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Low 12v reading on new OCZ Modstream Power Supply

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You know... I automatically like the OCZ because it's made by TTGI and they make a good power supply, but it seems like the OCZ's aren't as good as TTGI's regular efforts when it comes to voltage accuracy. Don't get me wrong. I hear my share of it about EVERY sub $100 PSU out there (right Kevin?) and as long as my 12V is within 5% when the PC is under full load (fold, burn and bench with a multimeter plugged into an extra drive molex) then I'm pretty much happy, but I'm thinking that the by putting the potentiometers on the outside of the PSU (I'm talking about the Powerstream here) TTGI just saw that as an excuse to not dial them in by themselves at all! I mean, I know of people that have had to turn them all of the way over just to get within 5% of 12V. What's the big deal about getting the PSU as close to 12V as possible AND THEN giving us the potentiometers. Is it just a QC issue or is there more to it then I understand?
 
if it's stable, there's nothing to worry about. you already know it's quality 😀.

just post back if you ever start having psu related problems (random restarts, unrelated bsod's, fire shooting out back of psu, etc.)
 
Sounds like a QC issue. THat is the one thing with the Powerstreams. The voltage regulation should be much tighter if it is competing with PCP&C and Zippy.

I see what you are saying though. Mine was dialed to the correct voltage (i was kind of worried what it would be at when i got it). So definately sounds like a QC issue. Dont think they would listen to little guys like us but maybe ill shoot an E-Mail over to them (dont do it much but it would be interesting to see the response).

-Kevin
 

Well THIS is quite bizzare.

I decided to disconnect the power supply completely from the motherboard and all other components. Using the technique describe in the Overclockers.com article.

Here are the multimeter readings:

Rail...........MM Reading
-5v........... -4.96
-12v......... -9.73!!!
3.3v.......... 3.35
5v............. 5.17
12v........... 11.05!!!

The + and - 12v rails are WAY off spec when not hooked up to anything.

Any ideas? Maybe this is normal. I'm still reading 11.78 to 11.79 when everything is hooked up and idling.

Well, I'm going to send an E-mail to OCZ then and see what they have to say.

 
Best comment on this I've read for a long time. (From X-bit labs)
By the way, you won?t improve the overclockability of your computer by raising the voltages of the PSU, since such components as the processor, memory or graphics card are supplied from their own regulators and your changing the PSU?s voltages won?t affect the voltages of these components at all.
Click to expand...

So as long as they are within ATX specificity, and don't flux everything is fine.
 
Nevermind the -12V.
But, the +12V is of concern. It may be that the voltage regulator at the output of the PSU on the 12V line needs a bleed to operate properly!

To test that, do the test again but connect a 12V fan to it as well. A 12V fan has a very small power draw and may be sufficient to get it going.
 
Originally posted by: Navid
Nevermind the -12V.
But, the +12V is of concern. It may be that the voltage regulator at the output of the PSU on the 12V line needs a bleed to operate properly!

To test that, do the test again but connect a 12V fan to it as well. A 12V fan has a very small power draw and may be sufficient to get it going.
Click to expand...


Are standard case fans 12 volts?



 
Originally posted by: Glpster
Well THIS is quite bizzare.
I decided to disconnect the power supply completely from the motherboard and all other components. Using the technique describe in the Overclockers.com article.
Here are the multimeter readings:
Rail...........MM Reading
-5v........... -4.96
-12v......... -9.73!!!
3.3v.......... 3.35
5v............. 5.17
12v........... 11.05!!!

The + and - 12v rails are WAY off spec when not hooked up to anything.
Click to expand...
Well, normally switching PSUs require a load on an output to regulate properly, so unusued loads (like the -12V) tend to "float" a bit, but that seems a bit excessive. OTOH, if nothing's connected to it - does it matter? (As long as the PSU itself doesn't decide to blow up, I guess.)
Originally posted by: Glpster
Any ideas? Maybe this is normal. I'm still reading 11.78 to 11.79 when everything is hooked up and idling.
Click to expand...
I've seen things like the -12V line reading -12.5V or nearly -13V, but -9V does seem a bit ... off. Perhaps even enough off to consider an RMA, as it's possible that some component inside the PSU isn't quite to spec, if it's floating that much.
 
Originally posted by: Glpster

Well THIS is quite bizzare.

I decided to disconnect the power supply completely from the motherboard and all other components. Using the technique describe in the Overclockers.com article.

Here are the multimeter readings:

Rail...........MM Reading
-5v........... -4.96
-12v......... -9.73!!!
3.3v.......... 3.35
5v............. 5.17
12v........... 11.05!!!

The + and - 12v rails are WAY off spec when not hooked up to anything.

Any ideas? Maybe this is normal. I'm still reading 11.78 to 11.79 when everything is hooked up and idling.

Well, I'm going to send an E-mail to OCZ then and see what they have to say.
Click to expand...
On most powersupplies, they have a minimum amperage rating of 1 amp. I would take that to mean that it has to have 1 amp of 12v power used for the volts and everything else on the 12v line to be correct. If you don't have the powersupply hooked up to anything, nothing is using the 12v line, so that could be why you have the strange readings.
 
Originally posted by: Navid
Nevermind the -12V.
But, the +12V is of concern. It may be that the voltage regulator at the output of the PSU on the 12V line needs a bleed to operate properly!

To test that, do the test again but connect a 12V fan to it as well. A 12V fan has a very small power draw and may be sufficient to get it going.
Click to expand...

