low 3.3v line voltages

[csf]

Lately my comp has been having video card stability problems (gf2 pro) and wouldn't even start up when I tried installing several different gf ti4200 models. I had been using a relatively new antec trupower 430, so I didn't think PSU would be an issue, but I checked the voltages and the 3.3v line was abnormally low (2.95-3.00v), so I called antec and they told me to rma. Well I just got a new trupower 430 today, and I'm still having the same blurry display and my 3.3 voltages are still below the acceptable range (3.00-3.10... the 5v and 12v lines are both stable). Could my motherboard (epox 8k7a) be causing these voltage problems, and are there any settings I should mess with to try and solve them? I am not using the latest bios and via 4in1's/amd miniport (don't remember version number but the ones i'm using are all about a year old, which was when I built the computer); could installing updated versions of these do anything to fix my problem?

I hope this is just some dumb mistake I'm making, and not a defective motherboard :/

 

[Texun]

I don't have the answer but I am hitching a ride on your post. I would like to know if this is a GF problem or something else. I have had the same 3.3v problem with the GF2 Pro and the GF4200, but this was on my MSI board. I started with an Enlight 340W which lasted 3 months, then moved to a 500W which lasted about 6 months and I am now using the Truepower 430. No problems yet, but then I didn't have a problem with either of the other PS's when they were new. I am about ready to ditch this board. I've spent over $200 on power supplies in the past year and none of them were trash units, and I also haven't seen any huge threads on 3.3v problems when running GF cards except for those related to 250W or similar PSU's.

 

[ai42]

It COULD be the mobo but I doubt it, even if it is you can't really fix it usuing a BIOS settings. And the PSU I doubt is at too much fault but you may need to replace it with something else.

How much RAM are you using anyway? Because the 3.3v line is almost maxed out in a lot of current systems as it draws so much wattage. CPU, RAM, and AGP are all run on 3.3v (as well as a spattering of other onboard motherboard components). Try taking out some RAM see if it fixes your problem.

You can also play with your AGP driving module in your BIOS (some don't let you at all) as you can reduce the speed of your AGP bus to save power. Perhaps a BIOS update would fix it but I doubt it as any problems there I would think are physical.

 

[csf]

i am using 512 mb of crucial pc2100 ram, 2*256 mb. im going to take a look at it this weekend and maybe try taking out a stick, but even then i had been running 512 mb ram for over a year without any problems then. i suppose should also inform everyone that initially i had used a generic 300w macron power supply up until several months ago and the 3.3v line had been perfectly fine then (the 5v line dipped and caused crashes, so i bought the 430w antec to replace it and only recently did the 3.3v line become an issue). messing with the agp 2x/4x setting didnt help the 3.3v readings. ive heard that the 8k7a apparently doesnt get along well with a lot of power supplies and changing vid card and psu hasnt helped; but again changing motherboards is all but impossible for me given the time/cost so i'm hoping i just et a jumper/bios setting wrong.

 

[ASSVTLightning]

Let me hitch a ride on this thread to (hey, who says you can't beat a dead horse). I am having the exact same issue with a new PC (see specifics below). Both Asus Probe and Motherboard Monitor are reading 2.9XX-3.008 V on the 3.3 line. I have a Turbolink 420 Watt PSU, which is brand new but could be defective (won't know til I swap it out tomorrow). Is 420 Watts enough for the following system?

- P4 2.4b, Asus P4PE, 512MB 2700 RAM (not overclocked)
- TI4600 (not overclocked)
- 3 Hard drives (non- RAID)
- 2 IDE DVD/DCRW devices
- 2 PCI cards (including ATA100 controller card)
- 3 case fans (excluding fans on PSU, CPU, and video card)
- cold cathode tube
- NOTE: because of wiring & connection limitations, I did use 2 Y-connectors to add additional 4-pin device plugs. It's a big mess in there with the device plugs, fan power taps, and cold cathode inverter - but it should be ok).

Also, the Asus accepts 3 conections for power: one 20-pin clip, one 4-pin ATX 12V connector, and an optional "Asus EZ Plug" (which is basically any 4-pin device plug). All three of them are connected securely on my mobo. I tested the following power plug combinations:

- All 3 (20-pin, 4-pin 12V ATX, EZ plug): 2.9XX V (fluctuating)
- 20-pin, EZ plug: 2.9XX V (fluctuating)
- 20-pin, 4-pin 12V ATX: 3.008 V (stable)

I was wondering if you eventually got your voltage back up to 3.3 V, and if you did, HOW???

Also - were there any other symptoms to the low voltage level? For me, whenever I play 3D games or run 3D tests like 3DMark 2001 SE, my BIOS alerts me constantly with 2 differently pitched beeps. Drives me nuts.

Any help would be appreciated.