Graphics Card Problem.

[Jimbob]

Hey.

I've just had a quick bash on CS:S as usual, when my framerate went way
down and i then recieved this message:

'the nvidia system sentinel is reporting that the Nvidia powered
graphics card is not recieving sufficient power'

Everything has been fine, even this morning i was playing and no problems.

What could this be, and does anyone know how to fix.

System is:

XP Pro SP1
Core2Duo E6400
Geforce 6600GT
1gb Mem
420w Power Supply.

Thanks.

 

[JAD]

get a 'real' power supply or if available, change the threshold of the warning alarm if it
is set too low.

 

[John Doe]

Hey.

'the nvidia system sentinel is reporting that the Nvidia powered
graphics card is not recieving sufficient power'

What could this be, and does anyone know how to fix.

System is:

XP Pro SP1
Core2Duo E6400
Geforce 6600GT

Do you have a power connector on the 6600 GT connected directly to
the power supply?

 

[Jimbob]

Do you have a power connector on the 6600 GT connected directly to
the power supply?

Yes, it's on a split, with the DVD drive. I disconnected the drive and
all seems well so far.

 

[DaveW]

It sounds like your PSU may be failing, and intermitently not producing
adequate power due to a fault.

 

[w_tom]

Yes, it's on a split, with the DVD drive. I disconnected the drive and
all seems well so far

Everyone can speculate that it might be this or that. Maybe the
splitter does not have sufficiently sized wire. Or maybe ....
Instead take a 3.5 digit mulitmeter (so ubiquitous as sold even in K-
mart) and measure the voltages. If voltage is too low, then you will
see where and probably why. Get the numbers, see what is and is not
too low, AND fix it right the first time - without shotgunning -
without speculating.

 

[John Doe]

Everyone can speculate that it might be this or that.

Some of us are better at it than others.

Maybe the splitter does not have sufficiently sized wire.

Not likely.

Or maybe ....

Measure "the voltages"?

Instead take a 3.5 digit mulitmeter (so ubiquitous as sold even in
K- mart)

Or sold at Digi-Key Corporation, where I got my B&K Precision
multimeter.

and measure the voltages.

Not a good idea to stick your hands/tools inside of the computer
when it's powered up. Especially not for someone who doesn't know
exactly what to do, what to look for, or where to look.

If voltage is too low, then you will
see where and probably why. Get the numbers, see what is and is
not too low, AND fix it right the first time

Or mess up something that was working just fine before you decided
to poke around inside the case with the power on.

- without shotgunning - without speculating.

But in fact, swapping components/leads/whatever is an efficient
method for preliminary troubleshooting a personal computer. If you
had technical information on all of the parts in your computer, if
you were a specifically trained technician, and if you had the time
to mess with it, you might approach the task more scientifically.
But the vast majority of us (including w_tom) would do better doing
it the easy way.