Looks like time for a new PSU

Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy KnobPflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
edited March 2004 in Hardware
I have had a Robanton 600W PSU for the past 1 1/2 yrs and not really had any problems but since moving into my new case with 3 HD's, 120mm fan (x2), 80mm fan (x3) and my vcore set to 1.75 I am getting some instability. My 3.3v and 12v readings are looking quite low. I am considering getting either an Antec True Power 480 or an Antec True Control 550. I thought these Robanton's were supposed to be good PSU's. After taking mine apart to replace the fans and noticing the stock PSU fans had "Powmax" stickers on them makes me think again. :rolleyes: With a CPU temp of 38C under full load I think I can rule out high temps.

Comments

  • mmonninmmonnin Centreville, VA
    edited March 2004
    Oh yeah I would say its time for a new PSU. That 12 is really low.
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited March 2004
    i got 1 for ya, my power supply on the infiltrator says that ( the msi power supply tool thing ) that the +12 is at 2.3v should i get another lol
  • KaluMinatiKaluMinati Calgary Alberta Canada
    edited March 2004
    question for you... have you also checked your volt rails via the bios... i noticed after installing my 550w true power antec, that mbm was reading my +12 extremely low, after checking the bios i got a reading o 11.89 and confirmed that reading after booting into windows by using a digital volt meter.. just some food 4 thought
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    mtgoat wrote:
    I have had a Robanton 600W PSU for the past 1 1/2 yrs and not really had any problems but since moving into my new case with 3 HD's, 120mm fan (x2), 80mm fan (x3) and my vcore set to 1.75 I am getting some instability. My 3.3v and 12v readings are looking quite low. I am considering getting either an Antec True Power 480 or an Antec True Control 550. I thought these Robanton's were supposed to be good PSU's. After taking mine apart to replace the fans and noticing the stock PSU fans had "Powmax" stickers on them makes me think again. :rolleyes: With a CPU temp of 38C under full load I think I can rule out high temps.

    I would move beacuse of the CPU voltages. Your low voltage legs are being sapped by the 12 volt load. Yuo can use a True Power or even a Channel Well tech 480 PSU for what you want. Both will be more effective than what you have.

    For very low power draw and noise, very effective fans, I use Panaflos, but be aware your mothebroard will have NO senses from those so you need to use case temp to judge cooling and also disable case fan thermal cutout in BIOS. They will and should run at full speed, though they can be spun up at about 5.5-6 volts power with rheostats or a DigitalDoc 5 based on more local sensors (the DigitalDoc 5 I have and use mostly for diags on WEIRD problem boxes has 7-8 temp sensors as part of the kit), but I live in the Tropics so you probably will not need or want that pinpoint a control of temps except for diags.

    John D.
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited March 2004
    KaluMinati wrote:
    question for you... have you also checked your volt rails via the bios... i noticed after installing my 550w true power antec, that mbm was reading my +12 extremely low, after checking the bios i got a reading o 11.89 and confirmed that reading after booting into windows by using a digital volt meter.. just some food 4 thought


    its hooked up to my tv right now, really hard to read next time i bring it down ill check, and also with multi meter
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    KaluMinati wrote:
    question for you... have you also checked your volt rails via the bios... i noticed after installing my 550w true power antec, that mbm was reading my +12 extremely low, after checking the bios i got a reading o 11.89 and confirmed that reading after booting into windows by using a digital volt meter.. just some food 4 thought
    Interesting you mention that as the voltages reported in bios are worse than reported by MBM. My 12v in bios is 11.21,the 3.3 is 3.19 and core fluctuates badly.

    Is there any real life advantage to a 550 true control over a 480 true power??? It really doesn't look like a whole lot when comparing the specs between the two PSU's.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited March 2004
    Check them with a DMM. Software readings are virtually worthless.
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    I'm recalling the incident not too long ago where one of the fans in my PSU blew apart and the fins went flying into the PSU itself. Now I think that probably did some damage to it. I never did like the 12v on this unit as it is rated quite low for a 600W PSU at 18A.

