Voltage problems

[Josh D.]

I just put a brand new ASUS m2n68-am plus board with an AMD Athlon X2 5000+ cpu in my computer recently so I've been monitoring the temps/voltages and the +12v has been reading 12.34, I've tried 2 different power supplies at 2 different locations (apartments) and the only change was one power supply shows 12.34 and the other shows 12.56. I read something about setting the voltages manually but that doesn't seem to be an option in the bios. Anyone have any idea why it might be doing this?

Thanks.

 

[pete1229]

I have an ASUS M3N78-VM and the =12v output reading is pretty much the same as what you are experiencing, I've had this windows 7 64bit build for about 6 months now and those readings, I think are pretty common. As far as actually setting those voltages to a specific level I also do not have that option in BIOS.

 

[mlc]

it really depends on how you're reading the voltages..
1) direct from psu via an ohm meter
2) from BIOS?
3) via some software tool while in windows?

I think 5% tolerance is allowed .. if I recall correctly.. but the others can chime in... Fluctuation is more of a concern rather than a number that is a few % points high or low. (e.g. mine is showing 12.30 as we speak via a mobo provided windows app)

 

[Josh D.]

Both the bios and pc probe show the same values.

 

[IGemini]

ATX specifies +/-10% tolerance for the -12v rail. The upper end of -12v is 13.2v so the second PSU is still within spec even if it was 5% tolerance. Wouldn't be anything to worry about.

 

[Josh D.]

ATX specifies +/-10% tolerance for the -12v rail. The upper end of -12v is 13.2v so the second PSU is still within spec even if it was 5% tolerance. Wouldn't be anything to worry about.

That's for the -12v, the one I'm having problems with is the +12v, thanks for the reply though.

 

[Aluvus]

That's for the -12v, the one I'm having problems with is the +12v, thanks for the reply though.

The spec for +12V is 5%, which puts the upper bound at 12.6 V, which your readings are still under.

That said, software voltage readings are not at all reliable. If you think you have a voltage problem, buy a multimeter and take direct measurements.

 

[BoomerD]

The ONLY way to get accurate voltage readings is with a multimeter...and you have to be very careful when doing so...

Software voltage readings aren't all that accurate...but, as long as you're in the +/- 5% range, I wouldn't worry about it.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=257485

 

[IGemini]

Crap, I knew I'd look at the wrong value. The point remains though, values are within tolerance.

 

[Josh D.]

Ok, thanks for the help.