Troubleshooting: Testing powersupply

[TriggerHappy101]

Hello.

My new (and currently broken) rig:

eVGA 7800GT
AMD Athlon 64 3700+
2 Gigs of OCZ PC 3200 2-3-2-5
One, 160 gig barracuta Segate 7200.7 RPM drive ATA
EPoX nForce4 Ultra (939) EP-9NPA+Ultra
Forton Source 450w


Well, I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with my computer. It seems to be memory related, as I am failing Memtest86 runs and Prime95 is spitting errors at me on the first test.

I have widdled the possbilities down to my Mobo being defective and not wanting to run my RAM in Dual channel without giving me errors. I decided to check SpeedFan for my Vcore voltages and oddly the voltages arent very constant. They are infact pretty below the 1.4v that it is suppose to be at. Can I trust software Vcore voltages?

See this pic please

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/3156/untitled9yz1.png

 

[Ricemarine]

Look at your bios voltages first. See if the +12v is lower than it should be.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Doesnt it have to be under stress (load) to see if its lower than it should be?

 

[Ricemarine]

Then stress it and use speedfan to see if the +12v dips lower than 5%.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Then stress it and use speedfan to see if the +12v dips lower than 5%.

While running 3DMark06
According to SpeedFan it doesnt drop below 12.3V. 12.4v being the center line....
Then again, how accurate is software voltage testing?


I wish I knew what is wrong with my computer! For all I know it could be my proccessor!

 

[maluckey]

You are failing Memtest86 and P95, and you are concerning yourself with PSU first?

Perhaps you should look into why you have RAM issues. Start with setting the RAM to default and re-run Memtest86. Add voltage if it fails, then re-run tests again.

 

[chocoruacal]

Its normal for vcore to fluctuate. You can run a program like OCCT to see how the vcore behaves under load; OCCT uses MBM or Speedfan to creat a graph of the reported voltages over the length of the test. If the board is undervolting your CPU then logic says to simply raise the vcore, nright?

As for the RAM, have you posted on OCZ's support forum? Have you contacted OCZ at all? Have you done a search to see what settings other Epox + OCZ owners are using? I'd start with those.

 

[TriggerHappy101]

Originally posted by: maluckey
You are failing Memtest86 and P95, and you are concerning yourself with PSU first?

Perhaps you should look into why you have RAM issues. Start with setting the RAM to default and re-run Memtest86. Add voltage if it fails, then re-run tests again.

Already tried that.

Its normal for vcore to fluctuate. You can run a program like OCCT to see how the vcore behaves under load; OCCT uses MBM or Speedfan to creat a graph of the reported voltages over the length of the test. If the board is undervolting your CPU then logic says to simply raise the vcore, nright?

Not if this software voltage testers are giving me incorrect readings. It could say im getting lets say 1.3v, but im actully getting 1.5v Then if i bump up the voltages another .1v that will be 1.6v (which would be quite harmful to a 1.4v proccessor.

As for the RAM, have you posted on OCZ's support forum? Have you contacted OCZ at all? Have you done a search to see what settings other Epox + OCZ owners are using? I'd start with those.

Yes I have posted on OCZs supprt forum. I talked to Ryder (one of their support guys/gals.) He doesnt think it is the RAM, he thinks it is either the BIOS/motherboard problems.

And I was just going to make a thread asking Epox compability with the OCZ RAM.

 

[rise]

get a dmm if you think its your psu. $15-20 and check.

 

[rise]

get a dmm if you think its your psu. $15-20 and check.

 

[CraKaJaX]

If you can get a hold of a multimeter/voltmeter you can test the voltages with that.