PS and voltages

[Sir Fredrick]

My motherboard has an onboard voltage monitor and occasionally I take a peek at the voltages, but I don't really know what they mean. I've read that lower than normal voltages can mean your power supply isn't very good or that it's overloaded.

I had a 250W PS and I got low voltage readings...so I swapped PS's with another machine I have, it's a 300W powerman. But I'm still getting low ratings. I'm not having any problems but I want to know if there's the potential for problems later...
here are the voltage readings:

+11.85 (+12V)
+4.972 (+5V)
+3.168 (+3.3V)
1.984 (Vcore)
-5.008 or -4.984 (-5V)
-12.071 (-12V)

My system does have a higher than normal load, I think.
P2B-DS
256MB SDRAM
(1) PIII 450
(2) 7200 RPM SCSI drives
Ultraplex 40Max CDROM
(3) case fans
Diamond V550
NIC
ISA soundcard
Winmodem (don't currently use, just for in case my cable connection goes out)

 

[veryape]

I have an Athlon 650 on a KX133 and get very similar readings with no problems. I think those readings are good. Is'nt your vcore kind of high or is that normal with the pentium?

 

[Ulysses]

His CPU voltage is OK. He's got a Katmai - it's 2.00 volts.

You only have to be concerned if there is a big difference from the spec voltage - a few tenths of a volt or so means nothing.

But watch for smoke.

 

[BuddyHolly]

No worries. None of them hit much closer than that. It is when you are off by entire volts that it becomes a problem.

 

[Redneck]

AFAIK, the acceptable range is +/- 5% , so you are just fine.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

Ok, cool 🙂