PSU 12v Rail?

[xnocturnal]

Hey i recently setup a new gaming system and i am monitoring my psu rails and my 12v rail seems to be running at 11.6-11.7 v sometimes less when in game. Could this be a sign of not enough power on my 12v rails? new psu?

Thanks

Noc

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

600B is probably worse.

 

[turkey3_scratch]

A PSU won't shut off the voltages go out of spec. Under voltage protection will kick in far lower, usually when the voltage is at least double out of spec.

If your computer is having zero problems, looking at some software voltage and changing your PSU is a poor idea. It can just raise a false alarm. It can help to compare the voltages to the BIOS readings for accuracy, but 11.6V and even 11.5V sounds normal for a cheap group regulated power supply under load. If you ask me, that voltage is exactly where it should be since computers crossload.

 

[Agiel]

in BIOS is 11.808v when i play games i have seen less than 1.35v, sometimes (most of the time) game just crash, and less times pc shut off, also i noticed that under load my PSU its quite hot, i touch it and im pretty sure its above 55° or 60° and this PSU has more than 2 years of use, first HD7850, then a GTX660 SSC EVGA, now a r9 280 dual+x OC 3GB and is when problems started, happens only with new titles wich im sure sucks more power than Warlords of Draenor or Crisys 2, never crash or shut off with this 2 titles 🙁

 

[Agiel]

oh so EVGA 600B its worse ? so a 700 or 750 unit from EVGA would do the trick ? i dont have many options here in cuba

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

EVGA is all about which series , you want B2 , G2 , GS. are some of the better models made by reputable companies.

 

[Agiel]

so if i found any B2 i can go for it ? even 600W ? cause the other psu here available is the CX750M and i dont know if it is the same crap than the 600W model ?

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

B2 doesn't come in 600w.

 

[Agiel]

ahh, good to know, then its start in 700W range ? and CX750M would be good to go with ??

 

[turkey3_scratch]

in BIOS is 11.808v when i play games i have seen less than 1.35v, sometimes (most of the time) game just crash, and less times pc shut off, also i noticed that under load my PSU its quite hot, i touch it and im pretty sure its above 55° or 60° and this PSU has more than 2 years of use, first HD7850, then a GTX660 SSC EVGA, now a r9 280 dual+x OC 3GB and is when problems started, happens only with new titles wich im sure sucks more power than Warlords of Draenor or Crisys 2, never crash or shut off with this 2 titles 🙁

It's normal for PSUs with lower efficiency to get quite hot. You'll find that heatsinks are often attached to the casing which makes the casing of the power supply an extension of the heatsink; since the heatsinks hold the hottest components, if they are connected to the casing the casing, too, can get quite hot.

 

[Agiel]

this is not low efficiency, its not bad, 82% its 80 plus bronze ... if i conect it to 220V would it be more efficient ?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

this is not low efficiency, its not bad, 82% its 80 plus bronze ... if i conect it to 220V would it be more efficient ?

Yep. But really, heat can't just magically appear. Heat is exactly what it is, wasted energy. Really, all the DC energy turns into heat inside the computer, and the difference of AC and DC is the heat formed inside the power supply. 82% is going to be peak efficiency, typical efficiency is probably going to be more in the 70s, and under high loads especially it should get hotter.

 

[Agiel]

what about using 220v ?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Yeah 220V is more efficient. Not sure how you'll do that without changing countries. Don't even think about flipping that red switch.

 

[Agiel]

i have 110V and 220V here, this PSU is auto volt no red switch i just never used 220v on my pc

 

[Agiel]

its rated 90-230v

 

[turkey3_scratch]

Where do you live? Never heard of a country with both.

 

[Agiel]

Cuba, yes u can have both here, 100v its the standard, but u can ask the elect company to give u 220v and ofc u have to pay it

 

[turkey3_scratch]

The amount you pay for 220V will certainly outweight the efficiency gains. But if you already pay for it, why not I guess.

 

[Agiel]

so i will eat more power from a 220v wall than a 110v ? really ? i though it was all the way around ...

 

[turkey3_scratch]

No the input voltage has nothing to do with that. DC power is simply whatever your hardware demands.

 

[Agiel]

then why u say it outweight ?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

On 220V it is more efficient. DC power is the same. The AC however will be a bit lower than on 110V. This is because the current is lower on the primary side when it is 220V.

220V is more efficient.