How do you monitor your PSU?

[Brillis Wuce]

I consider myself very technical-savvy, but one aspect I haven't really delved into is monitoring my power supply. I guess it kind of drives me little nuts not monitoring one of my PC components...

So my question is, is there anyone that's done any experimenting with both PSU monitoring software and hardware? I know DMM's and voltmeters are the way to go, but I'm curious if there's a way to do it through software that's anywhere nearly as accurate.

I know Hardware Monitor records the numbers, but I've heard they can unreliable.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

I use a PAID software AIDA 64.

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

I've never really thought of this, but given it's the most likely part to blow up in a computer, I guess it's definitely worth the effort 😛

Some of the Corsair units have advanced monitoring through a USB interface, right? I don't think a similar level of monitoring can be achieved on other units without that interface, but it's an interesting alternative, if anything. I wonder if something like this can be more widely implemented, but that would require more interest in PSU monitoring, and for whatever reason PSU's seem to be the thing people underestimate the most.

 

[Brillis Wuce]

@ Blackbird - Thanks for the suggestion. Downloading a trial right now. Gives you accurate readings?

@ Epsilon - Exactly. I monitor temperatures, frequencies and usages, but always overlook the power supply...you know...the one component that can fry everything...

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Yes it's a great tool , you'll see it covers quite a bit.

 

[ko888]

Software utilities like AIDA64, HWMonitor, HWiNFO64, etc., uses the motherboard's sensor chip for reporting voltages so it's only as accurate as the sensor chip itself and the algorithm used to interpret the signals from that sensor chip.

 

[Brillis Wuce]

Software utilities like AIDA64, HWMonitor, HWiNFO64, etc., uses the motherboard's sensor chip for reporting voltages so it's only as accurate as the sensor chip itself and the algorithm used to interpret the signals from that sensor chip.

Are these sensor chips usually reliable? Does it vary from different motherboard brands, or do even the same motherboard models have varying sensor accuracy?

 

[ko888]

Are these sensor chips usually reliable? Does it vary from different motherboard brands, or do even the same motherboard models have varying sensor accuracy?

Some of the sensor chips are custom made for a specific motherboard manufacturer. Some motherboard manufacturers use off the shelf sensor chips. Even within the same manufacturer different model sensor chips will be used with different motherboard models.

Software utilities will usually display incorrect voltages when motherboard manufacturers use a new or unsupported sensor chip model that isn't in their sensor database.

 

[Brillis Wuce]

Are these sensor chips usually reliable? Does it vary from different motherboard brands, or do even the same motherboard models have varying sensor accuracy?

Some of the sensor chips are custom made for a specific motherboard manufacturer. Some motherboard manufacturers use off the shelf sensor chips. Even within the same manufacturer different model sensor chips will be used with different motherboard models.

Software utilities will usually display incorrect voltages when motherboard manufacturers use a new or unsupported sensor chip model that isn't in their sensor database.

Gotcha. Thank's for the information. Stuff like that is hard to find online.