PC help

[lil240sx95]

ok so, i dunno if its my graphic card or what. But every now and then my screen blacks out, then comes back in like 3 seconds. Then whenever I try and play any type of game, it crashes on me..if you also think its the graphics card tell me, if you think its another problem tell me too please.
what I'm running
Gigabyte 939 Socket Mobo
AMD 3500 64x
1024 mb of ram
180gig HD
Nvidia 6600
Windows Xp 2002 Sp2

[Matej]

Have you tried reinstalling the graphic card drivers?

[lil240sx95]

yep I reinstalled the first one, then installed all the newer ones and it still does it

[reefer23]

ur psu might be too weak and can't handle the graphics card...

[BustedS13]

yeah, what're the specs on your power supply? i really doubt you're underpowering a 6600, but that could be it. just the one hdd?

for comparison, i had a 6800OC, amd 64x2 4200+, and three hard drives, and it all ran alright on a 450 watt power supply. the supply died when its fan went out, but the 450 was plenty.

[lil240sx95]

but its a 6600!! thats crap! its the regular one no GT but anyways I'm running a 400 power supply, and i have 2 HD's one 80 and a 100 one. and I have 2 fans running it, I dont know I might have overheated it..so I think that was the problem..FUCK! now i have to buy a new GC

[CKAMC]

what are your temps? lol whens the last time you have cleaned it?

[kandyflip445]

It might just be the PSU failing. Stuff goes weird when they start to go.

[CKAMC]

Yeah tom's hardware had an excellent write up regarding how a cheap PSU is completely different from a quality unit.

I noticed a 10 FPS increase on all my games when I went from a cheap 400watt psu to a Seasonic. 'Nuff said there.

[kandyflip445]

How do I see my FPS in a game BTW? Is there a program for it or is it enable on the game somehow? Running an EVGA 7600GT.

[Kaotik25]

yeah try checking the PSU for failure. If the PSU is good, then make sure your graphic card is cool. My GC crashed when it was overheating so i bought a fan just to cool it down. Now it's running all kinds of crazy games. Here's what i used.

http://www.xoxide.com/thermaltake-tmg-nd1-cooler.html

go to CompUSA they have a wide selection on fans. Hope that helps.

[CKAMC]

How do I see my FPS in a game BTW? Is there a program for it or is it enable on the game somehow? Running an EVGA 7600GT.

quite a few games have it built in during testing.

i would have to look again for a third party tester used by other sites when they review new hardware

[lil240sx95]

yeah the PSU is brand new, so yeah I think I might just get a new GC like I said, and maybe a new Board

[CKAMC]

gigabyte is a pretty good motherborad brand, ran quite a few with no problem.

yeah i just chucked my old 6600gt 2 months ago and now run a 8600GTS, big difference and i have somewhat the same system specs's like you (3800 and 2GB of ram)

[lil240sx95]

yeah I think I'll just add another gig of ram, and a new GC probably another nvidia under 200$ dont really play my games as much..thanks for all the help guys!

[CKAMC]

I hope you don't mix and match ram

[kandyflip445]

As long as it's the same type, voltage, and latency it should be fine. But, I still wouldn't mix different brands. I like having all the same.

[lil240sx95]

oh...well....i kinda did.....feck...

[CKAMC]

Yeah mixed match stuff just isnt a good idea. Even if it has the exact same spec's the chips may also come out in different revisons just like they do with processors(stepping).

Get a Ram tester and have it run one day when your out since they take a while.

What brand of GFX card you got?

[lil240sx95]

GFX i have nvidia pny 6600..lame..it was 120 thats why and its AGP im old school.. dont have the pci express shiet yet..

[CKAMC]

ouch... yeah i love pci-e so much now

heard mix stories with pny... great on corporate end but mixed with consumers.

If your spending another $120 grab a 7600gt (for AGP) or a X1950 PRO if your willing to spend an extra $50(again AGP)

if you find yourself with a pci-e board later on grab a 8600gts if you want directx10 or a 7950GT if you can still live with directx9