Well I tried this out, and as per cheesepoofs post, the fan probably isn't drawing enough current.

My readings went from 11.05 with nothing hooked up, to 10.85 with the fan hooked up.

Hmmmm. What can I hook up that will draw at least an Amp?

I'll try it later though, I have to run out to grab some grub.

 
I just built my first system with the OCZ Modstream 450.

ASUS AV8 Deluxe
AMD Athlon64 Winchester 3200+
1 Gb Geil RAM
1 WD 160 Gb harddrive
2 optical drives
ATI Radeon 9600XT

The voltages are as follows, read from ASUS monitoring software.

+12 v ----- 11.612
+5 v ------ 5.16
+3.3 ------ 3.408
Vcore ----- 1.561

All of this is under no load. From reading the posts, if you're going to say measure it with a digital multimeter (which I do have) Which wires do I tap into?

thanks, Rob
 
You read +5 off a red wire, +12 off a yellow wire, +3.3 off an orange wire and you have to look around the regulators on the mobo with a magnifying glass to locate the test point. You could try to read directly off the regulator chips but if you do that and short a reg chip out (can explode under certain conditions), I'll be here with the "I told you sos!" and the tiny violins... 😉

.bh.

:moon:
 
try speedfan or aida32 also?

i get 12.08v on my +12v rail using the Aspire 500w psu. 34amps on the 12v rail

running 2 HD's, 6800GT, fan controller, antec blower, vantec fancard, 4 cathodes, 6 case fans, 2 HD coolers... one with a display lol... too flashy of a computer 😛

;o

EDIT: I'm using the Aerocool Aeropower II+ 550w with my P4 2.6ghz and it reads 12.16v on the 12v rail! I really do like this PSU and I personally think its of good quality. I payed $110 for it. It powers my 9600xt (no direct molex connection though), 4 cathodes, 1 HD, Logsys Fan Card, Fan Controller, 5 Case fans.
 
God some of you guys are geting terrible voltages, I cant believe a 420 watt thermaltake with 18A on the 12V gave me 11.92 with an A64, 6800 and 3 hard drives, sheesh.
 
yea bou, i guess Tt's aren't that horrible afterall, i get 12.05 under load (prime) on a tt480 with 2 HDD, 6800gt, 2 opticals and 5 fans on a controller. using a multi.
 
modstream is'nt as good as powerstream..personally I think they're all hype. Much prefer Enermax with fat 12's.. half the price and just as good. No fancy cables, lights, chrome or other crap that has nothing to do with delevering power and just emptys my wallet for no good reason..

 
Seems to be a flaw when trying to measure modstreams because i have been hearing this a lot lately.

No one has complained of any instability issues yet though, which is why i think it is a sensor error or architectural defect.

The Tt's aren't horrible however they are only meant for entry level or light use. Put that PSU under and oscilliscope, and watch the voltages jump around like crazy under a load. It is a great bang for your buck, however if you have a high end system dont skimp and buy it.

Ill take my Powerstream over any PSU on the market including the PCP&C.

-Kevin
 
Originally posted by: ayman
try speedfan or aida32 also?

i get 12.08v on my +12v rail using the Aspire 500w psu. 34amps on the 12v rail

running 2 HD's, 6800GT, fan controller, 4 cathodes, 6 case fans, 2 HD coolers... one with a display lol... too flashy of a computer 😛

;o
Click to expand...

Thank God, I just bought one of these because a reviewer on NewEgg gave similar specs & said the Aspire 500w is massively underrated by most people. Well, that and it looks super cool & comes fully sleeved.

 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Originally posted by: Googer
The word is out, OCZ PSU is crap. This is like the 6th thread I have seen where someone is having trouble with one of these.

On 12volt .6 volts or less is with in the intel 5% variation spec

.25 volts is 5% of 5volts

.165 for 3.3 volts is 5%.

All Pc Power and Cooling PSU's are with in 1% of their stated voltage.
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/
Click to expand...

You have absolutely no clue what you are talking about do you? That extremely general statement with no evidence what so ever proves that.

How can you even compare a Modstream (Mid Range) to a PCP&C highest end PSU. OCZ makes some of the best PSU's in the world (well at least HEAVILY Modifies the TOPOWERs to achieve this). I would compare the Powerstream to the PCP&C. Much better match as the OCZ supplies more power, but the PCP&C has tighter voltage regulation, less ripple due to the fact that it has Active PFC as compared to Passive PFC.

The modstreams are rated very good, and it definately seems if this reading is wrong, then there is some sort of defect. Manf can have bad products you know.

Do you own an OCZ powersupply?

Also 6th thread today, this must be one of the first on the AT forum. I would consider that pretty good considering they were released a while ago.

All PCP&C are not within their 1% stated voltage. All manf. will have a product defect. They are not perfect, no company is, so i dont know how you can make that statement.

I would watch how you post and think to yourself "Do i really know what i am talking about" before you post.

-Kevin
Click to expand...

Each Pc Power and Cooling PSU is hand tuned and tested before it is sold. And it is guarenteed. Plus It's fully upgradeable to what ever the latest Spec of the day is. AT, ATX, BTX, EPS, or what ever may come in the future: CTX?
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
This AT love is like a midlife crisis i swear. Once you hit like 3000 posts its like BAM... all of it hits you. (I guess Mid Life Crisis would be about 10,000 maybe puberty lol)

-Kevin
Click to expand...

Crappy post counters suck. Just because you have 10 billion posts does not mean that you know what the F*ck you are talking about.
 
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