[KOD[Redfox

Hi, i think i have a similar problem as this one and i have to say im really glad to hear you got it sorted, Run and I was wondering if you could help me, I't would be very much appreciated.

My system is similar to yours, I have an Intel Q6600 @ 2.4Ghz and the BFG 8800GTX OC2. I have the same case (only not nicley painted lol), same PSU, same soundcard, 4GB RAM. I am also on Vista 64-bit.

At the start sometimes my PC wouldnt boot and the 8800GTX would let out a continuous and loud beep and then sometimes it did boot and once a "not enough power warning" apeared. I switched some cables around and haven't had either of those symptoms appear since although i still get really poor performance as if the card is running at a lower clock.

GPU-Z tell me the card is running at a normal 621Mhz speed but didn't you say that it wasn't telling the truth? Im wondering is there a more definite way of telling if the card has been downclocked, I don't think vista displays the warning too well.

Also i check the Rev of my PSU and it's 3 which should mean that its fixed although unless not all rev 3 PSU's have the bug fixed.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

Run N. Gun

Although we had this conversation via PM, I'm going to include my responses here, for the benefit of others who are having similar problems.

My response:

Hi RedFox,

Sure thing, I'll be glad to help ya! I don't have experience on Vista, but what I have read says that you don't get the Sentinel message at boot up, but get crappy performance in big games.

GPU-Z, Rivatuner, NTune only told me that I was running at full clock, etc, but games turned to crap right away. If I were in your position, go find a store where you can buy/return easily. I used Fry's Electronics. Anyway, buy another 750W+ PSU and see if the problem goes away. If it does, then the prob is in your PSU. Read my post (had the LAN party pics in it) on how I isolated the graphics card on one PSU to localize the problem to the PSU. OR - you could buy the Thermaltake PCI 250W PSU and just power your GPU with it and see if that fixes ya. Either way, if your performance increases with additional power, then Antec owes you a new PSU and you need to contact customer service to go through the same junk that I did.

When you grab the 2nd PSU, buy a PSU tester while you're at it (especially if you're going to return them). The PSU requires a load to start up, so you connect the 24pin mobo connector to the test, then the two 12v leads to the GPU. You're all set. See here:



Don't leave it on for 30 minutes like I did...I nearly melted the PSU tester. Oopsie! LOL!

If you're going to get the Thermaltake 250w PSU, then you have to plug it inline into your 24pin mobo cable to power the PSU.

Hope this helps!

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wake

Intel E6750
GA-P35-DS4
Gigabyte 8800 GT 512
Antec TPQ-850 (Rev 3)

Have the same issue, done all the troubleshooting. Returned to store, they tested it with another TPQ-850 (Rev 3) same issue... Told me to reformat, for their sake I have, including upgrading BIOS latest Chipset drivers etc etc. Still same issue.

So to confirm Rev 3 still has this issue? Can I upgrade to a 1000?

Run N. Gun

NO! Rev 3 did not have this issue, it is fixed for me with Rev 3. Compare stickers to the picture that I posted. Did you take the Rev3 home to test it yourself? Are you running XP or Vista?

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wake

My PSU is a Rev3 and was tested with another new Rev3.
Looking at my sticker and it matches yours exactly.

B/I - H/P - ATE
OK6 - OK6 - OK5 - 3 & B

Windows XP Pro SP2

Just rebuilt, with BIOS at factory defaults - Installed NVidia. Same issue.
Updated MB Chipset drivers & Bios also.

Run N. Gun

So you have tested this yourself with your system and you still get the NVidia System Sentinel error at boot up? Just want to be sure I'm understanding you.

If that is the case, then my recommendation is open a ticket with Antec and have them solve the problem, if you really want that PSU. Or...exchange it for a different brand of PSU, if that is an option for you. The TPQ-850 and 1000W PSUs are similar enough in architecture that I'll bet you'll have the same problem with both PSUs. The 850 has enough power, I don't believe that it is really a power issue, but a firmware or intelligence issue as the PSU is sending info to the Mobo at power up.

Please let us know how this goes, Wake. You are not the only one having this same problem.

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wake

You're understanding me correctly.

To complicate things further, I just used a Thermaltake Silent PurePower 560W to power the Gigabyte 8800 GT and still had the same Sentinel warning on boot up. I tried the other 16x PCI-E slot, with no positive outcome.

I'll be looking at trying another 8800 GT next, as this could be at fault.


Thanks for all the feedback in this forum, I would have been at a loss otherwise.

Run N. Gun

Just to make sure that you didn't make the same mistake I did when I tried a 2nd PSU are you confident that the 2nd PSU is starting up (fans spinning, etc)? I had to use a PSU Tester to generate the load for startup on the 2nd PSU, some folks just short the green & black wires. Obviously, you want to make sure the 560W PSU starts up first, then power up your 850W.

I agree that you have an interesting problem that needs solving. I would swap the GT and see if that solves it. Also, are you using the latest NVidia drivers? If this doesn't solve the problem I would open a trouble ticket with Antec and let them figure it out.

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TheFlyingGribble

Hi,

There have been several posts about people having problems with the 8800GT (not GTX) on this forum, some of which were using the Rev 3 PSU. I was hoping to get a GT and so opened a ticket with Antec asking if they had solved this with the GT. Their tech support guy hadn't even heard of the GT, let alone any compatibility issues! He initially talked about the GTX problem that you mentioned.

Eventually I got an answer which said that they would replace my PSU if I bought a GT and there were any problems. They never did say if this was a problem they had found and fixed though. He also wouldn't confirm if the issue was with a particular revision of the PSU, or individual systems.

Run N. Gun

Gribble - Thanks for the heads up on that thread. Welcome to the OC forums! There must be a problem now with the 850/1000W PSUs and the GT cards. I wonder how this PSU was SLI certified if it doesn't work with 8800GTX or GT cards? [smacks forehead]

This is not looking good for Antec.

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