Can artifacts be cause from not enough power?

[AvoK95]

My PC has a 7970 in it running at stock. I had an InWin 750W crappy PSU before so I guessed it was failing when I started getting artifacts. So I grabbed my backup Gigabyte GE-N500A-C2 500W PSU which has only 2x 18amp 12V rails to run my system. Using a 2xmolex to 8pin connector and an integrated 6pin. 

 

I'm having the same issues, but less often and the PC boots normally with a blank screen (I can hear it beeping to a successful boot). I have a suspicion that the 12V rail on the PSU is shutting itself off, therefor the PC boots and the GPU doesn't work. 

 

The artifacts I'm getting are lines filling my screen, or a full color. 

 

My CPU is 24/7 stable, RAMs are good, GPU vRAM was tested with Crysis 3 last night (2.3GB of vRAM used) 

 

Finally, I've came across this: http://forum-en.msi.com/faq/article/printer/power-requirements-for-graphics-cards

 

It says here that the 7970 requires 30amps (Which I highly doubt, considering the TDP of a 7970 is only 250W and 30x12= 360)

 

So what do you think my problem is from? Is it my PSU being too small or could my 7970 be damaged? 

 

Appreciate the help :rolleyes:

[Altecice]

Check to see the required Amps needed for your 7970. If its enough then its enough

Lets just hope the failing crappy PSU did not start work on your 7970.

[DeViLzzz]

Let me say that a faulty psu I had caused artifacting with my GTX 670 and when replaced with a healthy psu there were no issues so I would have to say bad power/not enough power from a psu can cause problems.

[The_Strict_Nein]

Get a new PSU now. 500W should be more than enough to drive your system as it stands

[AvoK95]

I also like to add that this doesn't happen on my backup GPU (HD 5770).

@The_Strict_Nein

The current PSU I'm using is new. It's from my Core2Duo rig. Turned on a few times only and it's less than a year old.