How do my RAILS look here?

zerodamage · Jan 21, 2004, 06:43 PM

This is with a Antec 400 Watt "Smartpower". Are the numbers within spec of what a PSU should be?

mkk · Jan 21, 2004, 07:49 PM

Even if the +5V seems a wee bit low at a glance, it is still within specs for typical allowed variance. And that it's slightly low is better than if it had been slightly high. Only a die hard overclocker could possibly be hurt in the efforts to squeeze out the last clocks of something. That Epox has chosen not to use the available +12V connector on this motherboard might have something to do with this. With a less good powersupply I guess you might possibly have had a real problem.

zerodamage · Jan 21, 2004, 08:03 PM

How do you know that the Epox isn't using the +12?

ToshiroOC · Jan 21, 2004, 08:57 PM

I think he means the 4-pin square 12v connector was not included on the motherboard. The +12v rail is being used through the ATX connector

zerodamage · Jan 21, 2004, 09:06 PM

No actually it isn't. And now I know what he means. Thanks for clearing that up for me Tosh.

zerodamage · Jan 21, 2004, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mkk
Even if the +5V seems a wee bit low at a glance, it is still within specs for typical allowed variance. And that it's slightly low is better than if it had been slightly high. Only a die hard overclocker could possibly be hurt in the efforts to squeeze out the last clocks of something. That Epox has chosen not to use the available +12V connector on this motherboard might have something to do with this. With a less good powersupply I guess you might possibly have had a real problem.

Well that +5 right now is basically where it's at with a descent OC on my system. I guess there is nothing to complain about.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 22, 2004, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by zerodamage
This is with a Antec 400 Watt "Smartpower". Are the numbers within spec of what a PSU should be?

This should answer your question.

PSU is eather under cooled, over loaded, or both.
Remember 400W is a peak rateing most PSU's cannot handle close thier full wattage for very long

(max variable according to troubleshooting and repair experts within 5% is acceptable. )

here is a shot of my 400w for contrast

Matth · Jan 22, 2004, 10:16 AM

Another point to watch is that the monitoring chip on the PC is not calibrated, so the measurements cannot be relied on 100%.

PS. 16C/60F case temp? - are you wearing your winter woolies?

zerodamage · Jan 22, 2004, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Matth
Another point to watch is that the monitoring chip on the PC is not calibrated, so the measurements cannot be relied on 100%.

PS. 16C/60F case temp? - are you wearing your winter woolies?

I was waiting for someone to say something about that. lol
My comp is in my house and it is not finished. So when I go down there after work, I then turn on the heat. It is usually in the 20's when I get there. At peak Temps, my CPU did not go over 105F, and that is on stock cooling and the temp in my house at about 76 degrees.

zerodamage · Jan 22, 2004, 10:28 AM

neon,

You said within 5% which is what I am aware of. I believe I am within that.

+5v 96.22%
+12v 98.25%
-12v 95.84% (very close)
-5v 98.8%

Now some of these may seem low but I think that it may be my mobo is showing some resistance between the monitoring and the PSU. I will do some actual testing on my PSU this weekend and see what they really are. This would make a nice guide..... I will work on it.

toddsmack2k · Jan 22, 2004, 10:32 AM

If you are not experiencing any random reboots or crashing under stress then let her rock Zero!

zerodamage · Jan 22, 2004, 10:38 AM

I seriously think it is my monitoring and not the PSU. I have a digital tester and I will do some testing and see what the actuall results are. Be very interesting.

zerodamage · Jan 22, 2004, 04:50 PM

I will be confirming the mobo's readings of my rails against an actual multi-reader tonight. We will see if my PSU is struggling.

swimtech · Jan 22, 2004, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by zerodamage
I will be confirming the mobo's readings of my rails against an actual multi-reader tonight. We will see if my PSU is struggling.

That's the ticket!

zerodamage · Jan 22, 2004, 07:12 PM

OK, I tested my rails with a multi-meter. And lets just say that the software on-board numbers are off by a decent amount. So there is some restriction on the board between the PSU and the monitoring chips.

Here is a side by side of what the software says and what the actual readings are.
*Keep in mind that this is with my cpu OC from a 2500 barton to a 3000 barton and my FSB OC from 333 to 400 fsb. 3 HD, 2 Opticals and a 9500 Pro that is also OC.

Here is the situation in summary.
My software says:
+5V ~~~ 4.784
+3.3V ~~~ 2.96
+12V ~~~ 11.795

True readings on 20-pin with Multi-meter
+5V ~~~ 4.93
+3.3V ~~~ 3.34
+12V ~~~ 12.22

Now keep in mind there is little to no variation while monitoring the rails with the multi-meter. On the +5 there was no variation at all. I checked each 3 times to make sure. The 3.3V there was only a +/- .02 variation. On the +12V only a =/- .03 variation. I am thinking that my PSU is in quite good quality. Right now it is comformatable and the air coming from my PSU exhaust is room temp.

Any thoughts?