External power supply

[/dev/toaster]

I have a Mac Pro 3,1 and a 5870. When playing many games the computer will randomly shutoff. It used to be far worse when I had 2 video cards in it.

Anyway, I am fairly convinced the problem is related to not enough power. The 5870 is drawing more then the Mac Pro PSU can provide.

Can anyone recommend a good external power supply ? Drive bay or full external, either is good.

 

[Korican100]

I have a Mac Pro 3,1 and a 5870. When playing many games the computer will randomly shutoff. It used to be far worse when I had 2 video cards in it.

Anyway, I am fairly convinced the problem is related to not enough power. The 5870 is drawing more then the Mac Pro PSU can provide.

Can anyone recommend a good external power supply ? Drive bay or full external, either is good.

hmm i am running the gtx680 in mine and almost full bays/plus raid 0 setup in my optical bay. Never had that issue. Are you sure its not your power supply acting up? Mac pro's are absolutely notorious for faulty power supplies.

 

[/dev/toaster]

hmm i am running the gtx680 in mine and almost full bays/plus raid 0 setup in my optical bay. Never had that issue. Are you sure its not your power supply acting up? Mac pro's are absolutely notorious for faulty power supplies.

When I had 2 video cards it happened after 5 mins of playing any game. After I removed it, it happened here and there. Been good for a few months now, and today it started to act up again.

This time, I can't play games for more then a few minutes with just the 5870 in it.

I am not sure what the cost of replacing the Mac Pro PSU, but I imagine it is more then using an external PSU. This is just to hold me over until the new Mac Pros are released and I can upgrade.

 

[666sheep]

5870 does not draw more power than MP can deliver. Your PSU is dying and needs to be replaced. One day (sooner than later) your computer just won't boot and external PSU won't help.

Mac pro's are absolutely notorious for faulty power supplies.

It's too general statement. I'd narrow it to 3,1 model only. From my personal experience other models PSU failure rate seems to be less than average.

 

[Macsonic]

5870 does not draw more power than MP can deliver. Your PSU is dying and needs to be replaced. One day (sooner than later) your computer just won't boot and external PSU won't help.

True. The Radeon 5870 has the Lowest power output at around 188watts as far as I know. Not sure if I read this in Anandtech or another website. I think the 5870HD has a lower power output compared to the Nvidia 285GTX unless I am wrong.

 

[slughead]

5870 does not draw more power than MP can deliver. Your PSU is dying and needs to be replaced. One day (sooner than later) your computer just won't boot and external PSU won't help.



It's too general statement. I'd narrow it to 3,1 model only. From my personal experience other models PSU failure rate seems to be less than average.

Agreed x 2