[PSU] Detecting Current watts-usage

[JH6]

hi, I've had a good read of the sticky FAQ at the top of this forum - but couldn't really find an answer.

<b>Can i detect what percentage of my PSU I'm currently using?</b> I've just added an extra 2 HDD's to my system and it seems perfectly happy... but just got me wandering.

I have a nice Antec TruPower 330 (might be 350), with a P4-3.06ghz, 4 HDD's, 2 optical drives, Radeon-9800, a few fans and a couple of USB devices.

As I said, the system is stable, doesn't appear to be too hot and the voltages are steady in +/- 3% of respective values.

Yet I can imagine I'm easily chewing up 200-300w that my PSU is spitting out.

any ideas is appreciated.
Cheers,
Jack

 

[Mr5oh]

To keep the answer easy, no you can not detect what percentage you are using (You can, but it takes special equipment, that most people don't have, or know how to use).

You have to remember that watts aren't everything. What is more important than watts is the amps, especially on the 12v line. You 330 power supply has more amps on the 12v line than a lot of generic 400-480 watt power supplies. Your powersupply has 18 amps on the 12+, which is really pretty healthy.

Here is my setup (I only have 16 amps on the 12+ line.) 2800+ XP, 2x512 PC3200 RAM, 2 HD, 2 CD drives, Equalizer, 12 fans, all my PCI slots are filled, USB devices, and a GeForce 6800. You have a a couple of extra hard drives, I forget what they draw, but I don't remember it being very much.

I'd stop worrying about it. Everything seems to be working ok, so until its not, I'd would be slow to upgrade.

Many people go nuts on power supplies, most systems would run ok on 300 watts, but still people opt for 500 watt monsters. Now don't get me wrong, I am <b>NOT</b> saying to go out and buy a 300 watt, becuase there are advantages to buying a larger power supply, all I am saying is that it is not completely necessary.

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>
Overclocking Results: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc2.html</A>

 

[JH6]

To keep the answer easy, no you can not detect what percentage you are using

Doesn't surprise me to be honest. Thanks for clearing it up tho!

Your powersupply has 18 amps on the 12+, which is really pretty healthy.

I didn't know that but I suppose buying a decent brand-named PSU is paying off...

I'd stop worrying about it. Everything seems to be working ok, so until its not, I'd would be slow to upgrade.

It was mostly out of curiosity, given the huge range of statistics I can pull up about my computer and the benchmarks I can run, I wondered if anyone had considered such a thing. As a test last night I built a load-testing application that ran a few D3D programs and constantly read/write to all 4 HDD's...

The voltage fluctuations in the mobo control panel didn't change much at all. So I guess that's proof enough that the old dog is fine

Thanks again,
Jack