Ok it's time for some more hardware headache. This time I decided to uppgrade my graphics card a GeForce 6800GT. I got a really good deal on a GeForce Gainward 7900GTX and went home with a smile on my face.

Not smiling now. Short story is, every time I boot up the computer completley hangs/freezes as it's about to get into windows. Hard shutdown is only way out. I can't get into windows in safe mode, same thing happens. I have checked all power connecters to the card, tried every configuration I can think of. I have a 500w Cooltek Psu, which should be enough. But no go. During Post the card is detected, memory on card seems ok and monitor shows everything alright, but then just as the windows welcome screen should appear it hangs. I tried the card in a friends machine. It worked there... So I thought I need a clean windows install. Tried that, but behold, everything is fine untill the screens shows where you choose if you want to insatall or repair windows, the computer freezes again. Hard shutdown...
Right now I'm stuck and out of ideas. Anyone got some to spare?

My specs
Asus P5GD1 Motherboard
2gig ram
P4 3.6 mhz
2 maxtor hdds
1 Barracuda hdd
Cooltek 500w psu

Cheers Porphy

Try another PSU.

500W is good. Cooltek is bad. However, this PSU should be good enough to boot Windows. It's also weird that you have problems when starting the routine to install from the CD, as there are no video drivers loaded at this point.

I guess I'd try another PSU as well.

Hi

Thanks for input. Maybe Cooltek isn't top of the line but 500w and 20A on the 12v should handle this, don't you think? At least on paper... Or are this brand known to be flaky?

As you say Joe, something feels odd with the freezing when I try to do a fresh install of Windows with the card.

Might have to try another PSU, but I really don't want to by one right of the bat. This one is quite new after my Antec died from being at idle... maybe me and PSUs don't go together...
Anymore ideas?

Cheers Porphy

Can't you borrow the PSU from your friend's computer that you tried the card on? 20amp on the +12v rail is not really enough. You want something like 36amp.
You sure it doesn't have two +12v rails? Most do now.

Sorry if I wasn't specifik enough, I don't know to much of PSUs. According to the documentation it has:
+5v 20A
+12v 1 45A
+12v 2 20A
-12v 20A

Yes, I could try the other PSU again. It just the hassle...

Cheers Porphy

Solved it! Ok sometimes you really have to me more thorough with supposedly simple things. Turned out that I had two cables from the 12v Pci-e output on the psu. The one I used was not marked with Pci-E connector flag... but the other one that was tucked away with other unused cables was... go figure. Switched them and voila! No lock up.
Sorry to have taken your time with this and thnaks for your advice. Perhaps someone reading this little story avoids spending one friday evening with something stupid like this. Time to se what the card can do.
Cheers Porphy