How bad are these voltage readings?

SpartanSpurs · Jun 16, 2013

To save me writing it our again, I had these problems yesterday. http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1704783/post-suddenly-working-wrong.html
However I realised I'd been mounting my motherboard wrong and in the hope that might of been the problem I put my PC back together this afternoon to run some voltage tests on OCCT. They were mostly very good... Apart from these two.

My main question is, how if they are so far out is my PC even running, let alone running well?

JackNaylorPE · Jun 16, 2013

That is whacked..... ATX standard is 5%

You have any other monitoring utilities running ?

SpartanSpurs · Jun 16, 2013

JackNaylorPE :

Nope, I did check the readings in the bios though and they were much more reasonable... Time to run some seriously intense benchmark and more than likely watch the entire thing explode...

I'll post how it goes

RetiredChief · Jun 16, 2013

Added: Your +5 V is NOT + 2.82 V (Sytem would not power on) & Ignore the Neg 12V - Need to Look @ +12V. End Added.

1) When software is reporting voltages that are totally out in left field, it is because the software is NOT looking in the right place to obtain the value.
.. Sometimes need to try other software . Might try HWMonitor. Nonally may MBs come with software that will report temps and voltages and these are generally more reliable.
2) HOWEVER the best way is to buy a cheap Digital Multimeter, generally around $15 -> $20 at Walmart and / or Auto store.
.. They are really very simple to use - Just google "How to use a Voltmeter"
.. They are handy tools, not just for computers, but around the House and car.
.. To check your +5 and +12V (+12V is where most of your power is derived and is the one that most often gives a problem):
........ With system off Plug the Black meter lead into one of the two center sockets of a molex power connector (Will have black wires on it). Then Plug the RED meter lead into the end of the molex connector with the Yellow (or orange wire) - this is your +12V. The other end of the molex connector with the RED wire is your +5V.
........ Power on the Computer and monitor the +12 V. It must be between 11.4V and 12.6 V (Note I ditch a PSU if +12V drops below 11.6V). This is at idle and You need to load the system and recheck. To load the +12V I use either prime 95 or Furmark. Repeat this for the +5 V which must be between 4.75V and 5.25V

.. PS The Negative 12 V is not normally used in modern systems. personally Unless I checked it with a Voltmeter I would ignore it. Problem is to measure it is only found on the 20/24 pin connector.

Shaun o · Jun 16, 2013

What your seeing there is the power protection features of the Psu kicking in to prevent a complete melt down.

You going to have to work out what the total amp output is of the 12v power rail. And then the total draw on it
And also take note if it is a single rail 12v.
Or a dual rail 12v.
By the look of it I would say it`s a 12 single rail PSU, with an amp overload on the 12v rail.

H60 is drawing, Gtx 660, H60 water cooling loop.
Plus any hdds, how many, and cd/dvd drives. plus the extra 12v cpu feed to the board eight pin.

More power=more amps. so in gaming it`s no wander it falls over.

SpartanSpurs · Jun 16, 2013

RetiredChief :

Added: Your +5 V is NOT + 2.82 V (Sytem would not power on) & Ignore the Neg 12V - Need to Look @ +12V. End Added.

1) When software is reporting voltages that are totally out in left field, it is because the software is NOT looking in the right place to obtain the value.
.. Sometimes need to try other software . Might try HWMonitor. Nonally may MBs come with software that will report temps and voltages and these are generally more reliable.
2) HOWEVER the best way is to buy a cheap Digital Multimeter, generally around $15 -> $20 at Walmart and / or Auto store.
.. They are really very simple to use - Just google "How to use a Voltmeter"
.. They are handy tools, not just for computers, but around the House and car.
.. To check your +5 and +12V (+12V is where most of your power is derived and is the one that most often gives a problem):
........ With system off Plug the Black meter lead into one of the two center sockets of a molex power connector (Will have black wires on it). Then Plug the RED meter lead into the end of the molex connector with the Yellow (or orange wire) - this is your +12V. The other end of the molex connector with the RED wire is your +5V.
........ Power on the Computer and monitor the +12 V. It must be between 11.4V and 12.6 V (Note I ditch a PSU if +12V drops below 11.6V). This is at idle and You need to load the system and recheck. To load the +12V I use either prime 95 or Furmark. Repeat this for the +5 V which must be between 4.75V and 5.25V

.. PS The Negative 12 V is not normally used in modern systems. personally Unless I checked it with a Voltmeter I would ignore it. Problem is to measure it is only found on the 20/24 pin connector.

Ok thanks, I've been putting off getting a multimeter for now, but I might as well just go for it. Only about £5 on ebay and I have a shop down the road that sells all kinds of things for pretty good prices. So I'll pick one up tomorrow and hope everything is ok.

RetiredChief · Jun 16, 2013

@ Shaun o
His graph is for the NEGATIVE 12 V. There is ONLY one -12V rail and it is relative LOW power. The neg 5 has already been dropped in Most cases as The ISA slot has been obsolete for quite some time. The neg 12 V is only used in a few isolated cases.
Quote
The −12 V rail was used primarily to provide the negative supply voltage to the RS-232 serial ports. A -5 rail was provided for peripherals on the ISA bus, but was not used by the motherboard
End quote.

SpartanSpurs · Jun 16, 2013

RetiredChief :

Added: Your +5 V is NOT + 2.82 V (Sytem would not power on) & Ignore the Neg 12V - Need to Look @ +12V. End Added.

1) When software is reporting voltages that are totally out in left field, it is because the software is NOT looking in the right place to obtain the value.
.. Sometimes need to try other software . Might try HWMonitor. Nonally may MBs come with software that will report temps and voltages and these are generally more reliable.
2) HOWEVER the best way is to buy a cheap Digital Multimeter, generally around $15 -> $20 at Walmart and / or Auto store.
.. They are really very simple to use - Just google "How to use a Voltmeter"
.. They are handy tools, not just for computers, but around the House and car.
.. To check your +5 and +12V (+12V is where most of your power is derived and is the one that most often gives a problem):
........ With system off Plug the Black meter lead into one of the two center sockets of a molex power connector (Will have black wires on it). Then Plug the RED meter lead into the end of the molex connector with the Yellow (or orange wire) - this is your +12V. The other end of the molex connector with the RED wire is your +5V.
........ Power on the Computer and monitor the +12 V. It must be between 11.4V and 12.6 V (Note I ditch a PSU if +12V drops below 11.6V). This is at idle and You need to load the system and recheck. To load the +12V I use either prime 95 or Furmark. Repeat this for the +5 V which must be between 4.75V and 5.25V

.. PS The Negative 12 V is not normally used in modern systems. personally Unless I checked it with a Voltmeter I would ignore it. Problem is to measure it is only found on the 20/24 pin connector.

You were right about the MB software, installed EasyTune and it's giving readings very close to the values (hopefully accurate), will still pick up a multimeter though. Thanks for your help.

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How bad are these voltage readings?

SpartanSpurs

Honorable

RetiredChief

JackNaylorPE

Titan

SpartanSpurs

Honorable

RetiredChief

Judicious

Shaun o

Illustrious

SpartanSpurs

Honorable

RetiredChief

Judicious

SpartanSpurs

Honorable

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