Possible PSU Issues - Advice needed...

[N3cr0]

I just put together my new system and I'm a bit baffled by why my PSU isn't holding up well. I'm basically getting program errors every once and awhile (programs crashing in XP, but not bluescreening) and I was trying to figure it out and then I noticed that my +12V is staying at a steady 11.43.

First, I'm almost positive the PSU is this Enermax 350W one. What I DO know for sure is that the +12V rail is 17A. Now, this is the system I WAS running on it:

Abit BX133
Tualatin (w/adapter) 1.3ghz
3 Sticks of PC133 memory
3 Optical Drives (DVD, DVD+R/Combo, CDR/CDRW)
4 HDD's (3 IDE 5400's and 1 IDE 7200)
5 case fans, 1 fan in the PSU. (all fans are 80mm...possibly 90. Dont know right off the top of my head).
LAN card
TB Santa Cruz
TV Card
GeForce 2 Pro
Stock Heatsink


Now...I put together my new system and this is what that is...
Gigabyte K8NF-9
Athlon 64 3000+ (not OC'd at the moment)
2 sticks DDR3200 memory
1 Optical drove (DVD+R/Combo)
2 HDD's (1 7200, 1 5400)
5 case fans, 1 fan in the PSU. (all fans are 80mm...possibly 90. Dont know right off the top of my head).
Geforce 6600 GT
Stock Heatsink


I wish I knew what the heck the +12V was in the old system, but I KNOW it was lower the 12. I think it was around 11.8.

What I'm planning on doing is disconnecting all of the fans and seeing how much the +12V goes up. If it goes up a ton, I'm figuring I need a new PSU...but what I'm baffled about is that the PSU can't handle this. Even taking into account the fact that the proc takes more power...I would think the drives/etc. I removed should be fine.

Just looking for opinions...that and recommendations on inexpensive quality (oxymoron there ) PSU's if you think I need one.

Thanks much... (I love the new system anyway...it's like going from a bike to a ferrari)

 

[Matthias99]

If you're using a software measuring tool, disregard anything it tells you. Check your PSU with a multimeter if you want to have a clue as to what the rails *really* are.

I don't think you should have any problem running that system on that PSU. Enermax, while not the very best you can get, is a decent brand, and that PSU should have plenty of power. Try a test with memtest86 and/or prime95 and see if any errors turn up. Random program crashes might be memory-related problems.

And do you really need 5 case fans? That's gotta be wicked loud. You could probably do just fine with a front intake and a rear exhaust. You don't have that much stuff in your system.

 

[N3cr0]

The setup is 1 side case fan, 2 fronts and 2 backs. The side and fronts are each on a rheostat bay bus dial, and the two backare as well. Once I see what the temps are normally, I'm going to turn down everything and see what I can get away with. I was figuring the two backs running slower would clear more hot air then the one running faster....and Surprisingly, it's not that loud. Then again, I was running a full tower case prior with a 120 and a ton of other fans before this one so I guess it's relative.

I'm hoping it's not memory issues. I'm using the Corsair Value RAM (the package recommended in the recent system guide) at it's regular speed...not OCing it at all at the moment. The only thing I DID do was turn off the 2T timing since it resulted in a huge increase in memory scores and no one seems to know what the heck it is (in the discussions I've read on the K8NF-9).

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: N3cr0
The setup is 1 side case fan, 2 fronts and 2 backs. The side and fronts are each on a rheostat bay bus dial, and the two backare as well. Once I see what the temps are normally, I'm going to turn down everything and see what I can get away with. I was figuring the two backs running slower would clear more hot air then the one running faster....and Surprisingly, it's not that loud. Then again, I was running a full tower case prior with a 120 and a ton of other fans before this one so I guess it's relative.

Five fans on a fanbus is very different than five fans at full voltage.

Still... that's gotta be deafening if you haven't turned them down. Two fans running slower *are* better than one fan running fast -- but you really probably only need *one* fan running slowly in the front and back.

I'm hoping it's not memory issues. I'm using the Corsair Value RAM (the package recommended in the recent system guide) at it's regular speed...not OCing it at all at the moment. The only thing I DID do was turn off the 2T timing since it resulted in a huge increase in memory scores and no one seems to know what the heck it is (in the discussions I've read on the K8NF-9).

