How to check power supply load?

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Hello,

Is there a way to check the load on the power supply without having to
go out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden reboots yesterday
and would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my system config:

430W PS
P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
Albatron PX865 m/b
i865 chipset
3 case fans
4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB Maxtor SATA set
up as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
Sony DVD-ROM drive
HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
Matrox Parhelia video card
Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25" drive bay)
Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power connected)
USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC

As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the last couple of
weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my CD-RW to the DVD
writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power supply?

Thanks,
Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

BTW, the power supply is an Antec TruePower 430.

Thanks,
Steven

Steven Whatley <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Is there a way to check the load on the power supply without having to
> go out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden reboots yesterday
> and would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my system config:
>
> 430W PS
> P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
> 1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
> Albatron PX865 m/b
> i865 chipset
> 3 case fans
> 4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB Maxtor SATA set
> up as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
> Sony DVD-ROM drive
> HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
> Matrox Parhelia video card
> Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25" drive bay)
> Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
> Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
> PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power connected)
> USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC
>
> As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the last couple of
> weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my CD-RW to the DVD
> writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power supply?
>
> Thanks,
> Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Intel has the Active Monitor that will scan and report the
voltages, if you're over-loaded they will be low and there
will be more heat. Get the motherboard monitor for your
motherboard and see what it shows. You might do well to get
another box and move some of the stuff into a networked
computer for data storage.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Steven Whatley" <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:ecg$dQE9EHA.3640@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
| Hello,
|
| Is there a way to check the load on the power supply
without having to
| go out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden
reboots yesterday
| and would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my
system config:
|
| 430W PS
| P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
| 1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
| Albatron PX865 m/b
| i865 chipset
| 3 case fans
| 4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB
Maxtor SATA set
| up as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
| Sony DVD-ROM drive
| HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
| Matrox Parhelia video card
| Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25"
drive bay)
| Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
| Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
| PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power
connected)
| USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC
|
| As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the
last couple of
| weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my CD-RW
to the DVD
| writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power supply?
|
| Thanks,
| Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Jim Macklin <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm> wrote:
> Intel has the Active Monitor that will scan and report the
> voltages, if you're over-loaded they will be low and there
> will be more heat. Get the motherboard monitor for your
> motherboard and see what it shows. You might do well to get
> another box and move some of the stuff into a networked
> computer for data storage.

I came across a reference to a Tom's Hardware article in another tread in
this forum that talks about power supplies. Very interesting. I may need
to get a volt meter anyway. I will try out some monitoring software for
now.

Thanks,
Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Your short answer. Yes. Go buy a power supply in the range of 600 watts.
You have enough hardware there to start your own computer parts store. Keep
in mind that some power supply manufacturers will produce a PSU that says it
supplies 430 watts but actually only supplies about 380 to 400 watts. Read
the fine print.

"Steven Whatley" <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ecg$dQE9EHA.3640@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> Is there a way to check the load on the power supply without having to
> go out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden reboots yesterday
> and would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my system config:
>
> 430W PS
> P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
> 1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
> Albatron PX865 m/b
> i865 chipset
> 3 case fans
> 4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB Maxtor SATA set
> up as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
> Sony DVD-ROM drive
> HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
> Matrox Parhelia video card
> Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25" drive bay)
> Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
> Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
> PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power connected)
> USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC
>
> As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the last couple of
> weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my CD-RW to the DVD
> writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power supply?
>
> Thanks,
> Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

You need electronic equipment to check current load.


--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard 🙂

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"Steven Whatley" <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ecg$dQE9EHA.3640@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> Is there a way to check the load on the power supply without having to go
> out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden reboots yesterday and
> would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my system config:
>
> 430W PS
> P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
> 1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
> Albatron PX865 m/b
> i865 chipset
> 3 case fans
> 4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB Maxtor SATA set up
> as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
> Sony DVD-ROM drive
> HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
> Matrox Parhelia video card
> Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25" drive bay)
> Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
> Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
> PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power connected)
> USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC
>
> As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the last couple of
> weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my CD-RW to the DVD
> writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power supply?
>
> Thanks,
> Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Volt meters come in two general types, the analog devices
with a mechanical needle and the newer digital types with a
LCD display. The digital types are more accurate and rugged
but have one problem that needs to be kept in mind. They
are very high impedance which makes them more accurate
because they place a smaller load on a circuit but is to
small to switch a ATX power supply ON when checking for
voltage.
A quick explanation, a 5 volt lead on a power supply won't
turn ON unless a load that will draw some minimum power, say
0.01 amp which means that you need a 500 ohm resistor and
the meter has a resistance of 100,000 or more ohms at 5
volts and won't be a significant draw on the power supply.
This makes them more accurate but requires some dummy load
to turn the power supply ON.


