I've got a fairly firm grasp on computers and hardware but it's mostly just the basics like taking things out and putting things in etc. Anyway, I upgraded my video card to GTX 560 Ti a few months back and things have been running decent enough but lately, I've been running into strange issues while programming. My game (which is currently a 2D one) started having real strange artifacting and then lately has begun to outright flicker on and off. I'm assuming at this point it's the power supply -_-;; (It's not the game because it runs fine on the 360 and other PCs with lower specs).

Anyway, as I've stated, I'm running a GTX 560 which lists that the minimum power requirement is 500 W and the Maximum Graphics Card Power is 170 W. I'm also running an i7 2.67 GHz cpu and a variety of USB doohickeys. I checked right now and my PSU is running what appears to be an awesome 460W. . .

I'm no expert, but I think this thing is prolly a POS. I'm gonna go out tomorrow to the local FRY's electronics and pick up a new power supply and pray it fixes my issues but before I do so, I'd love to get some community feedback from those in the know. First, do my problems seem like they may in fact be stemming from an inadequate psu? And second, any recommendations on which one I should pick up? I'm all ears duders, please help a duder out!

The card needs more power than you are giving it at the moment. You need to get a better power supply ASAP. Otherwise you could burn up your stuff and cause it to flat out break.

Get something like the Corsair CMPSU-750TX. This should be the last PSU you buy for awhile, you should buy a good enough power supply to run two 560 Ti's off of it just in case you want to run SLI one day. It may be slightly overkill now but you can use this in your next build, too.

Is it a GTX 560 ti Twin Frozr from MSI? Has your computer been on for an extended period of time (like multiple days?) There have been some issues with the card having artifacting problems that are solved by just powering down the computer completely by switching off the PSU.

But, I'd swap that PSU out anyway, to something like a Seasonic, or another 80+ certified PSU.

Also, the GTX 560 Ti needs 30A and your PSU can only pump out about 32A at max load on its +12V rails. So it was probably damaging itself running at max load to power the 560ti, and that's why you weren't having any problems at first.

go with what @MB said, getting more power than you need is the way to go.

Yeah, definitely sounds like a PSU issue, especially after your description. Try to grab a PSU that is at least Bronze certified efficiency. More efficient = less heat = less waste = less headache. Also, off-brand PSUs may advertise high wattage, but you rarely get what they advertise. Do this right and invest in quality.

600-750w psu will be a suitable replacement. The higher the quality the more expensive they normally are =) Seasonic is definitely a brand I would go with and remain with. Enermax is also a great company

@IBurningStar: Is it possible then that I've already caused irreparable damage to my graphics card or do you think that if that were the case, it'd be worse than it currently is?

@MB: I've got no issues buying higher quality so that I don't have to upgrade again later on. I'll check see if they have this particular model when I go by the store later today.

@WilltheMagicAsian: Looking at the box image on the web, I'm pretty certain this isn't the brand/model I purchased. "Also, the GTX 560 Ti needs 30A and your PSU can only pump out about 32A at max load on its +12V rails. So it was probably damaging itself running at max load to power the 560ti, and that's why you weren't having any problems at first." Could you put this sorta into layman's terms? Not about the Amps and Volts but just why I wouldn't have problems at first and why problems would show up later on? I was running BF3 pretty smoothly for hours back when I first got the card. I haven't tried playing it recently, but I'd think that game would max load the card/system way more than the dinky thing I've got running that's giving me mass problems.

@Subjugation: That less heat thing sounds brilliant. I'll be sure to keep a cool eye on that as well. Ty =D

@137: MB's suggestion was Corsair and I do recognize that name. Though, I recognize it in terms of ram, not PSUs. I'll take a look for all three brands. Thanks!

I love this community. Thanks everyone for suggestions and the help. Hopefully by this evening, I'll be back up and running with more power =D

Another note: cheaper PSUs tend to have a lower rating than they say they do. I had a very cheap 600W (Cooler Master, a real brand), and when I looked up the reviews it turned out that it tended to output around 400. The bloody thing sounded like a rocket ship full of dying cats whenever I played a game!

Newegg has good deals on PSUs all the time, so I'd watch them.

@nintendoeats: I'd normally go newegg, but I need one asap. I have some things I need to test and haven't been able to get the game running properly since it keeps looking all garbled -_-;;

Yeah it's a PSU. Fry's also does price matching so it's not a bad idea to take a look at New Egg anyway.

A fistfull of cash, about an hour of installation, two scares and some bruised fingers later, I think my problem is fixed. It'll take a bit of time before I'm certain that the problem is gone for good, but so far, looks smooth and my computer is actually running quieter than it was before.

They didn't have any brands mentioned here with the exception of Corsair so I went ahead and decided to grab that one. They also unfortunately didn't have the model suggested but I read a bunch of reviews on the spot, did some price checking and ended up with this one.

I know the 650W was suggested but the lowest they had was 750 and I went with 850 because it only cost an extra $5 bucks over the 750. . . . I'm a sucker for numbers. (You mean I get a whole hundred more for just 5!?) Anyway, thanks again everyone =)