Question about voltage readings?

[JAWS]

I just got a brand new 520-watt power supply and I've noticed some different voltage readings. Can someone please tell me if the +12 readings look right? (because they don't to me) What are the +12v reading supposed to be?

I went from a 300 to 520 and thought I get better results. My +5 went from 4.79 to 4.84/89.

Here are the specs:
+3.3V-----28.0A
+5Vsb----3.0A
+5V-------52.0A
-5V--------0.5A
+12V------20.0A
-12V------0.8A

I just opened my case and this what's printed

3.3+ and 5+ 260
12+ 240

then you have the smaller voltages adding up to 500.

[The Spyder]

Your voltages are a little low............. but in reasonable operation, what devices do you have connected?

[JAWS]

Basically everything!

All hardware (1 HD/VC/CD-RW/SC/NIC), 4 case fans, cpu fan

I have 3 fans connected to the mobo. Could that hog some juice?

[cloasters]

If MBM is reporting the voltage values correctly, I suggest returning this PS--if at all possible. I don't care if the Taj Mahal is running on this PS, the values for +5v, +3.3v and +12v are not acceptable, IMHO. Pure muscle does not a good PS make. SBT.

[JAWS]

What is the average 12+ reading?

[Samuknow]

I really don't understand seeing these low voltages. I have a 300W Sparkle and all of my V readings are slightly above nominal.

[cloasters]

Originally posted by JAWS
What is the average 12+ reading?

IMHO, the 12v rail should be within 5% of 12v. As 5% is 0.6v, 12v +5% is 12.6v and 12v -5% is 11.4v, that leaves a pretty generous range. In fact, your 11.61v is "legal." So is your 4.84v, on the 5v rail.

Now the 3.6v on the 3.3v rail isn't so good. Generally, +-1% is considered the tolerance for the 3.3v value.

If the values reported in the Hardware Monitor section of the "Power" heading in your BIOS are the same as those reported by MBM, you could RMA the PS. If it's too late to RMA the power supply, it may be possible to lower the 3.3v rail by raising the joltage of the 5v and 12v rails--assuming that the PS has trim pots to adjust.

[JAWS]

Yeah, I just bought it a couple of days ago. One thing I didn't like, is the fact they shipped the p/s in its box. So maybe it got banged up on the trip to Florida!

[Samuknow]

Originally posted by cloasters


IMHO, the 12v rail should be within 5% of 12v. As 5% is 0.6v, 12v +5% is 12.6v and 12v -5% is 11.4v, that leaves a pretty generous range. In fact, your 11.61v is "legal." So is your 4.84v, on the 5v rail.

Now the 3.6v on the 3.3v rail isn't so good. Generally, +-1% is considered the tolerance for the 3.3v value.

If the values reported in the Hardware Monitor section of the "Power" heading in your BIOS are the same as those reported by MBM, you could RMA the PS. If it's too late to RMA the power supply, it may be possible to lower the 3.3v rail by raising the joltage of the 5v and 12v rails--assuming that the PS has trim pots to adjust.

 

Are you saying it is a bad thing for the 3.3v to be 3.6 or so. I think mine is a little high. What will this affect?

[cloasters]

The best PS's(ka-ching, ouch!) permit only 1% tolerance for the 3.3v rail. IHMO, 3.6v is too "hot." Unless you want to overvolt whatever runs off of the 3.3v line. In the days when PC-133 RAM was popular, some folks overvolted it by choice, in aid of a better overclock.

Candidly, I'm not sure what the 3.3v is used for in DDR systems. Maybe the extra 0.3v does no harm. But it is a lot more than 1% above spec.

Modern AMD boxes suck a LOT of Amperage from the PS. Nonetheless, some people get by with 250W power supplies. How? Beats me!

The fact that MBM can get values wrong doesn't help. Trusting what Hardware Monitor in BIOS reports before trusting what MBM reports is a given. Trusting a Multimeter is even better.

[Samuknow]

I still have PC-133 ram. I run it a 160 with no probs. Maybe the extra .27 I have helps. Who knows....