--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Steven Whatley" <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:etIJfRF9EHA.2180@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
| Jim Macklin <p51mustang[threeX12]@xxxhotmail.calm> wrote:
| > Intel has the Active Monitor that will scan and report
the
| > voltages, if you're over-loaded they will be low and
there
| > will be more heat. Get the motherboard monitor for your
| > motherboard and see what it shows. You might do well to
get
| > another box and move some of the stuff into a networked
| > computer for data storage.
|
| I came across a reference to a Tom's Hardware article in
another tread in
| this forum that talks about power supplies. Very
interesting. I may need
| to get a volt meter anyway. I will try out some
monitoring software for
| now.
|
| Thanks,
| Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Antec sells a tester for the power supply at a reasonable
price,
see http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=77003
Features:
a.. Allows quick and easy testing
b.. Built-in 25W 5.4 ohm load to generate steady
outputs
c.. POWER_OK green LED indicates power supply is
working
d.. +5V, +3.3V & 12V leads for volt metering to
check output voltages

Instructions on how to use it are at
http://www.antec.com/specs/instruction2.html

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.


"Steven Whatley" <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote in
message news:O$ryJPF9EHA.1296@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
| BTW, the power supply is an Antec TruePower 430.
|
| Thanks,
| Steven
|
| Steven Whatley <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote:
| > Is there a way to check the load on the power supply
without having to
| > go out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden
reboots yesterday
| > and would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my
system config:
| >
| > 430W PS
| > P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
| > 1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
| > Albatron PX865 m/b
| > i865 chipset
| > 3 case fans
| > 4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB
Maxtor SATA set
| > up as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
| > Sony DVD-ROM drive
| > HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
| > Matrox Parhelia video card
| > Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25"
drive bay)
| > Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
| > Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
| > PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power
connected)
| > USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC
| >
| > As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the
last couple of
| > weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my
CD-RW to the DVD
| > writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power
supply?
| >
| > Thanks,
| > Steven

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

In article <#ojziOH9EHA.1400@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl>,
Kevin <webman6@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Your short answer. Yes. Go buy a power supply in the range of 600 watts.
>You have enough hardware there to start your own computer parts store. Keep
>in mind that some power supply manufacturers will produce a PSU that says it
>supplies 430 watts but actually only supplies about 380 to 400 watts. Read
>the fine print.
>
>"Steven Whatley" <swhatley_hal-pc_org@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:ecg$dQE9EHA.3640@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> Hello,
>>
>> Is there a way to check the load on the power supply without having to
>> go out and buy a volt meter? I had a couple of sudden reboots yesterday
>> and would like to try rule out PS problems. Here is my system config:
>>
>> 430W PS
>> P4 2.8GHz with HT (not overclocked)
>> 1GB RAM (two 512MB DDR memory cards)
>> Albatron PX865 m/b
>> i865 chipset
>> 3 case fans
>> 4 hard drives (40GB WD IDE, 120GB WD IDE and two 250GB Maxtor SATA set
>> up as RAID 1 (hardware mirrored)
>> Sony DVD-ROM drive
>> HP DVD Writer 630i (does dual layer)
>> Matrox Parhelia video card
>> Audigy 2 ZS Platinum (with front side imputs in a 5.25" drive bay)
>> Hauppauge WinTV Theater tuner PCI card.
>> Promise FastTrax TX2200 SATA RAID card.
>> PalmOne PDA USB charging cradle (with external power connected)
>> USB conection to a HP psc 2210 MFC
>>
>> As you can tell, it is a very full system. Just in the last couple of
>> weeks I added the second 250GB drive and upgraded my CD-RW to the DVD
>> writer. Do you think I need to upgrade the power supply?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steven
>
>

Some of the PSU nameplates show AMP rating on each of the lines (3.3v,
5v, 12v). WIth all the stuff you've in this box got I suspect that one
of those lines is over-committed. It would be good to measure the
current on each line using the PSU you've got before you went out and
spent $$$ for a huge premium PSU that doesn;t have the amps where you
need them.

Here are some big PSUs with specs;

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/highperformance/turbocools/510/index.htm


--

a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore.