PSU question......

[Phinek]

I've recently upgraded my graphics card to a ti4600, and my old psu was only a 300w. I purchased a new case and psu, an Antec SmartPower 350w. After getting everything moved and playing for a bit, I noticed a warning signal I had never had before. I've been running Asus Probe in the background all the time, just to monitor system temp, but it is now flashing warning on the -12v range. It constantly runs between -13.0 to -13.25. I installed MBM 5 after reading on this board that it is a better system monitor, and I get the ranges posted below. I have no idea if this is bad or not, just wondering if someone could give me a little info on this.


Voltage Readout[3] +3.3v : 3.568
Voltage Readout[4] +5v : 5.02656
Voltage Readout[5] +12v : 12.0992
Voltage Readout[6] -12v : -13.21216
Voltage Readout[7] -5v : -5.146272

 

[lhgpoobaa]

I wouldnt worry about it.
The negative voltage lines barely carry any power, (1 Amp max) and often vary considerably.
Its just the analprogram kicking up a stink.

Really the main voltages you have to worry about are the ones that carry all the load, the 5v and 12v lines.
With your values you will notice that they are very close to what they should be. You have a good quality PSU.

<b><font color=purple>[Rik_]</font color=purple> I wonder how many people have made their own phasechange system?
<font color=blue>[LHGPooBaa]</font color=blue> I get phasechange whenever i eat a hot chillie :lol: </b>

 

[svol]

Don't worry... the negative voltages aren't important and the main voltages (3.3, 5 and 12V) are OK.

My PC eats so much money that I'm in 'desperate' need of it to buy PC3500 RAM, help Svol with his OC project!
--- PM me for information.

 

[Phinek]

THank you both for the replies. Since my psu apparently isnt the problem, now I have to look elsewhere for cause for my crashing.

 

[svol]

What kind of crashes do you have?

My PC eats so much money that I'm in 'desperate' need of it to buy PC3500 RAM, help Svol with his OC project!
--- PM me for information.

 

[pane00]

I'm planning to upgrade my system. I am confused on how important the 12v rail is. This is how I understand it from Amd's "Building a System" pdf.

AMD XP2100 12v@7.49amps
KT400 mobo 12v@.30amps
Cpufan 12v@.30amps
My CDRW 12v@1.80amps
can't find specs on my toshiba
estimate 12v@.80amps
Maxtor 60gb 12v@1800milliamps at startup=1.8amps?
Maxtor 20gb 12v@2500milliamps at startup=2.5amps?
4 Case fans .25amps each 12v@1.0amp

So if i add this up i get 15.99amps. My enlight 340watt outputs 15amps on the 12v rail. So I will need a bigger PSU right? I read this review http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021021/index.html
and they reviewed 21 PSU's and had a system with 4 HD's on raid array (that's almost 8amps right there at startup) and had many 300 to 350 watt PSU working with the same specs as mine. Also my current 12v rail will move from 12.43 to 12.25 depending on the load my 5v moves from 5 to 4.97. I'm wondering how to read this, is this what the PSU is putting out? So higher is better?

 

[svol]

I don't think you need a new PSU. This guide to choose the PSU is better then AMD's Building a System PDF:
<A HREF="http://firingsquad.gamers.com/guides/power_supply/" target="_new">http://firingsquad.gamers.com/guides/power_supply/</A>

My PC eats so much money that I'm in 'desperate' need of it to buy PC3500 RAM, help Svol with his OC project!
--- PM me for information.