Did Vista x64 Ultimate kill my Powersupply?

Chroptus

New Member
Hello, I recently tried to install vista 32bit on my computer, it was successfull until i installed nvidia display drivers. The error i got was:

Error: Display driver has stopped working and has recovered successfully.

I even tried to get Omega drivers, and old archived nvidia drivers did not work. So i gave up, and asked my retailer if i could get the x64bit instead. they aggreed with that. So i installed that one also correctly. No problems with the GPU drivers there, however in games my computer kept restarting after playing ~20mins and two days later my Powersupply died. a 600W PSU from OCZ.

I then removed vista from my computer and is now running xp x64 and i have no problems what so ever. But i want Vista! loved the functions.

I want to try again soon, but im not sure if my computer will survive.


So my computer speccs are like this:

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA770-DS3 for AMD CPU. 770chipset.
CPU: Amd Athlon 64 x2 6000+ 3.0GHz with watercolling.
Graphic card: Nvidia Geforce 9800GX2
Main harddrive: 74gb Raptor 10000rpm disc for OS.
and five other slow drives for storage.
Powersupply: OCZ Stealth X Stream 600W.
Memory: Crucial 4x1024mb Basillix 800Mhz.


There shouldnt be any reason for vista to fail, shall it? and did Vista kill my psu?
 

My Computer

Do you have a multimeter? Test the 12V voltages. I would start by removing the omega drivers and installing the correct Nvidia drivers. 600W power supply should be fine. What is your video card temperature? Do you have enough video card cooling? Is the video card water cooled along with CPU? If not, you need chassis fans to cool the video card.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
two days later my Powersupply died. a 600W PSU from OCZ.

Did you replace the psu or it came back alive? Or it has never gone bad?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    E6850
    Motherboard
    EVGA 122-CK-NF67-A1 680i
    Memory
    4 x OCZ Platinum 1GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB
    Sound Card
    SB X-Fi X Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 23" 5MS
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    2 x Barracuda 7200.10 320GB RAID 0 / 1 x 500GB Maxtor
    PSU
    Seasonic 600W M12
    Case
    CM Centurion 5
    Cooling
    air
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
and did Vista kill my psu?

The answer to that is no. Even if Vista somehow managed to cause your PSU to fail, which is extremely unlikely, it would be because of faulty hardware. The only software that could damage your hardware is overclocking tools and things that wear out mechanical components. Your powersupply isn't affected by any of those.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Athlon X2 6000+
    Motherboard
    ASRock ALiveXfire-eSATA2
    Memory
    2x2GiB DDR2 PC2-6400
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeCube ATI Radeon HD3870 512MiB GDDR4
    Sound Card
    Built in HD Audio, digital output
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 206BW, SyncMaster 940B
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050 + 1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WDC 250GB SATA + lots of externals. :)
    PSU
    Antec Earthwatts 500W
    Case
    Antec Sonata III
    Cooling
    Air
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (1st edition w blue lightning)
    Mouse
    Logitech G9
    Internet Speed
    DL/UL: 50/10Mbit
Ok, thanks for reply.

I just had to try vista after getting a new PSU. I had same issues earlier today, but decided to take out 1 ram module, and its working like a charm. By using memtest none of my ram modules are failing, so i dont know why 4modules and 4gb ram shall destroy the computer.
 

My Computer

Hi Chroptus, and Welcome to the forums :party:

Don't worry too much about the memory problems with the install it's a well known issue with Vista x64 installations. once the install is finished Vista works fine with all the memory :D
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro x64 Latest Release Preview
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer G276HL 27", (DVi) + Samsung 39" HDTV (HDMI)
    Screen Resolution
    2 x 1920x1080 @50Hz
  • Manufacturer/Model
    Real World Computers (Custom by Me)
    CPU
    AMD FX8350 Vishera 8 Core @4GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A78L-M USB3
    Memory
    32GB [4x8GB] DDR3 1600 MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Asus nVidia GTX750TI-OC-2GD5 (2GB DDR5)
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xoner DG + SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 32" TV
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Internal
    Crucial CT256MX100SSD1 256GB SSD,
    Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH1 2TB,

