Am I overloading my PSU?

[KommisMar]

Hey all,

Still working on building the perfect box here. I recently took my computer through a major overhaul that has me a little worried, though. I've always been of the opinion that a high quality 350W PSU is good enough for almost any "average person's" system, but now I'm not so sure.

Hopefully not forgetting anything, here's what I currently have in my box that's going to be a power draw:

Athlon XP 2400+
ECS K7S5A Pro
1024MB RAM
120GB Seagate Barracuda ATA-V
Radeon 9000 Pro
SB Audigy
3Com 10/100 NIC (disabled, currently using onboard NIC)
ATI TV-Wonder (full version)
Vantec Nexus Fan Speed Controller
Vantec Nexus CPU Fan Speed Controller / Transfer Panel
TDK VeloCD 40/10/24 CDRW
1.44" Floppy
USB hub (not using self-powered capability)
Microsoft Intellimouse 3.0
Five case and CPU fans, all undervolted: four Panaflo, one Zalman

My PSU is an Enermax Whisper, 350W.

Most of these parts were grandfathered from my last system build, except for a few differences: It was PIII 1200MHz (Tualatin)-based, had no case fans, and had two WD 7200RPM hard drives instead of the one Seagate.

Now, here's the thing that concerns me: It used to be that when I glanced at my temps in Sandra, the PSU probe would be darn near room temperature. Now, I'm getting around 47 C. That seems awfully hot. I can feel the top of my case and confirm this - it's warm. Also, the air expelled by the PSU's exhaust fan is pretty warm. (Yes, I do have the PSU's fan connector hooked up.) On the other hand, the two case exhaust fans are putting out cool air. I'm not sure where it's located, but the motherboard's thermal probe is reading 19 C.

Best I can figure, either the two case exhaust fans (which are almost directly below the PSU - I think that's standard for ATX) are creating turbulence and keeping the PSU fans from doing their job, or I'm overloading my PSU - but my system seems so ordinary, that surprises me.

Here's my voltage readings in Sandra:
+3.3V: 3.34
+5V: 4.97
+12V: 11.79
-12V: 0.56
-5V: 2.84
(Yes, I know this can be less than accurate.)

Those negative readings look a little strange, but I'm no electrician. I can barely work a voltmeter, and unfortunately I don't own one.

So what are your opinions, everyone? I do plan to upgrade my PSU, but that could be a few months down the road. Plus, I was also planning to get a new video card (Probably 9700 Pro or something similar) and a second hard drive (another of what I've got), and I was only planning to get a 400W power supply since that's pretty much what "silent" offerings like the SilenX or Nexus units max out at.

Any help would be appreciated.

[ace727861986]

Originally posted by KommisMar
Hey all,

Still working on building the perfect box here. I recently took my computer through a major overhaul that has me a little worried, though. I've always been of the opinion that a high quality 350W PSU is good enough for almost any "average person's" system, but now I'm not so sure.

Hopefully not forgetting anything, here's what I currently have in my box that's going to be a power draw:

Athlon XP 2400+
ECS K7S5A Pro
1024MB RAM
120GB Seagate Barracuda ATA-V
Radeon 9000 Pro
SB Audigy
3Com 10/100 NIC (disabled, currently using onboard NIC)
ATI TV-Wonder (full version)
Vantec Nexus Fan Speed Controller
Vantec Nexus CPU Fan Speed Controller / Transfer Panel
TDK VeloCD 40/10/24 CDRW
1.44" Floppy
USB hub (not using self-powered capability)
Microsoft Intellimouse 3.0
Five case and CPU fans, all undervolted: four Panaflo, one Zalman

My PSU is an Enermax Whisper, 350W.

Most of these parts were grandfathered from my last system build, except for a few differences: It was PIII 1200MHz (Tualatin)-based, had no case fans, and had two WD 7200RPM hard drives instead of the one Seagate.

Now, here's the thing that concerns me: It used to be that when I glanced at my temps in Sandra, the PSU probe would be darn near room temperature. Now, I'm getting around 47 C. That seems awfully hot. I can feel the top of my case and confirm this - it's warm. Also, the air expelled by the PSU's exhaust fan is pretty warm. (Yes, I do have the PSU's fan connector hooked up.) On the other hand, the two case exhaust fans are putting out cool air. I'm not sure where it's located, but the motherboard's thermal probe is reading 19 C.

Best I can figure, either the two case exhaust fans (which are almost directly below the PSU - I think that's standard for ATX) are creating turbulence and keeping the PSU fans from doing their job, or I'm overloading my PSU - but my system seems so ordinary, that surprises me.

Here's my voltage readings in Sandra:
+3.3V: 3.34
+5V: 4.97
+12V: 11.79
-12V: 0.56
-5V: 2.84
(Yes, I know this can be less than accurate.)

