Different Voltage Output Values


E

epitaph

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So... I realize this might not be the proper forum for this, but I decided I'd have a go at it anyway...

I've got this box (A64 3700+, 2x GF6800 Ultra SLI, 2048M DDR) which I use mainly for gaming but various other things as well. Now, I've been getting confused about the actual output on 12V-rail(s) on the PSU in it. If I hook up a multimeter to a molex connector I get a reading of 12.21V... but BIOS and various apps say 11.8V. Which reading should I trust? From what I've read, you're supposed to trust multimeter readings rather than software-ones.

Edit: motherboard's an Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe with some IT-sensor.
 
epitaph posted on Dec 3 2006 at 02:41 PM said:
So... I realize this might not be the proper forum for this, but I decided I'd have a go at it anyway...

I've got this box (A64 3700+, 2x GF6800 Ultra SLI, 2048M DDR) which I use mainly for gaming but various other things as well. Now, I've been getting confused about the actual output on 12V-rail(s) on the PSU in it. If I hook up a multimeter to a molex connector I get a reading of 12.21V... but BIOS and various apps say 11.8V. Which reading should I trust? From what I've read, you're supposed to trust multimeter readings rather than software-ones.
Click to expand...
If you have a good multimeter, I would trust that. If it's a cheap one, then I would trust your BIOS. To be honest though, the voltage is usually a little over 12v so 12.21 volts sounds about right.
 
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WarmFluffyUK posted on Dec 3 2006 at 04:11 PM said:
If you have a good multimeter, I would trust that. If it's a cheap one, then I would trust your BIOS. To be honest though, the voltage is usually a little over 12v so 12.21 volts sounds about right.
Click to expand...

The multimeter's a fairly expensive one and the readings I got when I hooked it up to my other box matched those in its BIOS perfectly, so...
 
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I'd trust the meter, not the board. If your 12v rail is a little high, that's better than it being a little low, since for most components it's being stepped down to say, 1.6v for higher current, lower voltage. Too LITTLE voltage = too little result current, too MUCH = extra current which is harmless. So long as the voltage isn't so high it's blowing up VRMs... which ~12.2v should not do.
 
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