    External (USB3)
    Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk 8TB
    2.5/3.5 Hot Swap Cradle, USB3 + eSata (client HDDs)
    NAS 4TB
    PSU
    Aerocool Templarius Imperator 750W 80+ Silver
    Case
    AeroCool X-Warrior Red Devil Tower
    Cooling
    Hyper103 CPU, Rear 120mm, Front 2x120mm, Side 2x120mm
    Internet Speed
    68 MB Down 18.5 MB Up
    Other Info
    Six Sensor Auto / Manual Digital cooling (Fan) control with Touch control Panel
im surprised that your system is running on a 600w psu, considering all the powerful components. I tried using the psu calculator with some of ur components & got almost 600w without considering the watercooling!!!

try using it urself, if you dont understand some of the options, there are some instructions at the bottom of the page.

eXtreme Outer Vision - eXtreme tools for computer enthusiasts
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    §ĮŁΣNŦ Д$$Д$$ĮN
    CPU
    Xeon X3360
    Motherboard
    P5W64 WS Pro
    Memory
    Corsair XMS2 8gb @ 5-4-4-12 833mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA Geforce GTX470 SC+
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Extreme Gamer Fatlity Edition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung T200
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    WD 1TB RE3
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughower 750w
    Case
    NZXT Lexa Silver
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS10x Extreme
    Keyboard
    Razer Lycosa Mirror
    Mouse
    Razer Deathadder 3500dpi
    Internet Speed
    24Mb/s
    Other Info
    My massive wifi antenna is in the post!
Hello and thanks. The memory problems occur while the setup of the OS is done and im on the part installing device drivers and such. Im done with it all now, but i dont dare to put back my 4th module in case my PSU should die (again).

Since i use my warrant i have to send it to the retailer, so they can check on it witch takes a week. then they are looking upon it, witch also takes a week. When they find its not working they are sending a new witch also takes a week.

But im starting to see a pattern here, i had same damn issue in win xp x64bit with my old nvidia chipsett. since some motherboards with nvidia chipsetts made same issues.
So i bought a new Motherboard with AMD chipsett to be able to continue the use of my AMD CPU. If i had taken a Intel based motherboard, i would have to buy a new CPU aswell.

What i should have done, by what i can see have happened in the long run.
bah!

fieseler:
Well, i started to think it might have been me using to small PSU, but during os install i disconnected all other HDDs. witch would result in alot lower then 600. And still the same issues until removing one memory module, witch is very odd!


Another thing to add: The system is really stable after removing that module, no problems what so ever yet!
 

My Computer

Call OCZ support. You might need a larger power supply for your needs. One stick of RAM is 1-2A @ 3.3V. I doubt that did your power supply in unless the slot is shorted. I would start by removing any non-essential hardware and putting in your 4th stick. If your system is stable without the extra RAM, I would look at the RAM. Put the 4th stick in slot 1 and test.

My old AMD boards would need to be set to DDR333, if more than 6 sides of RAM were installed. Three double sided sticks could run DDR400. Four (8 sides) was DDR333. Maybe your board has a similar issue. Are your sticks matching or different? I found its best to use only matching sticks of RAM for less compatibility issues.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
im surprised that your system is running on a 600w psu, considering all the powerful components. I tried using the psu calculator with some of ur components & got almost 600w without considering the watercooling!!!

try using it urself, if you dont understand some of the options, there are some instructions at the bottom of the page.

eXtreme Outer Vision - eXtreme tools for computer enthusiasts

They were my thoughts too. I'd have got a 700w+ PSU for a 9800GX2.

Did you say you re-installed Vista while 1 module of RAM was removed? You could try re-installing with the module removed like what's been said.

It must be a "hit or miss" thing like I reinstalled Vista 64 bit last week with all 4 memory modules in and it works fine, though I did read SP1 fixed it (I think) and I slipped streamed my Vista disk with SP1, so maybe that's why...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
    Motherboard
    XFX MB-750I-72P9 NF750i
    Memory
    4096MB Corsair XMS2 PC-5400
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS Nvidia Geforce GTX470
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 24" S2409W & Dell 20" E207WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 & 1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB Western Digital Caviar Black & 500GB Samsung
    PSU
    750 watt Thermaltake Toughpower
    Case
    Coolermaster Dominator 690 Nvidia Edition
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9700-NT Cooler, 6x 120mm Chassis Fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G11 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (2007 edition)
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Other Info
    abit airpace 54mbps wireless PCI-E x1 card
Hello and good morning, i did install vista with 4x. and the computer kept restarting during installation of win updates after it was done.

