Power Supply or Bios/Motherboard?

redlover · 01-17-2008, 12:41 PM

Hi all,

I am wondering what the community would think if they got a low voltage warning (hardware monitor) from the POST BIOS. Would you consider this to be a Motherboard/BIOS issue or a PSU issue? My gut is telling me that it is the power supply as the Hardware Monitor from the BIOS is telling me that the 3.3V is at 2.76V, 5V at 4.32V and 12V at 10.75V. I bought a Hiper HPU-4R580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W PSU from Newegg on May 2007. The computer has random lockups and freezes and all my hardware diagnostics have come up with nothing. Windows XP seems fine too with the exception of the occasional shut downs and lock ups. The case interior is completely clean (dust free) and the fans are spotless. It will boot up to Windows and sometimes out of the blue it just freezes. I built this case for a client and the specs are as follows:

ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

HIPER HPU-4R580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W Power Supply 100 - 120V UL, CE, TUV

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3320620A 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive

EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS Superclocked 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Atech Flash Xm-4U 11-in-1 USB 2.0 Black & Silver Internal card reader

Logitech 967561-0403 Black 102 Normal Keys 12 Function Keys USB + PS/2 Cordless Standard Desktop EX110 Mouse Included

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Devin

Tumbleweed36 · 01-17-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

12V at 10.75V
5V at 4.32V
3.3V is at 2.76V

Power supply output range must be +/- 5%

Stated
Voltage…..Lowest……Highest........ Yours
+12v…,..,,,,..11.4….……12.6......... 10.75v
+5v…….....…..4.75……..…5.25........ 4.32
+3.3v…….....3.134…,,….3.465....... 2.76v

Therefore, you can almost take it to the bank that the power supply is not up to the job. As a general rule, the Bios readings are pretty darn accurate and that reading is used most often by techs as an indicator of output. However, you need to know the only true way to test a power supply is with a multimeter.

In addition, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the HIPER series of power supplies rarely put out what they state they do and are not a member of the top tier of power supplies. You have a real problem trying to pull this rig with that power supply with the 8800GTS video card in there IMHO.

I would recommend an Antec Trio 650 to pull this rig and then it should run fine. You know that can never be guaranteed, but that is most likely your problem.

If this was my rig, I would get a good brand name power supply and get this nice build going.

**Doby** · 01-17-2008, 06:24 PM

I agree, the lockups and shutdowns are another tell tale sign that supports the very wise advice Tumbleweed has posted

redlover · 01-18-2008, 07:43 AM

Thanks guys!

Yeah I was coming to that conclusion myself and just wanted confirmation. The only reason that I ordered the HIPER PSU back in May 2007 was that NewEgg user reviews gave it 4 out of 5 eggs at the time and it fit the needs of my client in terms or price and need. Also, I didn't want to RMA this item before verification with you all first. Thanks again for replying back and I will be sure to get a more name brand PSU so this won't happen to him again!

Devin

redlover · 01-22-2008, 11:43 AM

Hey guys,

Just an FYI update on this ongoing issue. I just got a replacement power supply and installed it in the problem computer. Unfortunately, The voltages were still WAY below what they should have been (close to the original numbers I already posted). I then called Asus (whose customer support has as of late become REALLY cruddy in terms of wait times AND rudeness with their support staff) to find out if it could be the voltage regulator on the motherboard itself! Oh well, I now have an extra PSU and have had to order a new motherboard. The moral of the lesson is that if it is not the PSU, it is probably the motherboard when you are dealing with power issues!

Devin

01-17-2008, 12:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
redlover Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 26 OS: Win XP	Power Supply or Bios/Motherboard? Hi all, I am wondering what the community would think if they got a low voltage warning (hardware monitor) from the POST BIOS. Would you consider this to be a Motherboard/BIOS issue or a PSU issue? My gut is telling me that it is the power supply as the Hardware Monitor from the BIOS is telling me that the 3.3V is at 2.76V, 5V at 4.32V and 12V at 10.75V. I bought a Hiper HPU-4R580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W PSU from Newegg on May 2007. The computer has random lockups and freezes and all my hardware diagnostics have come up with nothing. Windows XP seems fine too with the exception of the occasional shut downs and lock ups. The case interior is completely clean (dust free) and the fans are spotless. It will boot up to Windows and sometimes out of the blue it just freezes. I built this case for a client and the specs are as follows: ASUS P5N32-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory HIPER HPU-4R580-MS ATX12V v2.2 580W Power Supply 100 - 120V UL, CE, TUV Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3320620A 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS Superclocked 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card Atech Flash Xm-4U 11-in-1 USB 2.0 Black & Silver Internal card reader Logitech 967561-0403 Black 102 Normal Keys 12 Function Keys USB + PS/2 Cordless Standard Desktop EX110 Mouse Included Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks! Devin __________________ Devin Cho CompTIA A+ Certified Professional (Depot Technician) CompTIA Network+ Certified Professional

01-17-2008, 06:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 7,070 OS: XP sp2/ Vista	Re: Power Supply or Bios/Motherboard? I agree, the lockups and shutdowns are another tell tale sign that supports the very wise advice Tumbleweed has posted __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF

01-18-2008, 07:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
redlover Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 26 OS: Win XP	Re: Power Supply or Bios/Motherboard? Thanks guys! Yeah I was coming to that conclusion myself and just wanted confirmation. The only reason that I ordered the HIPER PSU back in May 2007 was that NewEgg user reviews gave it 4 out of 5 eggs at the time and it fit the needs of my client in terms or price and need. Also, I didn't want to RMA this item before verification with you all first. Thanks again for replying back and I will be sure to get a more name brand PSU so this won't happen to him again! Devin __________________ Devin Cho CompTIA A+ Certified Professional (Depot Technician) CompTIA Network+ Certified Professional

01-22-2008, 11:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
redlover Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 26 OS: Win XP	Re: Power Supply or Bios/Motherboard? Hey guys, Just an FYI update on this ongoing issue. I just got a replacement power supply and installed it in the problem computer. Unfortunately, The voltages were still WAY below what they should have been (close to the original numbers I already posted). I then called Asus (whose customer support has as of late become REALLY cruddy in terms of wait times AND rudeness with their support staff) to find out if it could be the voltage regulator on the motherboard itself! Oh well, I now have an extra PSU and have had to order a new motherboard. The moral of the lesson is that if it is not the PSU, it is probably the motherboard when you are dealing with power issues! Devin __________________ Devin Cho CompTIA A+ Certified Professional (Depot Technician) CompTIA Network+ Certified Professional