Is it too low ??

[buddhika]

I get 11.91v reading in idle @ 12v line

then 11.71v reading when hard disk + CD rom is fully working

But 5v line got normally 5.05v

my sys is a;

2.4Ghz. prescott @ stock speed
Radeon 9800pro 256mb
256 MB ram (looking to add another 512)
Sound card
Modem
80GB HD
ASUS CD ROM ( Adding a DVD ROM /+ Writer near future)


Is this readings too low ??

ps; im using a 350w psu
will it ok (and worth) to add 450w psu ??

Thanks.

 

[Luckyboy1]

That's fine!

Within 5% is considered standard spec.

 

[buddhika]

so what about after adding DVD rom ??? still this will be enogh??

 

[Luckyboy1]

Well, anytime you start pushing the low side of life, it's a warning sign. Still, I'd try cleaning the dust bunnies out of the power supply first. Then test again and see if it isn't a bit more robust on demand.

If you don't mind a bit of clutter, you can always take an old power supply junked out of just about anything, get a +12 volt relay and run the fans and maybe one or two things off of the second power supply.

 

[buddhika]

I should said that im using a unbranded (came with MERCURY casing ) psu.

is that change your conclusion ???

 

[buddhika]

Also my older vga FX5800 nu got broken (had artifacts all over screen though i didnt overclock it)

is that happens to be connection with this psu ??
( that vga also had a molex power input , and its minmum psu watt-age was 350W)

 

[Bobthelost]

The voltage measuring system on the motherboard is next to useless. If you're worried then test it with a multimeter, untill then you don't know if you have a problem.

 

[buddhika]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost
The voltage measuring system on the motherboard is next to useless. If you're worried then test it with a multimeter, untill then you don't know if you have a problem.

ur right but my multi meter reading usually same as above mentioned

 

[buddhika]

what about the old vga troble is that could connection with low power supply??

 

[Bobthelost]

You should have said that then. It could be that you have a crap PSU, if you want to get a newer one then by all means go for it, but don't mistake a PSU failing for an insufficent power rating.

 

[Luckyboy1]

It's not a brand fanboi thing. It's not even a model fanboi thing. It's a does it pull the load without dropping any values? If it drops, but is still in spec, then it's letting you know you are nearing its' limits on that value at least. If you verified with multimeter, then the programs good as far as it goes, but remember, as the power supply reaches max, the ref. voltage the program uses will vary, so the results will not look as dramatic... or they may not look as dramatic depending as reality by meter.

MY 520 watt OCZ Powerstream never varies more than 0.02 volts DC one way or the other.


Big time edit:

There are other cheaper options and the cheapest is blowing the dust out and seeing if it will do the job before jumping into something you may or may not need.

Then you can go for a 500 watt Fortron unit (not the 450) or a 500 watt Enermax or a 550 Silverstone... the list goes on and on... but I'd strongly advise you wait and see if you can't get steady voltages out of what you've got by simply doing regular needed maint. that even the most expensive ones need every now and then.


Then you can make a pure judgement call as to whether or not you are comfortable with voltages that sag, but still make min. spec.

 

[buddhika]

IF i am getting a new psu, (im am a noodb at this , so PLEASE HELP ME!!)

My pc (a presscott 2.4) want a 20pin power with another 4 pins (i think noprmally known as 2X2, no?) for the processor, i think.


I heard that there are psu's with 24pin and detachable 4pins. so those psu also include the 4pins (2x2) for processor separately no ??
(then they have 24pin plus 4pins no??)

Is there any pros/con of having a 24pin powersupp. without using that detachable 4pins?? (like i cant use the Ampere-age that features in 12v 2 line, and cant use the wattage that features in specs., like 450W -RMS)


Thanks

 

[Luckyboy1]

Depends on what you buy I guess. For a no brainer type reccomendation, I'd say the OCZ 520 watt Powerstream Model and no, the Modstream models aren't nearly as good!...

