PS reads 4.97 and 11.75 volts - low enough to cause a prob?

[MichaelD]

Probs like failure to post, random rebooting, BSODs, etc.

This is in the rig I built for my GF. VIA Hardware monitor reports the voltages I listed in the Subject line, above. the 3.5 volt rail is spot-on, but the 5 and 12V rails have always been low.

99% of the time, her PC won't boot on the first shot. You hit the power button and nada. Fans spin up, but no video. Restart once, twice, then you get to the desktop. Sometimes it hard locks.

It's a new Antec 300W PS...in a small system (850 TBird/one HD)

Should I get a new PS?

 

[Bovinicus]

The 5v line is definitely in range. My 5v line goes as low as 4.7 and my 12v line goes as low as 11.7. I have zero stability problems. Of course, more strain is put on a PSU at boot time. It takes a bit more power to turn on a device than to keep it going. So, it is possible this is the problem. However, according to the specs you listed it doesn't seem to be likely. Try using an old video card with low power requirements or something of the sort just to be sure.

 

[MichaelD]

Hmm, now you've got me worried. Ihope it's not an AGP problem. THe mobo is an Abit KT7R...same one I have. THe videocard is a GF2 Pro. I don't have an "older" card to try...the oldest Ihave is a plain-jane GF2 GTS.

 

[Bovinicus]

Hrm. See what happens when you boot up with only the bare essentials. The mobo, cpu, memory, and video card.

 

[WarCon]

Have you tried changing out her memory with yours? Or trying different timings on the memory she has in her system? For it to error condition right after power button is depressed there is something majorly wrong in the initial data path(bios, memory controller, processor, or memory). Power supplies, (if they are dirty enough or if your household power is dirty enough) could cause this kind of problem. I would get Memtest and test the memory though. That Antec should be fine unless its broken.

Anyway good luck....🙂

 

[MichaelD]

You know, I thought of that. I went into Hardware Manager and looked around. No conflicts. Soundcard makes sounds and the modem dials...there's nothing else in there besides the videocard. I guess I could try taking the SC and modem out....

 

[MichaelD]

Warcon,

Good idea! I have played w/the memory timings...doesn't seem to help.

 

[Byte]

I don't think it will be too much of a problem. If you visit i think the amdzone board, you'll find PAGES of Epox and Enermaxes being VERY LOW. I have this combo too and it seems lower than most. But i havne't crashed yet (any crashes were totally software related), so run some tests and if it's stable its fine. Motherboards don't give 100% correct readings, it's always within about 10% (you can see that in manuals i think). Antec makes pretty good PS, and unless your adding say 6 more hard drives, you have enough power.

 

[Mem]

You tried different software like MBM5 to read the voltages? It`s very possible your Antec is faulty if you`ve boot problems.

 

[MichaelD]

<< You tried different software like MBM5 to read the voltages[\q]

Hi Mem,
Actually, no, I haven't. I'm using the version of VIA H-ware monitor that came on the CD that came w/the mobo. I've found MBM confusing and hard-to-use...I may try that out.

YOu know what? Come to think of it, the voltages read low in the bios as well. I checked that out weeks ago. I really hope this mobo isn't faulty; this would be mobo #2 this poor girl has gone thru. She's not very computer-literate and gets frustrated very quickly.

Being that she's my GF, this means that I get frustrated too. 🙁