GeForce 7600 GS power problems...

[yokljo]

My power supply can't handle having the graphics card plugged in (I did a few tests), so I am just using it unplugged. In Windows, it just comes up with a message saying it will be clocked down, so I just click "OK". In Linux, it comes up with a message in the terminal saying that it can't run because the power isn't plugged in. I want to know if there is a flag in the xorg.conf file that can fix this. There is a flag to ignore the message, but I am afraid that it will damage the card, and I really don't want that to happen, since my brother bought it for my birthday, and it is the most expensive present he has ever bought.

[Lethe]

The only solution is to get a new PSU that is powerful enough to run the card - not using the power cable could damage all your system.

Nick

[yokljo]

It talks about the option "NoPowerConnectorCheck", would it be safe to use that?

[Lethe]

Well, I don't know, but if something is designed to work a certain way, then you can't really hack it to work another way - especially electronics.

I wouldn't like to run my 7600GS without the required power, that's for sure.

Nick

[yokljo]

Looks like Ill have to use Blender in ... Windows. Horrible thought. Or, I might try and buy a better power supply

[chunkey]

Originally Posted by yokljo

Looks like Ill have to use Blender in ... Windows. Horrible thought. Or, I might try and buy a better power supply

Don't do that! Is it really that hard to understand?

If there's not enough juice,

you can get random lockups (data loss).
You may even fry your PC completely,

or if your PSU was built to last
the cards is just "down clocked" and some "advanced" 3D features are
disabled => (less performance).

You should really buy a better PSU. (but please, stay away from those super cheap 400W things!)

[AaronP]

The "NoPowerConnectorCheck" option is really only there in case your GPU is misreporting its power state. If you actually don't have the external power connected, you could experience glitches, lockups, etc. I would really recommend upgrading your PSU.

[kloroformd]

My last computer fried because I used a PSU that wasn't quite up to the challenge. It's HIGHLY recommended that you get a decent PSU.

HEC Orion's 585-watt is cheap and works for me. My multi-meter says it's stable too. Got mine for $30 on TigerDirect.com. (item# V133-6041)