Enough power?

[sgt-Sander-NL]

Hello, as I was overclocking today, I ran into a problem. First I'll post my system specs:

-ASRock 939S56 Socket 939 Mobo
-AMD Athlon 64 3200+
-2x512 pc3200 Dual Channel RAM
-Sapphire Ati Radeon X1600Pro
-Maxtor Diamondmax 200 GB (Sata 150)
-DVD RW drive
-Floppy drive

-plugged in devices are quite standard: keyboard, mouse, ipod etc.

Standard, my athlon runs at 2.0 ghz (multiplier 10x, bus 200 mhz). Up to and including 2.3 ghz it runs stable. After that my pc sometimes doesn't boot, or it boots into windows just to reboot after a few seconds.. So my idea was the power supply isn't sufficient to power my system when i'm overclocking because at 2.3 ghz it runs at 29 C, full load 35 C, so that shouldn't be the problem I guess.

The PSU came with my Aopen case and, according to some people, is from FSPgroup or something like that, anyway here are the ratings:

300W (+3,3v & +5v=120W max)
+3,3v 20.0A
+5v 20.0A
+12v1 8,0A
+12v2 14,0A
+5vsb 2,0A
-12v 0,8A

If I purchase a better PSU, will that lead to better performance? And will I then be able to increase my CPU speed further without problems?

Bit of a long read but thanks in advance!

[LuckySeven]

Re: Enough power?

Hard to say if it has enough power... Id say take a multimeter and measure each line and if voltage drops too bad upon startup, more powerful PSU may help. Also if your x1600pro requires a PCIe power cable its the 12v2 line, which gives more power.

Edit Most motherboards have built in voltage probes, so you may monitor voltage with appropriate software.

[sgt-Sander-NL]

Re: Enough power?

These are the values given by Everest, currently cpu is at 2300mhz:

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.38 V
+3.3 V 3.34 V
+5 V 5.08 V
+12 V 11.07 V
-12 V -0.19 V
-5 V 1.39 V
+5 V Standby 4.92 V
VBAT Battery 3.22 V

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: Enough power?

If that 12V reading is anywhere close to being correct, you're lucky that the computer even runs. As said above the only way to really tell what the voltages are is to use a volt/multimeter.

Anyway as far as overclocking with that board have a read here,

http://forums.ocworkbench.com/bbs/sh...ad.php?t=40579

[sgt-Sander-NL]

Re: Enough power?

It's a different board than the dual939... but should 300W be sufficient for my setup? Or do I need more watts/better PSU?

[Bloodsport]

Re: Enough power?

Are you slowing down your RAM divider to keep it at 200MHz as you increase the bus speed? Sounds like to me that the RAM is not coping with the increased speed. Slow the RAM to a fixed 166 MHZ then up the BUS and the multiplier.

[sgt-Sander-NL]

Re: Enough power?

Are you slowing down your RAM divider to keep it at 200MHz as you increase the bus speed? Sounds like to me that the RAM is not coping with the increased speed. Slow the RAM to a fixed 166 MHZ then up the BUS and the multiplier.

If I fix the ram to 166 MHZ it still won't go past 2,30/2,35 ghz

[LuckySeven]

Re: Enough power?

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.38 V
+3.3 V 3.34 V
+5 V 5.08 V
+12 V 11.07 V
-12 V -0.19 V
-5 V 1.39 V
+5 V Standby 4.92 V
VBAT Battery 3.22 V

12V is way too low, as said, you're lucky it even runs. Try the other 12V line and see if it helps, otherwise you need a better PSU. Also with weak PSU voltages tend to drop a lot under heavy load. That may be the reason why it won't go past 2.3. Do not buy the most expensive PSU you can find, a basic 400-500w will do fine. Just make sure it's not a bad brand and has enough juice in 12v lines.

-12V and -5 are also strange, but that may be normal because there's no load, don't know really.

[kulamonster3]

Re: Enough power?

For a good gaming rig with a good graphics card you will want a powersupply with similar specs to this"

# Output:

* Total Power: 600W
* Current:
o +5V: 30A
o +3.3V: 25A
o +12V: 37A {greater than 24 Amps on 12 V rail}
o -12V: 0.6A
o +5VSB: 2.5
* Efficiency: 79% Typical Load, 73% Full Load

Hope this helps!!!

[sgt-Sander-NL]

Re: Enough power?

At the moment i'm looking at the Coolermaster RealPower 450W, it has these 12V ratings:
+12V1 12 A (18A peak)
+12V2 10 A (16A peak)

Link:

http://www.coolermaster-europe.com/index.php?LT=nederlands&Language_s=11&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-450-ACLY&other_title=+RS-450-ACLY+Real%20Power%20450

Will that be enough on the 12V rail?

EDIT: I also saw an Asus 45GA 450W PSU at my local retailer for about 50 euro's:

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=7&l2=59&l3=202&model=556&modelmenu=1

The Coolermaster goes for 85 euro's here.. What is the better choice? The Asus is cheaper but I don't know if it is any good...

Has anyone got an idea? I'm thinking of going with the Asus as it seems to do the job..

[metalgear138]

Re: Enough power?

These are the values given by Everest, currently cpu is at 2300mhz:

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.38 V
+3.3 V 3.34 V
+5 V 5.08 V
+12 V 11.07 V
-12 V -0.19 V
-5 V 1.39 V
+5 V Standby 4.92 V
VBAT Battery 3.22 V

If you raise the FSB and the PC wont boot or wont run stable, then raise the CPU core voltage...and from the looks of your recorded values that's a little low if you want to overclock...but only raise the voltage one encrement at a time so you dont fry your processor. Just to give you an idea, my AMD X2 processor's core is at 1.41 V

At the moment i'm looking at the Coolermaster RealPower 450W, it has these 12V ratings:
+12V1 12 A (18A peak)
+12V2 10 A (16A peak)

Link:

http://www.coolermaster-europe.com/index.php?LT=nederlands&Language_s=11&url_place=product&p_serial=RS-450-ACLY&other_title=+RS-450-ACLY+Real%20Power%20450

Will that be enough on the 12V rail?

EDIT: I also saw an Asus 45GA 450W PSU at my local retailer for about 50 euro's:

http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?l1=7&l2=59&l3=202&model=556&modelmenu=1

The Coolermaster goes for 85 euro's here.. What is the better choice? The Asus is cheaper but I don't know if it is any good...

Has anyone got an idea? I'm thinking of going with the Asus as it seems to do the job..

Oh...and dont worry about the 5V, 12V and 3.3V readings. Those are the output voltages of your molex pins and they do vary alittle bit from time to time, I wouldnt mess with those.

[HateKILLL™]

Re: Enough power?

Did you read the minimum requirements for that card ? You need atleast a 350 watt power supply or greater . Even a 350 wont cut it !!! Go to sapphires forums and you will find out you need a good 450 watt ps & plan to shell out atleast a $100 on a new ps. Good luck !!!!!

[sgt-Sander-NL]

Re: Enough power?

well, the system ran perfect on my old PSU, after all I bought the asus and it's a lot more quiet and better, but still overclocking doesn't go further...

[Boomstick68]

Re: Enough power?

Best to get a single +12 rail higher than 30A. Dual or quad rails aren't all that. Research it.

[metalgear138]

Re: Enough power?

Best to get a single +12 rail higher than 30A. Dual or quad rails aren't all that. Research it.

nice setup