Question regarding recent build

[vtjosh]

I hate having to start off here asking questions but here goes. I just built my first PC and am having issues. I believe they are to be GPU/driver or PSU related but need help with determining that. Whenever I play a game, it will freeze up and turn to a black screen and then usually recover until next time( sometimes half hour or next few secs) Also on occasion my screen will flicker when just on the desktop or IE. Worst cases is I get BSOD. The games I've been playing are COD:MW2 and BFBC2. This has not happened on the original BF2 yet though. I've installed the most recent display driver but it has done this on everyone (including the one on disc) Specs are as follows:

Asus P6T mobo
Intel i7 at 2.66 GHz
WD Caviar black 640GB HDD
Sapphire Radeon HD5850 1GB GDDR5
OCZ DDR3 triple channel memory 6GB
Rosewill RD500-2DB
Windows 7 Home Premium (64bit)
HP DVDRW drive
Sony CDRW drive
I've gone into bio's and set memory votage and timings according to OCZ specs and it still occurs. Installed latest 10.4 driver for video card with no avail. (Did it on 10.3 and 10.2 aswell as the packaged driver) Updated Realtek driver, same thing. I've ran Memtest86+ for 10 passes and memory has 0 errors. Was really thinking it has to do with the GPU or driver until I read this review on the 5850 http://www.guru3d.com/article/radeon-hd-5850-review-crossfire/9
It states that it requires a minimum of 500watts for single card use(What I'm doing) and at least 40 amps on the +12v rail. Now I'm not sure about PSU's but for mine it list like this
+3.3v=22A +5v=16A +12V1=15A +12V2=16A -12V=0.8A +5Vsb=2.5A
Do I just add the 12v numbers for a total of 31.8? Somebody please help

 

[runswindows95]

The one thing I would suggest is replacing the Rosewill PSU with a top name brand. That could be the problem.

 

[ksampanna]

You answered your own problem. There is not enough current for the graphic card on the +12V rails. Get your psu replaced, & go for corsair, silverstone or antec. And this time, do check the amperages on the +12 V rails.
Here are a few good enough for your system :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010090058%20113142556%204802&name=Top%20Sellers

Go either with the corsair or antec.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Yep that is a junk power supply and underpowered for your card. This would be an excellent replacement :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

It is on sale for $10 cheaper than the Corsair 550w unit. A single 52 amp 12v rail gives you plenty of headroom not to mention it is a high quality unit.

Compare these and you will see why. The Corsair rates as a 650w unit based on the 12 v rail. the cheap Rosewill combines everything for a total of 480w. It is not even a real 500w unit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=17-139-005-S04&SCList=17-139-005-S01%2c17-139-005-S02%2c17-139-005-S03%2c17-139-005-S04%2c17-139-005-S05%2c17-139-005-S06%2c17-139-005-S07%2c17-139-005-S08%2c17-139-005-S09&S7ImageFlag=2&Item=N82E16817139005&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=CORSAIR%20CMPSU-650TX%20650W%20ATX12V%20%2f%20EPS12V%20SLI%20Ready%20CrossFire%20Ready%2080%20PLUS%20Certified%20%20Active%20PFC%20Compatible%20with%20Core%20i7%20Power%20Supply

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageGallery.aspx?CurImage=17-182-044-S03&SCList=17-182-044-S01%2c17-182-044-S02%2c17-182-044-S03%2c17-182-044-S04%2c17-182-044-S05%2c17-182-044-S06%2c17-182-044-S07%2c17-182-044-S08&S7ImageFlag=2&Item=N82E16817182044&Depa=0&WaterMark=1&Description=Rosewill%20Stallion%20Series%20RD500-2DB%20500W%20ATX12V%20%20%20%20Power%20Supply

 

[vtjosh]

Well, the Rosewill was left over from an old pc so that's the only reason I used it. Was looking at the Corsair 650 or 750 watt TX series(Unsure if I plan to add another card or not) but figured it would work because the card called for a 500w minimum. Also I've just read about how to read my minidump files from my BSOD's but don't really know what the hell it's telling me. Where would I go to find that out?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

If you plan on Crossfiring 5850s I would get a Corsair 850w or Antec 850w to be sure. Those cards draw quite a bit of power. With no crossfire a 550w or 650w ( still on sale ) would be fine.

As for minidumps just google the code.