Turning "off" 2T command rate probably puts you at 1T memory timings -- which can introduce instability if your RAM is not rated for operation at that speed.

 

[N3cr0]

That could be it. Resulted in an increase of over a 1000 in memory tests in Sandra. I think the issues were arising before this however...I'll test it out tonight.

And the thing that surprised me was turning down all the rheostats didnt do anything to the 12V line according to MBM. I'll check and see via my multimeter...

And I guess with the fans I was just worried about keeping things at as ambient as possible. With blowholes and all that crap, I'm used to doing nutball fan stuff before OCing at all...guess things have changed a bit.

 

[imported_2x]

If you are using Sandra to get the 11.43 figure, I would ignore it. I had a smartpower 350 that registered 11.5, now have a truepower 430 that registers 11.42. For both, the MB said 11.8-11.7. If you really need to know, only a hardware meter will give you the truth.

 

[N3cr0]

That's what I'm hoping. It was MBM that gave me the figure. I would have liked the BIOS to give me a reading, but it only says that it's 'OK'.


Not much help.

 

[Insomniak]

3 Optical Drives (DVD, DVD+R/Combo, CDR/CDRW)
4 HDD's (3 IDE 5400's and 1 IDE 7200)
5 case fans, 1 fan in the PSU.


Sweet Jesus Christ son.

How many amps do you have on the 12v rail?

Ah, 17.

Well, with the new system (not the one I've quoted above), I'd try to get a reading from an honest detection engine. EVEREST home is a good option.

After that, let us know, and we'll take it from there.

 

[N3cr0]

Hahaha...ok...I'm leaving work early so I'll get the info up. And yeah...the old system had a ton of stuff in it.

I didnt mention the 2 cathodes either.

 

[imported_2x]

Leaving work early is awesome.

 

[N3cr0]

Holy crap. The 12v rail is actually at 12.26. I guess I'm actually having other issues.

Time to crank back up those fans...and switch on the cathodes.

This makes things more difficult then....crap.

Thanks for the voltmeter idea. Never would have thought of using the thing for something practical .

 

[maluckey]

Firt off, your PSU is not enough for the job at hand. Try this, or one from another location.

FSP-550 Server PSU

It's able to handle anything you can throw at it and smile. Each one leaves the factory, pre-burned in and tested at 50C. They are guaranteed to put out ithe rating on the side of the case at 50C temperature. Most other PSU's are rated at 40C (Antec True Power, and Enermax Noise Taker), and the rest....who knows?

It is a 24 Pin PSU, and comes in EPS +12v and ATX GES flavors. If you get a retail version, it also comes with a 24 to 20 pin adapter for use with 20 pin motherboard connectors.

I also saw an FSP 460 on Ebay for 59 dollars. NewEgg sells them for 90 dollars. Get it while you can!

 

[WobbleWobble]

How would one measure the 3.3V using a multimeter?

 

[N3cr0]

Well, I figured out the problem. One of the two sticks of memory is bad. Of course, this was also one of the things I got from ZipZoomFly. I'm PRAYING they let me return the one DIMM and keep the other and have them send out one new one so I can keep the PC running. That or cross ship. Figures. Everything was going WAY too perfectly.

 

[Terumo]

Originally posted by: N3cr0
Well, I figured out the problem. One of the two sticks of memory is bad. Of course, this was also one of the things I got from ZipZoomFly. I'm PRAYING they let me return the one DIMM and keep the other and have them send out one new one so I can keep the PC running. That or cross ship. Figures. Everything was going WAY too perfectly.

Yep. And in my case, the RDRAM might be bad too (CRIMM was fried and replaced). Thanks for replying as that might answer my 12 rail problem too.

 

[0roo0roo]

i have this ecs mb that tells me the 12v rail is running as low as 6v and stuff.. it fluctuates. never crashes either. i've switched psus on it.. to seasonic and antec, still same bs readings. so i just ignore em now.

 

[Zepper]

wobble...
Most meters these days come with a pointy probe - just touch the chassis with the ground probe (or stick it in an unused ground on a drive connector and stick the positive prove down into the top of one of the 3.3 contacts on the ATX connection. My probe set has a long pointy probe that is mostly sheathed in plastic tubing. It can poke right thru wire insulation to make contact. Works great for this sort of thing. There are also voltage test points on most mobos - you just need to use a magnifying glass and search them out.
.bh.