Question about voltages and PSU health

[imported_Harbinger]

After checking system voltages with cpu-z and asus probe i get the following:

asus probe reports:

vcore: 1.28-1.31
+3.3: 3.30-3.31
+5: 4.92-4.95
+12: 11.25-11.31

cpu-z:

vcore: 1.296-1.312

In other words all my voltages fluctuate a bit. Is this healthy normal behaviour? I'm especially concered about the vcore fluctuating and the +12 being ~11.3 only. Should I get worried? :S

Another quick question, Im expecting an ati 2900gt which according to sapphire requires 30A on the 12v rail, my Antec NeoPower 480 has 12v rails with 18A and 15A each. Combined they are 33A but I'm somewhat worried that it won't be able to juice the gpu properly, call me paranoid

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Harbinger
In other words all my voltages fluctuate a bit. Is this healthy normal behaviour? I'm especially concered about the vcore fluctuating and the +12 being ~11.3 only
...
Another quick question, Im expecting an ati 2900gt which according to sapphire requires 30A on the 12v rail, my Antec NeoPower 480 has 12v rails with 18A and 15A each. Combined they are 33A but I'm somewhat worried that it won't be able to juice the gpu properly, call me paranoid

The combined is usually less than just adding them up. Tough to get exact numbers, but one source said that your combined would be 32A. It should be enough for your setup, unless you run scads of HDDs.

Why 2900 GT? You getting it for really cheap? I'm guessing a 4830 would be faster while taking a lot less power, and cost around $120.

Fluctuating voltages are normal to a small degree but big fluctuations are not good. Yours doesn't seem too bad.

For +12v, that seems pretty low. Your best bet would be to run your system with a multimeter hooked up.

 

[imported_Harbinger]

I got the 2900gt (new) for 30 pounds (=~$44) and since I'm only playing WoW @ 1280 it should be more than adequate. I guess if PSU fails to deliver the AMPs I'll buy a new one :S Any recommendations? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/...w%202-Force%20II%20PSU should be more than enough and I trust Tagan.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Are you having problems with your computer? If not, then why do you think your PSU is a problem? Software readings are worse than no readings at all....because you don't know if they are accurate or not.

 

[imported_Harbinger]

I don't have any particular problems, no. Its just that the 2900gt is apparently power hungry and my PSU is 4 years old so I'd like to prevent things from getting fried before its too late I fully understand that software readings can easily be false, no doubt. Unfortunately I don't have a multimeter handy :/

 

[HOOfan 1]

If it makes you feel better, you can certainly buy a new PSU...but this is why I say software readings are worse than no readings at all...they often make you doubt your hardware by showing false information, even when your hardware may be in perfect condition.

 

[imported_Harbinger]

No I won't buy a new PSU just like that. I was just wondering if fluctuating voltages and low +12v are signs of PSU degradation. Assuming software readings are correct to begin with. So its partially a theoritical question.

 

[beray]

Originally posted by: Harbinger
No I won't buy a new PSU just like that. I was just wondering if fluctuating voltages and low +12v are signs of PSU degradation.

"fluctuating voltages and low +12v are signs of PSU degradation" but with more qualifying parameters before that is valid.

Originally posted by: Harbinger
Assuming software readings are correct to begin with. So its partially a theoritical question.

When the PSU being degraded, the first leaked through fluctuations are 50/60Hz power line carrier frequency, 100/120Hz second harmonic of power line carrier frequency, and 40-150KHz range intermediate chopper frequency...

"software readings" can't even report 60Hz leaked through fluctuations. The PSU didn't just randomly fluctuate, it just seem to be.

 

[yh125d]

your voltages aren't really fluctuating that much(less than 30mV on all but the 12v rail) which is going to be present in any healthy PSU. What does worry me a bit is that your 12v rail - even at its max with fluctuation - is 90mV out of spec. You might want to consider a PSU upgrade in the near future. You can get good quality 4-500w PSU's pretty darn cheap these days

 

[imported_Harbinger]

I'll be getting a DMM soon but till then I won't do anything. And I defo won't trust asus probe.

Asus probe: ~11.3
Speedfan: ~11.9
PCWizzard: ~12.1

Yeah, I won't trust software readings for sure