Is my PSU weak?

Jimmah

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2005
1,243
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Right now I'm getting:

+12v - 12.416
+5v - 4.919
+3.3v - 3.28
Vcore - 1.696

The voltages seemed to go down a tad when I uninstalled my old 9500 Pro (which was recently sold) and tossed in a ghetto Rage IIc PCI to hold me over. Before they were something like:

+12v - 12.6 - 12.8
+5v - 4.85 - 4.9
+3.3v - 3.191 - 3.21
Vcore - 1.69 - 1.7

Its not a huge spike mind you, I'm just cautious since I have a 9800 Pro coming and I don't want to pop it or the PSU. Is this normal or should I opt for a new PSU?
 

imported_rod

Golden Member
Apr 13, 2005
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Your probably fine. If the voltages are only flicking between two readings, theres no real prob. But yeah, if you have a )calibrated) multimeter, that will give you more accurate readings than PC Probe.

According to ASUS PC Probe, my voltage is flicking between 11.776V & 11.84V. But according to my multimeter, it's fine.

RoD
 

Jimmah

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2005
1,243
2
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Could something be wrong wit my mobo perhaps? I upped the vcore a bit to 1.75v for stability testing and the 12v rail is now at 12.75v, 3.3v rail is down to 3.23v and the 5v is 4.81v.

My PSU says its a 420w, 5v/28a, 3.3v/40a, 12v/18a, its a generic one I got with a case a while back, is this enough to support my current setup? Should be right? I used a voltmeter and its accurate with the voltages mentioned. Should I get a new PSU or think its something else sucking the power like its free?
 

D1gger

Diamond Member
Oct 3, 2004
5,411
2
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My experience with ASUS Probe is that it simply not very accurate. I have checked the voltages in my ASUS A8V-Deluxe Bios and with ASUS Probe, and they weren't even close to the same values.

You need the multimeter if you really want to check what the values are.
 

stevty2889

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2003
7,036
8
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Yeah, software monitoring is not reliable or accurate. According to the software monitor on my gigabyte motherboard my computer shouldn't be running, reading the 5v rail at 1.65v..multimeter shows it at a steady 5.01v.
 

Jimmah

Golden Member
Mar 18, 2005
1,243
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I checked it with a multimeter/voltmeter though, thats why I'm worried, but I dunno if I should just ignore it or get a new PSU or mobo. Could it just be overheating?
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,686
10,192
126
A new good psu wouldn't hurt. I don't trust generics and for $50-100 you get cheap insurance against frying your comp. Good psu's can blow also, but not as often as generics.