Anyone Know Voltages and what they mean?

[compnut5x]

I have been having trouble with my graphics card, and I was thinking it was a power issue. So I installed Motherboard Monitor 5 and pulled up the voltages on my system. It reads:
+3.3 = 3.14
+5.0 = 4.18
+12.0 = 11.89
-12.0 = -9.43
-5.0 = -4.86

Now what exactly do these numbers mean? What concerns me is that I am not getting close enough to the voltages they should be, esp the -12. And these numbers fluctuate by +-1.0 often. Of course, it might be reading the board wrong.

I am running a 300watt generic pw supply with 2 hard drives, a dvd,cd-rw, ide zip, floppy, Raden 9800 reg, nforce2 ultra mobo with Athlon 1.2, and 3 vantec stealth fans. Could it be that I dont have enough power? IS there a better way to tell than using MoBo monitor?

Steve
compnut5x

 

[Buz2b]

You can also check in your BIOS to compare some of the readings and make sure that MBM is "in the ballpark". That is, if your BIOS has the option for this, which most do.
BTW, your voltages are way too low on pretty much all rails. Get rid of that generic POS PSU you have before you seriously harm your MB and/or hardware. At minimum you should have a really good quality 350 watt; probably more in the 400 watt range. NewEgg has a Sparkle 350 watt PSU for about $44 including shipping on this page. That would be bare minimum to me and is a good quality, stable unit.

 

[tallman45]

What they mean is if you power supply can provide clean and consistant power on a specific rail. You problem is with the +5.0v line, at 4.18, it is 16% off. A good quality supply will keep withing +/- 5% of spec. The 3.3 and 12 are in the same boat, Get rid of it before you trash some component.

Buz2b is dead on get a new one

 

[DahDee]

His +12.0 voltage (11.89) is okay, right? I ask because the BIOS on my Albatron KX18D Pro II says my Antec True430 is putting out 11.85 on the +12.0 rail. It's the farthest off of any of my voltages (according to the BIOS). I hope 11.85 is okay!

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: DahDee
His +12.0 voltage (11.89) is okay, right? I ask because the BIOS on my Albatron KX18D Pro II says my Antec True430 is putting out 11.85 on the +12.0 rail. It's the farthest off of any of my voltages (according to the BIOS). I hope 11.85 is okay!

You're within tolerance levels.

 

[compnut5x]

Thanks guys - I am going to go and get a new PSU as you (and many others) have said that those power ratings are not good to be running on. I apprecaite your help.