Dying PSU?

[dgre005]

Hi everyone

I've heard that software PSU voltages are sometimes unreliable...so I was wondering whether I should trust this PSU (a Huntkey 500W - I know it's bad),
given these voltages (using HWmonitor; I also used Everest for idle values, BIOS shows similar values):

Minimum\Maximum under load: 12V: 11.07-11.31V
5V: 5.05-5.08V
3.3V: 3.09-3.26V

This is currently powering my secondary PC: a Socket 754 Venice Athlon64, 2GB DDR, 7950GT AGP, 1SATA HDD (adding 1 IDE), 2x12cm Case fans.
I'm mainly concerned because I'm about to install a new 3850 AGP and I don't want it going up in smoke...

Other than that the system is stable till now.

Thanks for any input.

 

[aford10]

How long have you been using that PSU?

If you've been using it a while, and it's been stable, you may be ok. But if it's a recent purchase, I wouldn't connect it to anything that you value.

 

[dgre005]

I was previously using it with a 4850 and Q6700 for about 4months and I think it was already showing lowish voltages....It's
just that they seemed to be a bit off what they should be (the other PSU I have has had all of them stable for about
2 years).

 

[JackNaylorPE]

Those numbers a reeaaaal low. A hi end PSU won't drop below 12 volts at full load and won't vary by more than a 1 % .....2 % is considered acceptable for demanding applications but Aunt Tillie could get by web browsing and doing e-mail with 5% ....that puts the min at about 11.5

 

[jsc]

ATX 2.XX specs are plus/minus 5%. A good PSU with undervolt protection wouldn't have let you boot once the voltage dropped below 11.4 volts.

 

[dgre005]

Yeah I think I should buy a new one maybe, after all this was meant to be a 'temporary' PSU...thanks for the info.

 

[dgre005]

ATX 2.XX specs are plus/minus 5%. A good PSU with undervolt protection wouldn't have let you boot once the voltage dropped below 11.4 volts.

So in other words this PSU may actually be ok? Or is it such a cheapo that it still boots?