The 520 watt OCZ Powerstream would put you in the safe zone for sure rock solid. It has a five year warranty and nobody does rMA's better than OCZ. It comes native for the newer boards, but includes an adaptor for the ATX style boards. I have one for my 3.2 GHz Prescott 478 pin setup on an 875 chipset mommaboard and I can say it is a great power supply. All kinds of funny, transient problems ended when I went from a 400 watt Antec to that power supply. I've found the best price from a vendor I trust to be either of these two and the first one is PIC-e ready, but to tell you the truth, really, the other one's fine for PCI-e, but NOT for the highest powered 6800 and 7900 nVidias or the ATI 1900's in SLI pairs or Crossfire respectively. For that, you'd want the third option...

http://www.magnum-pc.com/product.asp?pf_id=OCZ520ADJSLI&dept_id=05-002

http://www.magnum-pc.com/product.asp?pf_id=OCZ52012U&dept_id=05-002

http://www.magnum-pc.com/product.asp?pf_id=OCZ600ADJ&dept_id=05-002

http://www.magnum-pc.com/product.asp?pf_id=OCZ600ADJSLI&dept_id=05-002

 

[buddhika]

Originally posted by: buddhika
IF i am getting a new psu, (im am a noodb at this , so PLEASE HELP ME!!)

My pc (a presscott 2.4) want a 20pin power with another 4 pins (i think noprmally known as 2X2, no?) for the processor, i think.


I heard that there are psu's with 24pin and detachable 4pins. so those psu also include the 4pins (2x2) for processor separately no ??
(then they have 24pin plus 4pins no??)

Is there any pros/con of having a 24pin powersupp. without using that detachable 4pins?? (like i cant use the Ampere-age that features in 12v 2 line, and cant use the wattage that features in specs., like 450W -RMS)


Thanks

as im not in usa or euro, i cant get some models.

so what about those 24pin psu's with a detachable 4pins, are there any Pros/con ?? of using only 20pins ??

 

[JEDIYoda]

Hell if you wanted a PSU that could handle anything you threw at it and also has a heat sensing circuit that controls the fan ( the newer models do) get yourself a PC Power & Cooling PSU!!!

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/home/

but then again there real good PSU`s that are much cheaper...any of the Enermax PSU`s and of course Fortron...hehee

 

[Luckyboy1]

ATX, for all I've heard uses 24 pins period! Your motherboard is an ATX board.

What Country are you in?

 

[buddhika]

im in Sri lanka.

so you say my mB is a 24 pin one?? its a AGP 8x Asus board

but it has a 4 pin separate wire for processor(or it connects near process.)

so is that the 4 pin all psu's talking fuss about?? (i thought it was 4pins that was with other 20 pins)

 

[buddhika]

any 1 like to help????

 

[Luckyboy1]

Well, when I talk 24 pin which is for ATX and older boards and 20 pin which is for BTX boards, and yes, your motherboard is an ATX board, I am talking about the big main connector that plugs into the motherboard and not other ones.

im in Sri lanka....


Cool! I would tend to think that you would get even better pricing than in the States, but I have no idea really. I have no idea who would sell the parts in your area.

Still, I would again say blow out the dust from inside the power supply and generally clean the whole PC inside the case. Did you do that?

Then run one of those freeware programs that tracks voltages and see again. Did you do that as well? If so, what were the results?

 

[buddhika]

Thanks verymuch "Luckyboy1" for your interest.


this is a ASUS (ATX I think) board but its a AGP8x.

I looked for the big main connector it only had 20pins. and another separate cable of 4pins runs near processor.

I blowed out dust but not much different.


1.so if I add a (450w ~) PSU with 24pin cable, detaching the 4 pins, will there be any pros/con ?? (as I earlier said because i dont use one line )

2. which freeware program normaly most accurate??


In Srilanka i can get better prices for not so good products. no ocz or fortron agent here.

normal branded 450w psu's starts from $40.

 

[jmdeathsquad]

unless you had sudden shutdowns/reboots i wouldnt worry too much,, if you dont use your psu at max load too often , it shouldnt crap out on you. Though, as you said its a generic psu, I wouldnt recommend against a reliable psu, but you shouldnt need more wattage than you have atm. Maybe an fsp 350 watt or so...

 

[buddhika]

which is the best freeware that tells accurately the voltages???