Those negative readings look a little strange, but I'm no electrician. I can barely work a voltmeter, and unfortunately I don't own one.

So what are your opinions, everyone? I do plan to upgrade my PSU, but that could be a few months down the road. Plus, I was also planning to get a new video card (Probably 9700 Pro or something similar) and a second hard drive (another of what I've got), and I was only planning to get a 400W power supply since that's pretty much what "silent" offerings like the SilenX or Nexus units max out at.

Any help would be appreciated.

[toastbim]

someone posted a psu meter here it might turn out to be handy for you

[toastbim]

Originally posted by ace727861986

and??
you were going to say something!?!?!

[ace727861986]

Originally posted by KommisMar
Hey all,

Still working on building the perfect box here. I recently took my computer through a major overhaul that has me a little worried, though. I've always been of the opinion that a high quality 350W PSU is good enough for almost any "average person's" system, but now I'm not so sure.

Hopefully not forgetting anything, here's what I currently have in my box that's going to be a power draw:

Athlon XP 2400+
ECS K7S5A Pro
1024MB RAM
120GB Seagate Barracuda ATA-V
Radeon 9000 Pro
SB Audigy
3Com 10/100 NIC (disabled, currently using onboard NIC)
ATI TV-Wonder (full version)
Vantec Nexus Fan Speed Controller
Vantec Nexus CPU Fan Speed Controller / Transfer Panel
TDK VeloCD 40/10/24 CDRW
1.44" Floppy
USB hub (not using self-powered capability)
Microsoft Intellimouse 3.0
Five case and CPU fans, all undervolted: four Panaflo, one Zalman

My PSU is an Enermax Whisper, 350W.

Most of these parts were grandfathered from my last system build, except for a few differences: It was PIII 1200MHz (Tualatin)-based, had no case fans, and had two WD 7200RPM hard drives instead of the one Seagate.

Now, here's the thing that concerns me: It used to be that when I glanced at my temps in Sandra, the PSU probe would be darn near room temperature. Now, I'm getting around 47 C. That seems awfully hot. I can feel the top of my case and confirm this - it's warm. Also, the air expelled by the PSU's exhaust fan is pretty warm. (Yes, I do have the PSU's fan connector hooked up.) On the other hand, the two case exhaust fans are putting out cool air. I'm not sure where it's located, but the motherboard's thermal probe is reading 19 C.

Best I can figure, either the two case exhaust fans (which are almost directly below the PSU - I think that's standard for ATX) are creating turbulence and keeping the PSU fans from doing their job, or I'm overloading my PSU - but my system seems so ordinary, that surprises me.

Here's my voltage readings in Sandra:
+3.3V: 3.34
+5V: 4.97
+12V: 11.79
-12V: 0.56
-5V: 2.84
(Yes, I know this can be less than accurate.)

Those negative readings look a little strange, but I'm no electrician. I can barely work a voltmeter, and unfortunately I don't own one.

So what are your opinions, everyone? I do plan to upgrade my PSU, but that could be a few months down the road. Plus, I was also planning to get a new video card (Probably 9700 Pro or something similar) and a second hard drive (another of what I've got), and I was only planning to get a 400W power supply since that's pretty much what "silent" offerings like the SilenX or Nexus units max out at.

Any help would be appreciated.

ok here is the thing if its working fine DONT FIX IT. If you are having the PC lock up crash etc then you have a problem and would probably be a good chance that its the psu. Looks to me that your 12v 3.3v and 5v rails are fine. The main one to worry about is the 12V rail which has the cpu on it. If the machine is running hot you need to expect that due to the fact that the cpu u have is not a very kool running cpu. I do know that 47C is kinda hot 1. check that your fan on your cpu fan speed 2. check your temp in your BIOS 3. reseat your cpu fan.


p.s I HATE THIS KEYBOARD OF MINE.

[ace727861986]

Originally posted by ace727861986

look down .

GRRRRRRRRRRRR I SCREWED UP AGAIN GRRRRRRR was supposed to edit that blank post.

[KommisMar]

Hm, very cool link.

And here's what I found (I had to fudge a few items where they didn't have an exact match, of course):

Total output: 225.3W
3.3V+5V Max: 147.4W (The Enermax is rated for 185W)
3.3V+5V+12V: 215.3W (Couldn't find rating data)
3.3V line Max: 14.1A (Rated for 32A)
5V line Max: 20.2A (Rated for 32A)
12V line Max: 5.7A (Rated for 26A)

And here's the thing. While I was looking at the spec sheet for my PSU, I found that the max operating temperature is 25 C. OUCH! Should I be afraid, here?

[KommisMar]

It is worth noting here that I have experienced no instability whatsoever, after getting some initial motherboard problems worked out.

My CPU idles between about 36-41 C, depending on how high I have the fans turned up.