Does +12V have anything to do with overclocking?

[xl80325]

In bios and somesoftware I use, it reads that +12V is 11.9x V. I'm wonderring
if this is some kind of a problem because it is less than standard +12V and if it
will affect the ability to overclock?

 

[Avalon]

Your 12v line is used by your motherboard, cpu, and graphics card. So, in a nutshell, it's probably one of your most important rails. However, an 11.9x reading is perfectly normal, and right on the mark. There will always be slight fluctuations, no matter what combination of motherboards and powersupplies you use. I usually don't get worried until it drops down to 11.7x for an overclocking rig.

 

[xl80325]

I see. Thanks.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Avalon
Your 12v line is used by your motherboard, cpu, and graphics card. So, in a nutshell, it's probably one of your most important rails. However, an 11.9x reading is perfectly normal, and right on the mark. There will always be slight fluctuations, no matter what combination of motherboards and powersupplies you use. I usually don't get worried until it drops down to 11.7x for an overclocking rig.

yeah what he said


EDIT: also the HDD's and CD/DVD-ROM drives also draw off of the 12 volt rail, so high amper rating on the 12v is key depending on rig setup

 

[Sentential]

ATX specsifications call for +-10% on each rail. So long as it is within the 10% range on load then it will not be a factor.

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Sentential
ATX specsifications call for +-10% on each rail. So long as it is within the 10% range on load then it will not be a factor.

For a stock system, sure. But, if you're overclocking, would you want your 12v rail to be at 10.8v? Even 11.4v?

 

[Sentential]

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Sentential
ATX specsifications call for +-10% on each rail. So long as it is within the 10% range on load then it will not be a factor.

For a stock system, sure. But, if you're overclocking, would you want your 12v rail to be at 10.8v? Even 11.4v?

10% rule is always in effect, just like gravity. I havent seen a case (yet) where over-volting helps

 

[Avalon]

Originally posted by: Sentential

Originally posted by: Avalon

Originally posted by: Sentential
ATX specsifications call for +-10% on each rail. So long as it is within the 10% range on load then it will not be a factor.

For a stock system, sure. But, if you're overclocking, would you want your 12v rail to be at 10.8v? Even 11.4v?

10% rule is always in effect, just like gravity. I havent seen a case (yet) where over-volting helps

I had an Enlight 420w 12v @ 18A PSU with my prior DFI NF3 + Sempy 2800+ OC'd to 2.6ghz with an unlocked and overclocked 9500. When I bought and did the same thing to an eVGA 6800NU, my system was no longer stable and I had to underclock my CPU by 100mhz. I was getting 11.6v after adding in the 6800, when I used to have about 11.85-11.92 with the 9500. Getting a 460w Enermax with 33A on the 12v promptly fixed the issue.

 

[Algere]

Originally posted by: Sentential
ATX specsifications call for +-10% on each rail. So long as it is within the 10% range on load then it will not be a factor.

It's 5% now (latest spec.) :thumbsup: