new PSU doesn't make much difference, I think...

L

LRW

I just replaced my old Solarmax KC-300 300watt PSU with a Sparkle
FSP-350-60PN 350 watt.

But here are my before and after numbers recorded by my BIOS:

Before:
VCORE: 1.77v
VAGP (3.3v): 1.52v
+5v: 4.48
+12v: 11.53
5VSB: 5.32

After:
VCORE: 1.74v
VAGP (3.3v): 1.50v
+5v: 4.89
+12v: 12.03
5VSB: 5.38

That doesn't seem like any difference. Especially the 3.3v line! It's still
providing less than half the voltage it should!

Should I be concerned? Is this normal? Is there a better way to test the
performance of a PSU?

Thanks for any feedback!
Liam
 
D

Dave C.

LRW said:
I just replaced my old Solarmax KC-300 300watt PSU with a Sparkle
FSP-350-60PN 350 watt.

But here are my before and after numbers recorded by my BIOS:

Before:
VCORE: 1.77v
VAGP (3.3v): 1.52v
+5v: 4.48
+12v: 11.53
5VSB: 5.32

After:
VCORE: 1.74v
VAGP (3.3v): 1.50v
+5v: 4.89
+12v: 12.03
5VSB: 5.38

That doesn't seem like any difference. Especially the 3.3v line! It's still
providing less than half the voltage it should!

Should I be concerned? Is this normal? Is there a better way to test the
performance of a PSU?

Thanks for any feedback!
Liam
Click to expand...

Why did you replace the power supply? Power supplies generally have one of
two problems. Either they die completely, as in one or more rails provide
no voltage at all . . . or, they start dropping voltage intermittently, so
fast that a voltage meter can't read it. But you will know if that happens,
as either the computer will freeze/restart while loading windows . . . or
you'll experience random freezing/restarting/shutting down while running the
computer.

I think you BIOS is not reporting voltage correctly. You could check the
outputs of the power supply with a multimeter, but that won't tell you much,
other than ruling out that the power supply isn't totally dead. But you
probably know that much already. -Dave
 
L

LRW

Dave C. said:
of
two problems. Either they die completely, as in one or more rails provide
no voltage at all . . . or, they start dropping voltage intermittently, so
fast that a voltage meter can't read it. But you will know if that happens,
as either the computer will freeze/restart while loading windows . . . or
you'll experience random freezing/restarting/shutting down while running the
computer.

I think you BIOS is not reporting voltage correctly. You could check the
outputs of the power supply with a multimeter, but that won't tell you much,
other than ruling out that the power supply isn't totally dead. But you
probably know that much already. -Dave
Click to expand...

I replaced it because ever since I got it, the computer has never been quite
stable. Sometimes if I have too many components, like the Zip drive
attached, a HD or CD ROM will stop working. Just, various instabilities it
seems.
And this is over more than a year, where in that time I've used Win2000Pro
and WinXP Pro, and have formatted and reinstalled several times for various
reasons...so I can never blame the OS os or some 3rd party software.

So when I started doing some looking at PSUs I found out, on this newsgroup,
just how vitally important it is to have a quality PSU and not some
rinkydink thing that weighs 6 ounces. A poor quality PSU can cause
everything from instability to eventual damage.
So, I decided I'd go ahead and get a good one. =)

Unfortunately I don't have a multimeter, and even if I did, the only thing I
know how to do with one is test 9v batteries. =) I wouldn't know how the
heck to test a PSU/mobo with one.

I upgraded the BIOS to the latest Award for this mobo a few months ago, but
that never changed how it reads the voltages...so, I REALLY hope it's simply
wrong big time.

Thanks for replying!!
Liam
 
W

w_tom

Voltage readings are taken using a 3.5 digit multimeter.
BIOS is valid for monitoring voltage changes; not calibrated
sufficient for comparison to voltage limits. What does
multimeter say as described in that previously posted
procedure - best and fastest procedure available to verify
integrity of your PSU?
 
W

w_tom

Can you learn out how to put a key in the ignition to start
a car? Can you upgrade a BIOS? Can you measure a 9 volt
battery with a meter? Then a multimeter is just as simple -
trivial - for your computer problem. Decision should be based
upon curiosity and a fundamental (almost angry) need to get
things working. This post says your decision is based only
upon fear. Then you wildly speculated that BIOS voltages
would be accurate?

Get the meter and use it per the procedure. Procedure easy
even for junior high school students to test that power
supply. Already you have spent inordinate time and money -
and still accomplished nothing. This is what fear creates.
Stop with the fear. Solve problem per previously posted and
'all so simple' procedure. Stop second guessing. Notice how
little was accomplished by ignoring those who come from where
the work gets done. Boldly go where you have not gone before.
Get the multimeter and be done with the problem.
 
J

jamotto

LRW said:
I just replaced my old Solarmax KC-300 300watt PSU with a Sparkle
FSP-350-60PN 350 watt.

But here are my before and after numbers recorded by my BIOS:

Before:
VCORE: 1.77v
VAGP (3.3v): 1.52v
+5v: 4.48
+12v: 11.53
5VSB: 5.32

After:
VCORE: 1.74v
VAGP (3.3v): 1.50v
+5v: 4.89
+12v: 12.03
5VSB: 5.38

That doesn't seem like any difference. Especially the 3.3v line! It's still
providing less than half the voltage it should!

Should I be concerned? Is this normal? Is there a better way to test the
performance of a PSU?

Thanks for any feedback!
Liam
Click to expand...

Are you using a 8x agp card? that appears to be reading the signal
voltage (1.5V) which is what 8x card use.
 
L

LRW

Are you using a 8x agp card? that appears to be reading the signal
voltage (1.5V) which is what 8x card use.
Click to expand...

well, yes, the card is indeed an 8x card...although the AGP slot is only a
4x. =/
 
J

JAD

Thank you was gonna say dude the bios controls the voltage it reads the voltage after it controls it...therefore 8X=1.5 which
brings me to....a quote from a prior thread... 8x AGP=0.8???? was trying to find the thread I lost it somewhere...
 
L

LRW

JAD said:
Thank you was gonna say dude the bios controls the voltage it reads
Click to expand...
the voltage after it controls it...therefore 8X=1.5 which

Oh, well, I had no idea! That changes everything.
Thanks
 
J

jeffc

w_tom said:
Can you learn out how to put a key in the ignition to start
a car? Can you upgrade a BIOS? Can you measure a 9 volt
battery with a meter? Then a multimeter is just as simple -
trivial - for your computer problem. Decision should be based
upon curiosity and a fundamental (almost angry) need to get
things working. This post says your decision is based only
upon fear. Then you wildly speculated that BIOS voltages
would be accurate?

Get the meter and use it per the procedure. Procedure easy
even for junior high school students to test that power
supply. Already you have spent inordinate time and money -
and still accomplished nothing. This is what fear creates.
Stop with the fear. Solve problem per previously posted and
'all so simple' procedure. Stop second guessing. Notice how
little was accomplished by ignoring those who come from where
the work gets done.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about Tom. If your original "fear" didn't get you, then Tom's
paranoia and condescending attitude will surely push you over the edge.
When in doubt, keep in mind - you're not worthy!
 
G

Guest

LRW said:
I just replaced my old Solarmax KC-300 300watt PSU with a Sparkle
FSP-350-60PN 350 watt.

But here are my before and after numbers recorded by my BIOS:

Before: VCORE: 1.77v VAGP (3.3v): 1.52v
+5v: 4.48 +12v: 11.53 5VSB: 5.32

After: VCORE: 1.74v VAGP (3.3v): 1.50v
+5v: 4.89 +12v: 12.03 5VSB: 5.38

That doesn't seem like any difference. Especially the 3.3v line! It's still
providing less than half the voltage it should!
Click to expand...

If that really were the case, you wouldn't see any picture at all, and
more likely the BIOS would beep out an error code about the video
card.
Is there a better way to test the performance of a PSU?
Click to expand...

Don't trust readings given out by the BIOS, Motherboard Monitor,
Speedfan, or anything else that depends on measurement hardware built
into the motherboard because it's not very accurate. The 3.5 digit
(or 2000+ count) meter recommended by the more knowledgeable people in
the news group is the only way to determine the voltages, but finding
measurement points for the Vcore and Vagp may not be easy. Both can
be taken off their respective voltage regulator transistors, but that
requires knowing what a power transistor looks like. The AGP voltage
may also be available at one of the AGP slot pins
(www.pin-outs.com/datasheet_99.htm). However since Vcore and Vagp are
regulated on the motherboard, as is the 2.5V for DDR memory, their
values don't depend much on the power supply's outputs, unless they're
unusually low.
 
S

somebody

Don't worry about Tom. If your original "fear" didn't get you, then Tom's
paranoia and condescending attitude will surely push you over the edge.
When in doubt, keep in mind - you're not worthy!
Click to expand...

- No. Don't worry about Tom. - because he's alright. Just don't rub
him the wrong way... ;-)

And so is your PSU. I don't know what you're complaining about. It is
better. You've gone from 4.48 to 4.89 for 5V.

You don't have any 3.3V line. You have a 1.5V line because you have a
1.5V videocard! Everything is alright, and it is better than before.

Ancra
 
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