    Geeky
    I have been having problems that correspond with the lower readings time wise. I just tried an old 300W Enermax that I keep for testing and it looks better than my 600W Robanton right now! :eek:
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited March 2004
    Honestly, that doesn't really surprise me. I never was impressed with the Robanton PSes.
  • KaluMinatiKaluMinati Calgary Alberta Canada
    edited March 2004
    mtgoat wrote:
    Is there any real life advantage to a 550 true control over a 480 true power??? It really doesn't look like a whole lot when comparing the specs between the two PSU's.

    honestly im not to sure.. all i knew when i got is was that i needed a new PSU, i blew one of the main caps in my 350 that was in my main rig and i needed a new PSU so i figured grab the biggest one and that will solve all my power issues.. i was also pretty happy to see that there where pre wired sata power plugs as im getting 2 more 80 gig hdd's... so thats handy fo that future upgrade, i just looked at the specs on both at the antec site and there isnt a huge difference between the 2, but for 30 bucks more CAD for the 550 , its not like im at a huge loss

    ** also, im always paranoid about having power shortages in my system so i run dual PSU's on my main rig :P **
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited March 2004
    eh mines fine i multimeter tested it the 12 is at 12.09
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    eh mines fine i multimeter tested it the 12 is at 12.09
    What is fine? What PSU are you referring to?
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    mtgoat wrote:
    I'm recalling the incident not too long ago where one of the fans in my PSU blew apart and the fins went flying into the PSU itself. Now I think that probably did some damage to it. I never did like the 12v on this unit as it is rated quite low for a 600W PSU at 18A.

    Geeky
    I have been having problems that correspond with the lower readings time wise. I just tried an old 300W Enermax that I keep for testing and it looks better than my 600W Robanton right now! :eek:

    Only with heavy use of DVD, several large HDs, DVD Burner plus CD burner, will you need much above 480-500 depending on effectiveness and efficiency. OR, if you need 6-8 very high draw fans.... Probably not needed for anything like normal use, that 550 is a file server PSU basically.

    John D.
  • KaluMinatiKaluMinati Calgary Alberta Canada
    edited March 2004
    Ageek wrote:
    550 is a file server PSU basically

    my middle name is overkill :D
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    I checked my PSU with a meter and found that it is not putting out anywhere near where it is supposed to. So it is now confirmed that it is indeed going. I have it shut down till I get a replacement so I don't fry my system if it were to completely fail. I am leaning toward an Antec "TRUE480BLUE". It also has the external molex plugin so I can plug in my outside mounted fan for my radiator since I still haven't done anything special for that fan's power other than just running the power cable through an empty PCI slot.
    attachment.php?attachmentid=6923
  • edited March 2004
    I like my 480 True Blue mtgoat, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited March 2004
    If you're going to spend that much on it, you might as well go all out and get this:
    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-922&depa=0

    That PSU will handle dual 2500s at 2.2GHz, 1GB of ram, a R8500, a HighPoint RR1540 RAID card, a SB Audigy 2, DVD and CD-RW drives, a zip, a floppy, and 4 hard drives w/o a problem.
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited March 2004
    Geeky1 wrote:
    If you're going to spend that much on it, you might as well go all out and get this:
    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-922&depa=0

    That PSU will handle dual 2500s at 2.2GHz, 1GB of ram, a R8500, a HighPoint RR1540 RAID card, a SB Audigy 2, DVD and CD-RW drives, a zip, a floppy, and 4 hard drives w/o a problem.
    Fully Agreed.
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited March 2004
    I went ahead and ordered the Antec "TRUE480BLUE". It is not that much less per line than the 550 "Truecontrol" and is $17.00 less. I also like the blue lights and this is also the same PSU I ordered for my brother 3 months ago when he wanted a new system. He like his a lot, has the same case sans W/C and it looks good. If it turns out to not be adequite I will simply put it in the system I am putting together for my step-son. :D But I really don't think that will be necessary.
Sign In or Register to comment.