As for the Powersupply part, i will check upon it after work. Its all 4x matching ram modules.

I wrote that, i removed all other non needed harddrives during installataion WITH 4modules in, and still same issues. But the 3gb and 4gb issue, computer not starting with 4x modules with my old motherboard, there might be similarities, that intercept my vista to work correctly. maybe my ram is faulty overall?
 

My Computer

Do you have a multimeter? Test the 12V voltages. I would start by removing the omega drivers and installing the correct Nvidia drivers. 600W power supply should be fine. What is your video card temperature? Do you have enough video card cooling? Is the video card water cooled along with CPU? If not, you need chassis fans to cool the video card.


Sorry, i did not see your post. Yes i got a multimeter, and im not using omega drivers with x64. that was with the previous 32bit version of windows.

Last time i checked my temp with my card it was about 50Degrees C. but that was in XP, ill check it when i get home from work, in 8 hours :)

Ill post a picture when i get back home, so you can see my current setup. and decide if i actually would need an extra fan.

two days later my Powersupply died. a 600W PSU from OCZ.

Did you replace the psu or it came back alive? Or it has never gone bad?

When the PSU died, i disconnected it, took it out and sent it back to my retailer, i then sat in a 500W and a old ati radeon x850pro GFX card.

3weeks later i got a new and fresh powersupply from the retailer, same model.
 

My Computer

Hello and good morning, i did install vista with 4x. and the computer kept restarting during installation of win updates after it was done.

As for the Powersupply part, i will check upon it after work. Its all 4x matching ram modules.

I wrote that, i removed all other non needed harddrives during installataion WITH 4modules in, and still same issues. But the 3gb and 4gb issue, computer not starting with 4x modules with my old motherboard, there might be similarities, that intercept my vista to work correctly. maybe my ram is faulty overall?

In case you still have the kept restarting problem, I believe some one try to explain to you in the previous posts that you have to remove 2 Gb of rams before installation to make it work. Then put them back after all the window updates and sp1 update. It is a known Vista installation procedure for most to follow except those with everything slipped streamed in one disk.

About the power supply, I believe 600W is ok for now, since I don't see any raid arrays with your HDDs therefore they don't run at the same time. Also you probably don't have lots of case fans for your water cooling. But, I would still look into a bigger one for the long term.

Hope this help and post back.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    E6850
    Motherboard
    EVGA 122-CK-NF67-A1 680i
    Memory
    4 x OCZ Platinum 1GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB
    Sound Card
    SB X-Fi X Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 23" 5MS
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    2 x Barracuda 7200.10 320GB RAID 0 / 1 x 500GB Maxtor
    PSU
    Seasonic 600W M12
    Case
    CM Centurion 5
    Cooling
    air
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
Hello and good morning, i did install vista with 4x. and the computer kept restarting during installation of win updates after it was done.

As for the Powersupply part, i will check upon it after work. Its all 4x matching ram modules.

I wrote that, i removed all other non needed harddrives during installataion WITH 4modules in, and still same issues. But the 3gb and 4gb issue, computer not starting with 4x modules with my old motherboard, there might be similarities, that intercept my vista to work correctly. maybe my ram is faulty overall?

In case you still have the kept restarting problem, I believe some one try to explain to you in the previous posts that you have to remove 2 Gb of rams before installation to make it work. Then put them back after all the window updates and sp1 update. It is a known Vista installation procedure for most to follow except those with everything slipped streamed in one disk.

About the power supply, I believe 600W is ok for now, since I don't see any raid arrays with your HDDs therefore they don't run at the same time. Also you probably don't have lots of case fans for your water cooling. But, I would still look into a bigger one for the long term.

Hope this help and post back.


What is the reason to this, vista bug?
 

My Computer

Yesterday, i found out that the issue might be related to overheating by the ram modules. As they where extremely hot.

The computer had started to restart on its own again, and now only watching a movie.

