-5 V reads +3.55 V in Everest & Abit EQ (Corsair PSU)

alexw

alexw

alexw

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I just installed a new Corsair HX 520W PSU in my computer, which is running an Abit NF7-S motherboard. As far as I know I connected everything I should have correctly. It booted up fine first time round after the installation and appears to run fine, with no obvious problems within a 15 minute run.

However, when I run Everest and the Abit EQ monitoring programs, so that I could check the fans and temps., they both give a reading of around +3.55 V on what they list as the -5 V channel. Is this a problem, if so where? A problem with the PSU? An incompatability between the PSU and board that I foolishly overlooked? Have I connected something wrongly that might cause it? Or are the monitoring apps. just looking for the wrong value or something?

I'm not particularly technical, so have no idea if this is something drasticly wrong or utterly unimportant. To be on the safe side the computer's going back off for now though.

I'm praying you knowledgable people can come along and tell me that everything's fine...
 
I dont think Seasonic, (who build Corsair PSU's) even have a -5 rail anymore, it was droped from the ATX spec a couple of years ago. The sensors are often reused though, so the -5, and even the -12 sensors frequently appear meaningless these days.
 
Hmm. Strange.
I had issues with my Corsair HX 520w and it was because the -5v channel wasnt working. We tested everything else on the rig and they all worked fine, but when hooked up to the Corsair, they didnt work because of this.
 
You could try using a multi-meter which is a pretty accurate indication:

Turn PC off but leave plug connected.

Take power connector (Molex) and insert black probe into black wire connector.

Insert red probe into red wire connector.

Set multi-meter to 20volts and turn on PC.

Read out should be around +5volts.

Turn off PC and repeat process but this time connecting the red probe into the yellow wire.

Power PC on again and read the read out should give you around +12volts

Allow for some deviation. For 5volts between +4.8volts and +5.2volts and for 12volts between +11.5volts and 12.6volts.

Anything outside these there is certain to be a problem with the power supply but as said, -ve rails aren't so much an issue nowadays.
 
Too late now, I've already replaced the PSU for an alternative. Shame though, as I liked the Corsair. It sure did look nicer than the Antec one.
 
forget what software says about voltage readings... so inacurate tbh. Stick a multimeter in the pins (only if you know what your doing), to get a proper reading.

edit: christ you replaced because a crappy software program said so. O dear, uve missed out as these PSU's are the best out there :(
 
adfinni said:
forget what software says about voltage readings... so inacurate tbh. Stick a multimeter in the pins (only if you know what your doing), to get a proper reading.

edit: christ you replaced because a crappy software program said so. O dear, uve missed out as these PSU's are the best out there :(
Click to expand...

look above ;)
 
Most motherboards don't use the -ve rails at all now so they are entirely unimportant for the vast majority of people but I believe one or two manufacturers do still use them, just to be awkward as far as I can tell since there is no solid reason that they would need to be there. It could be the cause of problems if you have one of the motherboards in question I suppose although I can't remember offhand who is still supposed to use -ve rails. :)
 
-5 was only 'officially' used for the ISA interface for core logic, or something. whatever. Its been removed from the current ATX spec, which is why Corsair/Seasonic and now Antec too (on at least 1 antec psu) have no -5 output.

-12 is still needed for PCI, but not for PCI Express (I believe). Most PCI boards dont use it even though its available. But its still needed for ATX compliance.

If any specific boards are using -5 for their own purpose, then they dont comply with the latest ATX specs. But they may still comply with older specs.
 
Thanks all - I'm very glad to hear that it's nothing to worry about. The computer's been running fine all night, so fingers crossed it stays that way.

I was so relieved when it booted up ok after the installation of the new PSU. It was a bit of a gamble, since I'd not managed to get hold of a spare PSU to test the machine with after the blow up, so I really had no idea whether anything else had been taken to the big parts store in the sky when the original PSU blew.

Here, for the sake of argument are the sensor readings that Everest is giving me at the moment:

Field Value
Sensor Properties
Sensor Type Winbond W83627HF (ISA 290h)
Motherboard Name Abit NF7 Series

Temperatures
Motherboard 25 °C (77 °F)
CPU 36 °C (97 °F)
SAMSUNG SP1614N 10 °C (50 °F)
Seagate ST3200822A 20 °C (68 °F)
Seagate ST3320620AS 24 °C (75 °F)
Seagate ST3320620AS 24 °C (75 °F)

Cooling Fans
CPU 3971 RPM
Power Supply 1412 RPM

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.63 V
+3.3 V 3.34 V
+5 V 4.97 V
+12 V 12.10 V
-12 V -12.28 V
-5 V 3.55 V
+5 V Standby 4.95 V
3.3V Dual 3.50 V
DIMM 2.66 V
Debug Info F 55 FF EF
Debug Info T 25 36 208
Debug Info V 66 A6 D1 B9 C7 20 E0 (03)
Click to expand...
 
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