PC keeps locking and monitor blacking out up when logging in - Hardware & Software

I think I may already have a hunch at what it is. But I want to be double sure. I got a new motherboard yesterday (a Gigabyte Z77H-D3H). After getting everything together, I've noticed some wonkiness going on. At first, I had issues with the PC getting to POST. First time was badly placed RAM (understandable) and for some reason it would act like it going to POST, but there was no video. Plugging in a PS/2 keyboard brought it back, might have been a coincidence though. Installing Windows 8 went fine, just with some weird quirkiness that I had to give priority to the integrated graphics (which may be related to my current issue). Now I have gotten as far as the Windows 8 login screen. I can sometimes login and get to the desktop, but in a short time the monitor plugged into the GPU (I have one plugged into the integrated graphics and my Radeon 6850 for troubleshooting) will go black and the entire computer locks up. Its generally after I do something like opening a program. If I remove the 6850, my PC is perfectly fine. No freezing, no hiccups, or anything. So I can probably rule out the motherboard being the issue. My guess is the power supply. Its an old-ish BFG 450 watt power supply, getting up into 4 years old. My guess is that its degraded enough that it can't keep my PC running with the GPU. Does that sound about right? [URL="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14575796/Cellular/IMG_20130516_100345.jpg"]Here are the voltages in the BIOS.[/URL] If that's the case, what is a decent-ish PSU? I don't need anything real big or fancy, just something that gets the job done. Preferably under $80 USD.

The voltages look fine, but get that power supply out before it will take out your hardware. Test a friends power supply or get a complete now one, at least a 600w PSU.

Noted. I have a 430W supply in my home server. I'll see if that fixes it. At leastthen if it works, I can bbe positive that it's the power supply. [editline]16th May 2013[/editline] Then buy a new one obviously

Well, its much worse than I expected. Apparently, its not the power supply. Or at least not only the power supply. I put the GPU into an entirely different PC (Athlon II, 430 power supply). It does the exact same thing. Except its when you enable Aero in Windows 7 or try to play a game. It just works for a second and then garbage on the screen. Well this sucks. [editline]16th May 2013[/editline] Of course, it may be just that power supply isn't good enough for the GPU either. So I might spring for the power supply now, and if it doesn't fix it, I'll save up for a new GPU.

My guess is a bad GPU, those power supplies should be enough to power it.

[QUOTE=IpHa;40671463]My guess is a bad GPU, those power supplies should be enough to power it.[/QUOTE] Hmm, seems that the GPU is still under the 3 year warranty (with 6 months to go). I guess I'll order the PSU. If that fixes it, I'll be golden. If it doesn't, I'll send the GPU in for a replacement. The 450W power supply has issues with the fan bearings anyway and only has 2 built in SATA connectors, so I was planning on upgrading eventually anyhow, and the Seasonic one I'm looking at will be modular which should help immensely with cable management. I guess thanks for the help.

[QUOTE=Demache;40672188]Hmm, seems that its still under the 3 year warranty (with 6 months to go). I guess I'll order the PSU. If that fixes it, I'll be golden. If it doesn't, I'll send the GPU in for a replacement. The 450W power supply has issues with the fan bearings anyway and only has 2 built in SATA connectors, and the Seasonic one I'm looking at will be modular which should help immensely with cable management.[/QUOTE] Not sure if I'm right here, but isn't seasonic a pretty bad PSU brand? I would go for something like corsair if i were you.

[QUOTE=TonyTheBean;40672211]Not sure if I'm right here, but isn't seasonic a pretty bad PSU brand? I would go for something like corsair if i were you.[/QUOTE] I looked into it and apparently they are one of the best ones, up along with Corsair. [editline]16th May 2013[/editline] [url]http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151095[/url] I guess with the reviews it sort of checks out. [editline]16th May 2013[/editline] Of course, I'm not against getting a Corsair (although the CX430 I have mixed feeling about, but that was pretty cheap). I haven't ordered anything yet.