PSU Questions

[kamojamo]

G'day,
I have a buggered PSU, it's a Usicase SilentPower 500w. The power levels fluctuate on some of the voltages and my 12 volt rail is always at like 11 or 10.

I have three questions

1. What exactly does running a computer with a dodgy power supply do? Is there permanent damage? Will it explode or something?!

2. Can this in any way increase the temperature inside the case?
The fans are still running fine (i've got enough), but it seems that when the power dips the CPU temperature reports as being higher. (up to like 68 degrees C) Is this just a reading error? Wouldn't less power mean less heat?

3. Any reasons why purchasing an Antec EarthWatts 500W might be a bad idea?

Thanks!
kamojamo

[Namslas90]

Bad PSU can blow and take the MObo and other parts with it. Also unstable overclocks and performance.

A poor performing PSU can also increase tht heat inside the PC case.

Some things to keep in mind;
Electronics are not "IDEAL". IF you get a PSU with the exact wattage you "need" then you will probably end up having to replace more than just the PSU, soon.
PSU's are the heart of your system, if your heart is always beating as fast as possable (to keep up with the demand) it won't last very long. The harder the PSU works the more heat it generates.

A PSU that supplies more power than you need works less hard and last longer.
Always pay attention to the power requirements of the GPU (in watts).

When Buying a NEW PSU, get the BEST, QUALITY PSU you can afford with MORE power than you "need". This allows room for future upgrades, and will give you better overclocks, smoother operation, and the PSU will last longer because it's not working so hard to supply the draw of your system.

:toast:

[newconroer]

1. A damaged PSU could 'over-volt' or have some extenuating power surge that can damage other components, such as a motherboard, GPU etc.

2. It's possible that any cooling solutions that require power from the PSU, are not operating efficiently as they are not being supplied consistent power.

3. I don't ever recommend multi-rail power supplies, but it may serve your purpose(s).
Depends on what your system requires, you can fill that bit in, under your user control panel.

[panchoman]

Bad PSU can blow and take the MObo and other parts with it. Also unstable overclocks and performance.

A poor performing PSU can also increase tht heat inside the PC case.

Some things to keep in mind;
Electronics are not "IDEAL". IF you get a PSU with the exact wattage you "need" then you will probably end up having to replace more than just the PSU, soon.
PSU's are the heart of your system, if your heart is always beating as fast as possable (to keep up with the demand) it won't last very long. The harder the PSU works the more heat it generates.

A PSU that supplies more power than you need works less hard and last longer.
Always pay attention to the power requirements of the GPU (in watts).

When Buying a NEW PSU, get the BEST, QUALITY PSU you can afford with MORE power than you "need". This allows room for future upgrades, and will give you better overclocks, smoother operation, and the PSU will last longer because it's not working so hard to supply the draw of your system.

:toast:

agreed

a bad psu can produce a voltage spike that can possible take down your whole system. as for your voltages, what are you using to read the values? The more efficent that your psu is, the less heat that will be generated, the power probably dips because the cpu is under load and using more voltage then when its in a power saving mode. i would say that 68C is a very high temperature to be with for a cpu and it might be a reading error. earthwatts would be a very good psu for you to get.

[kamojamo]

Thanks Namslas90,

According to a PSU wattage requirement calculation website, my requirement is only 340w and i've got 500. So i'm assuming that 500 will be enough.

Increase heat ay? That sounds about right. I get SpeedFan to beep at me when the CPU temp goes over 61 degrees C and i notice, when watching the voltage on the 12v, that it's like 11.15 and quite, then it goes to like 11 and it starts beeping, 10.8 and it beeps more.

So would you reccomend to avoid using this computer while the PSU is dodgy? Is it doing damage to motherboard, HDD, cpu, Graphics card?

Thanks
kamojamo


(p.s. how do you put ur system specs in your name thingy)

[panchoman]

500 should be good if your system will only pull 340w.... those voltages are way too low, consider replacing that psu ASAP.its not damaging the system yet, but it can, and when it does, whatever it fries, will be well fried, and so you're better off investing in a new psu rather then taking the chances of frying possibly your whole system.

p.s. go to user cp and type it all in, and then enable us to see it :)

[newconroer]

Unless you have money to burn, or have backup parts then I would wait.

