Voltage Readings

sir-clarencesir-clarence
edited January 2005 in Hardware
Just upgraded to a Levicom 350Watt power supply from a 250Watt and have a question. I am using a probe to check whats happening within my computer and noticed the following:-
12V running at 16.32V
5V running at 6.854v
3.3V running at 4.08
Is this normal/safe if not what can happen and secondly why are my voltages so high?

Comments

  • floppybootstompfloppybootstomp Greenwich New
    edited December 2004
    What sort of probe are you using? Use of the word 'probe' makes me believe you may be using an oscilloscope which sometimes needs loading or at least calibrating to obtain an acurate reading.

    If you're using a DC voltmeter, however, yes, those voltages are a little on the high side.

    Too high a voltage on any rail can cause instability, but first I suggest your readings are proved accurate.
  • sir-clarencesir-clarence
    edited December 2004
    ASUS PC Probe :scratch:
  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited December 2004
    like i said, 350w doesn't mean jack if its a no-name brand.
    get an antec or enermax psu
  • floppybootstompfloppybootstomp Greenwich New
    edited December 2004
    sir-clarence wrote:
    ASUS PC Probe :scratch:

    Oh ;D

    Best way to accurately measure voltages is from the multi-pin ATX connector to the motherboard whilst machine is running, using a voltmeter. All black wires are 0V.

    But, Asus probe is not too shabby, quite reliable, so I'd just repeat what The Baron said above, really.

    As well as Enermax & Antec, Tagan are good.
  • DocQDocQ
    edited January 2005
    Don't despair.. I got the EXACT same voltage readings on my mobo. (ASUS Focus A7N8X-LA.. AMD Athlon 3200+). I used both ASUS PC Probe 2.23.06 and MBM 5.3.7 (Motherboard Monitor).. both software applications came back with these voltage readings (and I was concerned). So I popped open the case and tested with a multitester... (it's easy to do if you do not know how). My readings were +12v was 12.11v... +5v was 4.94v... and +3.3v was 3.304v. All 3 power rails were perfectly normal! Turns out the A7N8X-LA is an OEM version of the ASUS board (it's an HP system.. a430n).. HP apparently tweaked the board enough that these apps can't read the voltage sensors accurately. I am also going to beef up my PSU from the stock ATX12V 250w to a ATX12V 350w. Just curious, any issues upgrading your PSU?
  • leishi85leishi85 Grand Rapids, MI Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    If u get a crappy PSU, it might burn up, and take other parts in your system with it.
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    Clarence, those voltages isn't right at all. If they where, that psu would have been dead by now or the overvoltage protection would have kicked in a long time ago.

    What does the readings in bios tell?
  • muddocktormuddocktor
    edited January 2005
    Mack, that's a board Asus manufactures for HP, so I bet it doesn't even show voltages in bios. Let's not worry the customers on how crappy our psu's are we put in your box now, right? ;D
  • TheLostSwedeTheLostSwede Trondheim, Norway Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    lol, i thought it was a A7N8?
  • EMTEMT Seattle, WA Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    DocQ wrote:
    I am also going to beef up my PSU from the stock ATX12V 250w to a ATX12V 350w. Just curious, any issues upgrading your PSU?

    Well, it's given that you have to be really careful; it's a lot more dangerous (electrically) inside the PSU than any other part of the computer. I'm curious, what are you going to do to upgrade it? Do you have a guide or something?
  • DocQDocQ
    edited January 2005
    EMT wrote:
    Well, it's given that you have to be really careful; it's a lot more dangerous (electrically) inside the PSU than any other part of the computer. I'm curious, what are you going to do to upgrade it? Do you have a guide or something?


    i.e., "Upgrade" meaning replace Bestec 250w with a 350+ w PSU. I am looking at the Enermax EG375P-VE-SFMA 370W PSU. This one has separate 12V rails, dual fans.
  • EMTEMT Seattle, WA Icrontian
    edited January 2005
    Ohh haha. I took "beef up" to mean not replacing it. There's never anything wrong with pulling out a PSU to put in a better one.
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