The restart where unusual, screen goes black, waits for a looong time on getting further to Motherboard post screen. when it gets there it uses a long time to start the rest. Restart is only quit option. I now have win xp x64 installed again with 4gb no problems.

Since the errors started AFTER i had been playing a game for 2hours. and computer had been on for 2days, only with restarts as off, during that period.

So, maybe my ram modules cant handle the stress done by vista, or maybe my PSU cant handle the stress either. First im bying a car, then im bying new PSU and ram...
 

My Computer

Yesterday, i found out that the issue might be related to overheating by the ram modules. As they where extremely hot.

The computer had started to restart on its own again, and now only watching a movie.

The restart where unusual, screen goes black, waits for a looong time on getting further to Motherboard post screen. when it gets there it uses a long time to start the rest. Restart is only quit option. I now have win xp x64 installed again with 4gb no problems.

Since the errors started AFTER i had been playing a game for 2hours. and computer had been on for 2days, only with restarts as off, during that period.

So, maybe my ram modules cant handle the stress done by vista, or maybe my PSU cant handle the stress either. First im bying a car, then im bying new PSU and ram...

It is not the PSU. Try open the case and blow a house fan directly to the rams and see what happen. After all you might need to add a couple of case fans as some one suggested in the earlier posts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    E6850
    Motherboard
    EVGA 122-CK-NF67-A1 680i
    Memory
    4 x OCZ Platinum 1GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB
    Sound Card
    SB X-Fi X Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 23" 5MS
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    2 x Barracuda 7200.10 320GB RAID 0 / 1 x 500GB Maxtor
    PSU
    Seasonic 600W M12
    Case
    CM Centurion 5
    Cooling
    air
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
I got few fans around somewhere. Ill put them in. But last time the computer continued to restart on its own the PSU died. So im willing to buy a powersupply aswell as new and better ram. Ram is cheap these days.

So for safety reasons, ill buy a new and more powerfull one.
 

My Computer

I would check to see what else is on that circuit. You want 10A in the US for a decent power supply. If the circuit is 15A, you can draw 80% or 12A from it. Did you determine the power supply failed or was too small to handle your total load?
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
No, i did not check it. Since its so much in there. But im on Win xp 64bit now, i have had _no_ problems. But as vista stresses the hardware alot more, do the hardware draw more electricity?

So my PSU is this:
OCZ Stealth X Stream 600W.
600wchart.JPG


A complete list of all connected parts:

2x IDE HDD Maxtor and Seagate
3x SATA HDD Maxtor(Raptor 10000rpm with HDD chassi= 2xfans) and Seagate
1x Blu-Ray drive.
Watercooling - Thermaltake Big Water:
1x 120mm Fan inside chassi in the back blowing air out
1x Watertank + Pump
1x Radiator outside chassi with 2x fans
Thermaltakeusa*»*Liquid Cooling*»*Liquid Cooling All-In-One*»*BigWater 735 : BigWater 735 CL-W0075
1x Motherboard
4x Crucial Bassillix 1024mb ram
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3GHz 125W Hardware.no - Prisguide - AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 125W
XFX Nvidia Geforce 9800GX2 512bit 1gb

After adding more fans to the chassi it is now:
2x 120mm Fans in front blowing air into the chassi.
1x 100mm? Fan behind harddrives in the top, blowing air out
1x 100mm? Fan in the top blowing air out.



Now we can copy that list and put ~Watt. To see what we could be up to, but its still working great in win xp with that PSU and this content.


Terrible cellphone image quality, but you get the idea:
DSC00789.JPG


DSC00791.JPG


DSC00792.JPG


Its nearly no cables in the area infront of CPU and Ram, under and above GFX card.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

9800GX2 is 20A @ 12V = 240W
AMD CPU = 125W

12V rails = 48.3A total load @ 580W.

I would suggest the next one up from their if you can afford it. I like the PC Power and Cooling Silencer 750W or 860W because they are single rail. I would check to see what else is on your computer circuit first. If you are sharing the 15A with your monitor and other external stuff, it could be an issue. That video card needs its 20A.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    pair of Intel E5430 quad core 2.66 GHz Xeons
    Motherboard
    Supermicro X7DWA-N server board
    Memory
    16GB DDR667
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS 640 MB video card
    Hard Drives
    SAS RAID
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