In your user control panel, on the left side menu you click to bring up the computer specifactions page.

[kamojamo]

Thanks newconroer and panchoman,

Well i'm not too worried about a voltage spike as it is so low, but i suppose anything is possible when it's so unpredictable, i don't ever recall reading the 12v as being 12 or even 11.5

I'm reading using both AsusProbe2 and SpeedFan.
atm i don't have speefan installed.

Thanks (and wow, quick replies!)
kamojamo

[Fuse-Wire]

get a new PSU before doing any more with your pc, using your current one is just going to end up in tears. To edit it your system specs goto your UserCP and its in there

[panchoman]

try using a multimeter and temperature probe/sensor instead. software readings aren't always accurate.

[newconroer]

Yes, sometimes we're on the ball. I often wonder if it's out of concern for someone else, or we're just at a moment of pure boredom, trolling around the forums, looking for something to do.

[kamojamo]

newconroer - hahaha, well it's good you spend the time helping others!

panchoman - i can't really afford that sort of stuff, it'll be hard to even get an EarthWatts 500w at $100! (my current PSU was 40 and is the same wattage). possibly that indicates why it's crap!

fuse-wire - end up in tears? right! i better pull the plug then! ...well not literally, that might do some extra damage. lol

Thanks all!
kamojamo

[Fuse-Wire]

myeh i am trying to sleep but i now remember why i hate laptops

[Fuse-Wire]

its 4:39 am and im up in 2 hours. joy and its monday

[panchoman]

Yes, sometimes we're on the ball. I often wonder if it's out of concern for someone else, or we're just at a moment of pure boredom, trolling around the forums, looking for something to do.

pure boredom?hell yeah
concern for someone else? yeah, when it comes to psus, im always there lol
trolling around the forums looking for something to do? sort of.. i just love helping people, thats why i have such a high ppd lmao

oh and kamajamo, a high quality and efficent psu may be expensive, but it'll be worth it in the end :)

[Namslas90]

Here's (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?page=4&Nav=|c:106|lp:50:hp:99.99|&Sort=0&Recs=10) some for less than $100. I would shy away from the Ultra's.

:toast:

[kamojamo]

panchoman - haha great! keep it up
fuse-wire - it's 2:40 pm here! lol, so from the future i'll say, "monday is going to be a good day" hahaha

thanks 4 ur help-s!

kamojamo

[panchoman]

Here's (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3401866&CatId=106) a good one for less than $100.

:toast:

whoa sweetness! me likey!!!!!

grab that one i say. didn't even know pp&c made psus of that low wattage lol.

[kamojamo]

sorry, thats 100 australian :P

[panchoman]

sorry, thats 100 australian :P

awwwww :( whats a good australlian hardware site? i'll have a look for good psu's

[kamojamo]

i'm on the best one we've got in my state

http://www.umart.com.au

btw, if anyone that works at umart reads this, i want a discount for that plug :D:D:D

haha

kamojamo

[kamojamo]

yeah, i just converted, in american dollars, it's $87.50 for the EarthWatts 500w
and that includes having to ship it all the way down here!
tiger direct probably costs a fair to get it sent here aswell

kamojamo

[panchoman]

http://www.umart.com.au/newindex2.phtml?bid=2 or
http://www.umart.com.au/newindex2.phtml?bid=2

looks good, top notch quality in it, i have a neohe 500(or 550) and its great.

well imma go to sleep now, peace out

[kamojamo]

what happened to ur antec smartpower?

btw, copying the URL's doesn't work
(you can see they're both the same)
soz

kamojamo

[Namslas90]

Problem is a hundred dollars in AU doesn't go far...Heres another link from AU dealer;

http://www.pcparts.net.au/Product/Power-Supply/550W-Corsair-VX-550.html

Cost more than you want to spend...still lookin though.:toast:

[Namslas90]

Never seen this site before. Good prices. Silverstone is always good;

http://www.pricespy.com.au/pno_4679.html

:toast:

SRY for DBL post.