MAX3 Owners - Does your CPU Core Voltage Fluctuate?

[FullRoast]

I'm checking out a system with an IC7-MAX3 that I put together a couple of days ago. I'm trying to find the max. stable CPU overclock and memory speed. The system is running pretty well, but I noticed that there is a lot of fluctuation in the CPU core voltage, checking with Motherboard Monitor 5.

I am using the default CPU core voltage in bios. The numbers from MBM5 are 1.46v low, 1.60v high, 1.51v avg. over a few hours time. That seems like a lot of voltage swing to me. I've never seen that much before. The power supply is a 425 W Turbo Cool from PC Power and Cooling that I've had for a couple of years, really solid PSU.

Anybody else noticed the same CPU core voltage swing on an IC7-MAX3? I'll try swapping in another PSU to see if that helps. Hope it's not the board.

 

[FullRoast]

Anyone?

 

[ronnuke]

I have the same motherboard but I have an Antec Trupower 430W power supply....and I have noticed the voltage fluctuate slightly (as yours is) but I am yet to find any instability due to this....

 

[kage69]

I've used MBM on prolly 6 different boards and have noticed the voltage fluctuating on all of them, as per MBM. The MAX3 is my latest addition, and BY FAR the best mobo I've ever owned. Also using an Antec True430w and have no stability problems whatsoever.

 

[FullRoast]

ronnuke - Thanks for info!

kage69 - My system is stable. I'm just wondering if the fluctuations in the CPU core voltage will effect overclocking. I've checked my other systems and none have as much variation as on the MAX3. I'm not complaining about the board, just trying to figure out whats going on. How much change do you see in Vcore on your system?

 

[Goose77]

Got an Abit KR7A and have noticed there was voltage fluctuations! but no stability problem.

Edit: got antec 350w ps

 

[kage69]

My core voltage seems to go between 1.52v and 1.54v. Could it be the chip throttling juice depending on the work load? Prolly not actually, I'm pretty sure the P4's safety features engage only when the internal temp gets a little too toasty. I would think oc'ing would be a little hairy with the core jumping around a lot, I'm inclined to point the finger at MBM. The BIOS seems to report a voltage always slightly lower than what MBM tells me. *shrugs*

 

[drewdogg808]

when i was testing out the ic7-max3, voltages were rock solid...very little fluctuations with an antec 480 true power. much better than with the same ps and my epox 8rda+. cpu stayed at 1.49-1.51 w/mbm. 3.3 was 3.28-3.3, 12 was 12.01-12.03 and 5 was 5.00-5.03.

 

[bacillus]

it's apparently quite normal to see a fluctuation in Vcore with a P4 which is not related to psu insufficiency!

 

[FullRoast]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm still seeing a 0.18v swing, 1.44v - 1.62v, with the voltage set to 1.55 in bios. That is without any overclocking. More swing than I would have expected. I have an Antec True Power PSU and an Enermax that I can try in the box, but I'll have to yank one out of another system to check it out.

 

[bacillus]

I see a swing of 1.58 to 1.61V on my asus board!

 

[FullRoast]

I'd be a lot happier with a 0.03v swing than 0.18v!