supply is fixed and Alienware doesn't offer a bigger power supply. To get 500W you'd need an internal power supply which will not work with the current case.

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

ThatVietGuy :

Could I underclock the GPU in some way so that it doesn't exceed the 330 watts?

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

In this video this guy has a 970 in the x51. Does my model of 970 consume significantly more power than his?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJBwdBZzySs

maxalge · Jun 25, 2016

VatchCronock :

no, but he uses a 450w power supply specifically for that card

a gtx 970 is too much for the 330w power brick the x51 comes with, and since it is not a reference cooler version it is also causing thermal issues because of the crappy case

you should have gotten a reference cooler gtx 960

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

maxalge :

Is there a way for me to get a 450w power supply that is designed for my graphics card?

VatchCronock · Jun 25, 2016

Would I be able to use MSI Afterburner to under-clock the GPU so that it is using less power?

maxalge · Jun 25, 2016

VatchCronock :

any 450w power supply would work

your case is too small for anything though

you would need to do what the guy in the video did which was just take everything out of the crappy x51 case and put it into a proper case that allows him to add another power supply specifically for the card

maxalge · Jun 25, 2016

VatchCronock :

yes, you can lower both the core speed and power limit

neutering the gtx 970 =(

you would still have temp issues with the x51 case and non blower gpu design though

VatchCronock · Jun 26, 2016

maxalge :

Alright :/ I'll probably do that sometime in the future but not right now. Im using an overclocking software to turn down the max amount of power the card is allowed to consume. I have it set to about 75% of its original power intake. Ill probably move the parts into a new case at a later date so that I can get the most out of the card and have more upgrade potential.

After installing new graphics card PC randomly restarts.

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