Zotac GTX 460 amp fault

[Charlie065]

I've just bought a Zotac GeForce GTX 460 amp as replacement for my old Gigabyte GeForce 9500 GT. I made compatibility checks and I beleved it could work on my pc.

Unfortunately after I installed the new video card, my pc could no more boot!! BIOS didn't startup at all and sounds 1 long beep + 2 short ones, as for video fault.
Also when Iìve restored the old video card, before booting system gave this notice: "Warning!!! The previous performance of overclocking is failed and the system is restored to the defaults setting"

I made some tests and it really seems my current system configuration doesn't support GTX 460, but I don't know if I could upgrade something and what to make it work on my pc.

My current pc features are the following:
S.O.: WinXP Home Ed. SP3 / Win 7 Home Premium SP1 dual boot
BIOS: Ami
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945, quadcore @ 3000MHz
motherboard: MSI K9A2 CF (MS-7388: socket AM2/AM2+ / PCI-E 2.0 16x)
RAM: 7 GB (Kingston DDR2 SDRAM PC6400 @ 800Mhz)
video card: Gigabyte GeForce 9500GT 1GB GDDR2
audio: Realtek ALC888 Integrated Digital Audio
HD: 1 Western Digital 250GB SATA II + 1 Western Digital 1TB SATA II
opt. drives: (master) SAMSUNG TSSTcorp CD/DVDW SH-S182D
(slave) LG HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR-8164B
modem: (int) 56Kb HCF data/fax/modem
(ext) Modem/Router Digicom ADSL2+ Combo C
monitor: 19" Hannspree HH191DP
mouse: PS/2
joystick: CH 568 CombatStick USB
others USB devices: Lexmark Z640 (printer)
Canon CanoScan LiDE 35 (scanner)
LAN: Realtek RTL8168/8111 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet NIC

[RicheemxX]

Your system supports the GTX 460, what power supply (make and model) do you have? Did you make all the power connections on the card?

[ShyguyXPC]

Your system supports the GTX 460, what power supply (make and model) do you have? Did you make all the power connections on the card?

^^^^
THIS!!

It requires TWO 6 Pin PCI Express Power Connectors, make sure their connected to the card.

Also you need to list your PSU specs as per Rich's Post, so we can see if your PSU is even enough to run the card with your system.

There's a HUGE Difference, not just in performance, but in Power requirements between the 9500GT and a GTX 460.

[Charlie065]

Maybe you're right: I've really plugged only the single dedicated PCI-E 6-pins connector from the PSU.
Could be this?
But manual doesn't say anything about plugging both 6-pin connectors onto the card. It says only to prefer dedicated connector, as I made.

Also the connectors cable in the card's box (there are two) have either one 6-pin connector, but a doubled 4-pin connector on the other side of the cable.
According to what you said, this means I have to plug either dedicated 6-pin connector directly from PSU and also to make a double connection to another common 4-pin connector (to make, as I've read somewhere, a stable power flowing).

I try to display the power connection layout I meant into the attachement.

As requested, these are my PSU features too (as read in the tag onto it):

Codegen 550w - model: 300X A [ATX 2.03 (P4)]
AC imput: 115/230 VAC 10A/5A 50/60Hz
AC output: 115/230 VAC 1A/0.5A 50/60Hz
DC output:
| +3.3A | +5A | +12V1 | +12V2 | -5V | -12V |+5VSB|
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| 15A | 20A | 8A | 14A | 0.5A | 0.8A | 2A |
--------------------------------------------------------------------
| 120W Max | ------------------- | 9.6W Max | 10W |


Sorry, another thing: nothing about that system requirement into the video card's manual, but I also thought if maybe the trouble could be caused by the difference between motherboard's supported memory clock @ 800MHz and GTX460 memory clock @ 1000MHz.
This could maybe explain why system reads as an unsupported overclocking attempt, but, as said above, I'm really not sure.
What do you think about?
Thx in advance.

[RicheemxX]

What you are reading about memory support is system memory only and has nothing to do with your GPU. The overclock message is something entirely different.

[Charlie065]

Ok, you were really right: it was single connection instead double connection as needed!!!

But I was right too: my connections layout was good!!
All right now: I'm enjoying my new, quick video card.

Thx very much to all.

[JPMiller]

You are going to fry your machine...
PERIOD...
That Codegen is an absolute piece of garbage... not just iffy, TOTAL crap...
It weighs nothing, has NO protection and wont last long pulling that kind of load...
It MIGHT be all of 18A on the +12V rail and if you arent already having issues, youll eventually fry the PSU as well as most of the rest of the rig once it dies...
You Have to replace it with something reliable...
You can read a little more HERE...
You need closer to a TRUE 450W PSU that would have more like 30A or more, on the +12V rail/s...
The cheapest option I'd suggest is this XFX...
Newegg.com - XFX Core Edition PRO450W (P1-450S-XXB9) 450W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply

[ShyguyXPC]

Ok, you were really right: it was single connection instead double connection as needed!!!

