Power Supply overvolting

[vapourit]

How high do you guys set your 12v, 5v and 3.3v when doing serious overclocking?

I have mine set a 12.5, 5.3, and 3.4 underload right now, which seems fine. My MAX3 seems to be running way more stable with a new powersupply (OCZ 470w) amd the RAM is running at betters timings now. Also, when setting the vdimm above 2.8v my system was totally unstable, due to vtt problem on my mobo, i assume. However, with the new PS and higher rails, I can run at 3v and it is a lot more stable (although vtt is still too low).

[WildKard]

Ive been running 12.8/5.6/3.44 24/7 for about 18 months now...

[craig588]

12.5, 5.2, and 3.6 for years.

[buff]

anybody think a 3.3 higher then 3.68 will kill anything?

[craig588]

sure, you could kill something with 3.3V rail at 3.4V if it was driving some sort of incredibly cheap component.

I have used 3.8V for a few days without killing anything.

[lalPOOO]

I've run 3.5v on the 3.3v line (measured with multimeter) for months on end. I didn't kill anything. You have to be careful though, as certian boards react strangly to high 3.3v lines. For example, my ic7...

[GaNgY]

just a question how would i over volt my powersupply? my 12v rail likes to run 11.7v and i was wondering if i could over volt it to run at 12v even or maybe higher.

How would i do so? it would prolly really stablize my pc

[-=TriX=-]

On the higher-end PSU's it's may be as simple as turning a pot a bit.

What PSU do you have?

[GaNgY]

i have an Antec 480 Watt Trueblue and an Antec 550 Watt TruePower

[GaNgY]

can someone tell me how?

[-=TriX=-]

I just checked a review i foundo n google for the truepower http://www.silentpcreview.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=58&page=1 and it looks like you just adjust the voltage lines via the front panel interface. Since you are new at this, you may want to hold off. I don't know if the Antec has over-voltage protection or not. If it didn't you coulld end up increasing the voltages too much and frying your components. Someone with the same PSU is bound to see this sooner or later so hold tight.

[Rukee]

I have two Truepower 430s, both volt mod`d on all rails, it seems to be over-volt protected cause if you adjust them too high, the power supply will shut down.
I run the 12v rail at about 12.88v to help with the hot-lock problem with the XE. Seemed to help too. :)

[Rukee]

Originally posted by GaNgY
just a question how would i over volt my powersupply? my 12v rail likes to run 11.7v and i was wondering if i could over volt it to run at 12v even or maybe higher.

How would i do so? it would prolly really stablize my pc
HellFire did a really good tutorial on how to do it here.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=37574
..about the best one I`ve read on the net so far. :)

[GaNgY]

thnx a lot guys i think this could really help my instability problems because my 12v always runs at 11.73v lol. mY 3.3 and 5v r both under volted to. *cross fingers n hopes it helps*

[GaNgY]

i dont really wanna do all that soldering, 1 - im not very good at soldering and have had almost no practice and 2 - i dont really wanna take the chance of scruing it up.

I dont have the True Control i have the TruePower so i cant do it by the front thingy, from reading though, is there lil VR's kinda in the psu allready i can turn to increase the voltage?

[Rukee]

That kind of soldering in that thread is the easest and most basic there is. Just apply the hot solder iron to one side of the twised wires and hold the wires tight to the solder iron with the roll of solder itself from the oppisite side, as the iron heats the wires the solder will just melt right in. Let it cool off and tape it up. I did all those solder points on the outside of the power supply and just used a black wire coming out for the gound. That way I didn`t need to open the power supply case.

[craig588]

The best way to get good at soldering is to do it alot.

Take a few wires that dont go to anything and keep cutting and repairing and splicing them while attemping to make the smallest joint possible while still maintaining strength.

Get some old mobo or card and try connecting wires to various points on the board, SMD caps, SMD resistors, chip lets, solder points, anything that looks challenging. Get acusstomed to doing it quickly so when you do it on your real hardware you don't accidentally kill it from heat.

You might want to start with a cheap long iron because it will force you to get used to holding your hand very steady, once you get ready to do some work on your real board switch to a nice short one so you will be even more stable.

[-=TriX=-]

Originally posted by GaNgY
is there lil VR's kinda in the psu allready i can turn to increase the voltage?

I don't know your PSU, so can't say.

Check this (http://forum.skill-club.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=380752) pic of the internals of a Fotron 530watt. I would open up your PSU w/out touching anything inside and look to see if you see adjustable pots anywhere. If you do have them then, then w/ a non-metallic object I would adjust them ever so slightly while keeping an eye on your voltages.

[GaNgY]

hmm i dont have a clue where that is but ok ill look lol

[Reflex1]

maybe a n00b question: but my PSU's got a sticker saying: "HI-POT" on the side, Forton PSU's have this too ...does this mean my PSU has pots in it?

since my 12v line (only 12v) is wayyy too low (some times hitting 11.3v)

[Zeus]

Originally posted by a5h
maybe a n00b question: but my PSU's got a sticker saying: "HI-POT" on the side, Forton PSU's have this too ...does this mean my PSU has pots in it?

since my 12v line (only 12v) is wayyy too low (some times hitting 11.3v)

Just disconnect the ATX plug and all the molex connectors, jumpstart your PSU, turn the pot and measure with MM.

That way you'll know for sure.

[Reflex1]

so there are Pots inside? (i've yet to open it). Does the sticker not mean something?

[masterofpuppets]

I have an old dead fortron 250 (yes, hows that for low output) which says HI-POT. Im gonna open her up in a sec.

[Reflex1]

i also had a dead 250 forton (from friend ...i had to replace the PSU) i already opened it up, found some pots on the PCB of the PSU, but not sure if they were rail adjustable pots. And couldn't test, since it was dead :p:

[craig588]

I have PSUs that say hi-pot that don't have pots in them.

[masterofpuppets]

Off topic but todo with PSUs: I killed my fortron by manually starting it up with the atx mobo power connector by joining a ground wire to the green wire :D DO NOT try that at home unless you want a dead psu!

[GaNgY]

Thats weird lol ive been using my 550 Watt like that for like a month now :D

[Rukee]

Originally posted by masterofpuppets
Off topic but todo with PSUs: I killed my fortron by manually starting it up with the atx mobo power connector by joining a ground wire to the green wire :D DO NOT try that at home unless you want a dead psu!
Don`t do this connected the MB!!!!!


We have people do this all the time wired up to a Vapochiull unit without the MB to test the power supply to be sure it`s at least strong enough to run the compressor and the Vapo is healthy. Not one person has said this killed their power supply by jump starting it like this, and we`ve been testing them this way for a couple years now.

[masterofpuppets]

It might have not been that though. But it suddenly seemed to die as I started doing this to it. It now just makes a quiet pop noise and starts to smell.