But I was right too: my connections layout was good!!
All right now: I'm enjoying my new, quick video card.

Thx very much to all.

So your saying you only have ONE 6 pin connector connected to your card?



If so, you NEED both. There's a reason it has 2 Power connectors on it (as well as its a Factory Overclocked card).

As JP suggested you also need a new PSU, he's right, those codegen are crap, your lucky you haven't overloaded your system already, and those Amps on the +12V are utter crap for a 550W rated unit.

[JPMiller]

I might be wrong, but the XFX I linked seems to be the cheapest reliable PSU with enough Amperage and 2 native PCI-E leads...
Anyone finding something cheaper be my guest, since I only skimmed quickly...
TECHNICALLY he can get away with around a 400W as long as it has 30+ Amps and at least one 6 pin PCI-E lead, since he can technically use the adapter...
I just usually dont care for using an adapter if unnecessary...

[Aaron_8015]

Yikes... Get a new PSU....

[Charlie065]

Thank you to all for your suggestions about my PSU. I'll change it ASAP, but I have had it for two years and I never had any trouble... Also its cables get jammed under MoBo so I have to diassemble all my pc to change PSU.

Maybe troubles could happen now with new video card, but I don't use to overclock neither CPU nor video card, so I think I have la lot of time to find a good PSU before throwing away old PSU.

However I've connected both the video card 6-pin jack as the pattern I attached above and all seems to work fine, at the moment...

[Cajunheat]

I have been following this thread and had to comment. Charlie listen to these guys, they know exactly what they are talking about. I've always wonder why people want to skimp on they're PSUs. The PSU is one of if not the most important component in your computer, it literally effects every other component in it. With the load your PSU has, I'm surprised that it's lasted two years and to be honest I haven't had those kind of PSU specs in my computer for probably ten years. Why risk an investment of hundreds of dollars to a cheap under powered PSU? When that sucker goes, and I truly believe it will, it can take out any component it's connected to (in other words everything). Get the best name brand PSU you can afford in the 450 to 500 watt range, there are several around the $40 - $60 range including the XFX JP suggested. May I suggest another one that I have personal experience with:Newegg.com - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply.

[ShyguyXPC]

It doesn't matter if you Overclock or not, for 2 Years, your current PSU has not been under much stress with No Overclocking (OCing does NOT take that much power from a PSU, unless your Overvolting a CPU, RAM and Motherboard, OCing needs a stable clean power delivery from a PSU more than it does MORE power.) Like I said your old Geforce 9500GT barely used any power and wasn't a major draw on the PSU. Compared to the GTX 460 (9500GT only used power through the PCI Express slot, equal to or less than 75W max. GTX 460 uses MORE than the slot can provide, 75W from slot, Plus TWO 75W plugs from the PSU. It uses about 160W for the 1GB model at stock speeds. reason it needs the extra 6 pin connector, since OFFICIALLY the 6 Pin PCIe Connectors are required to transmit 75W of +12V Power through them. Though Unofficially they can hit up to 150W of power. But that is why the extra 6 pin is needed, for that extra 10-15W over the 150W total, 75W from Board, 75W from 1st 6 pin plug.

As long as BOTH 6 pin connectors are in the card, the one from the PSU and one using the adapter (though its usually recommended to use one 4 pin plug from TWO different bundles of cables coming out of the PSU, using 2 on the same bundle is fine. Not sure about using a 4 pin to dual 4 pin, and then back again, because then you are still pulling double the Wattage out of a single 4 pin in the end.)


But you Need a new Quality PSU ASAP before using the card with your system, to lessen the chance of it killing off your entire system.


Many people think of the CPU as the Heart of a PC. Their mistaken. The CPU is the Brain. The Brain can not work with out a Heart to pump "blood" or Power to it.

This is where the PSU comes in, its the Heart of the System. If it can not hold up to the stress, strain and need of the entire system, the entire system will be affected when it goes.

[Charlie065]

Don't worry, I don't understimate your suggestions and I know exactly either how PSU is important in a pc and what are the risks when it isn't reliable. In fact I've already planned to buy at least a 650W PSU for my new GTX 460 before to get her, but I need some days to get it and (more difficult)assemble it into my ATX tower.

However you wouldn't believe what kind of power layout I had in my previous pc: it was like a forest of adapters and sub-connections... But it worked!!!

[ShyguyXPC]

A good 500-550W PSU is more than enough for what you have currently (with the GTX 460).

the 450W JP suggested above is also a perfectly fine option as well.



As to your wiring in your case, best to reduce as much clutter as possible, reduce number of adapters and what not, to increase airflow in case, ventilation, etc, and reduce hot spots of trapped warm air. Also reduces dust build up areas.