Hi all, I have been having problems lately with my computer, it'll just shut right off and try to reboot.. EDIT--- NO IT'S NOT MSBLAST :-(The 1st problem was a bad solder joint on the MOBO were the PWR SUP plugs in... FIXED ( I noticed this after a thorough cleaning and upon restart the CPU fan would not kick in and would have a black screen )I still have the occasional shut offs though.. I think it is with my +12v source... What are the practical safe ranges for voltage ?? I've searched all over for these numbers with no avail.+12 I get 10.4-10.8 **** Kinda low don't ya think ??-12 I get -12.40-5 I get -5.76+5 I get 5.05+3.3 I get 3.28 *** Is this one super critical ???AGP BUS 3.3 I get 3.25 V drop from above ???CPU temp 113 F*Case temp 91 F*Measurments takin from a FLUKE 73 and Motherboard Monitor 5.3.3.0I found a site that lists the tricks to increase power to my Antec pp412x 350W PSU.. One of the pots is solely for the 3.3 out, Should I even touch that one? The other pot controls the +5 and +12 lines.. I am assuming if I up the power out on this "ganged" line I will get my 12 V I need but the 5V regulator will be clamping more current to ground to stay regulated ( more heat ) but the 12v line will have enough current to stay regulated.. Correct on that assumption ???What does the 12V line power ? Again assuming possibly the VID cards ?? Having 2 is putting a load on it all?ECS k7s5a, XP1800+, 1 gig RAM, Monitor 1 Asus 8200DLX 64mb 29.58 driver WQHLd ( auto installed by XP ), Monitor 2 S3 savage 4 32 meg 5.1.2001.0 driver WQHLd ( auto installed by XP ). 60 gig & 120 gig Maxtor Hds. HP (pioneer) CD Writer+.Regards,RomanGREEN BAY PACKERS][/i :-ukliam :-beerchug

WOW, these are some of the worst voltages I've ever seen! Are they bad? Boy, I'll say! Typically, you should NEVER see anything beyone +-5% of a rated voltage.12vdc should be 11.4 and 12.6, but I'd still be sweating if it dropped to 11.6!Speaking from experience, I had an Antec 300w power supply and dropped the cash for an Antec 450w. My 300's 5vdc was dropping to 4.7vdc and my system would reboot. Using Motherboard Monitors record feature, at 5 second intervals, it caught that my normal 5vdc power dropped ONLY UNDER LOAD! I'd start FS2000, or Half-Life and after the reboot would look at the log file. Sure enough about 1 minute before the reboot the power was dipping from 4.9 down to 4.7. My dealer that I purchased the Antec allowed me to upgrade for the difference to the better supply, and that system has never had a problem since.You need to replace that supply! Yesterday :-lolGood luck,- Tom KONTPS. Go Bears!

Just on the basis of the 12v variation alone, the ps needs to go.

Ouch, replace that PSU ASAP LOL. Like someone already said, those voltage are past the 5% limit. That 12V line is pretty important, its the main power for your HD's and CD-ROM/burner. It is also a pretty big chunk for the motherboard and your PCI/AGP cards.

While it might be the PS failing, it could also be a peripheral that is failing and drawing a big load.If you are comfortable opening your computer case (please remove the main power plug from the computer case), open the computer case and logically disconnect all the powersupply plugs from the peripherals except the main hardrive. Restart the computer (it may take a little longer since the peripherals are missing), enter BIOS and check the voltages again. If the +12vdc is still very low, then it may be the powersupply. You could also disconnect the hardrive and plug in the floppy drive (if your computer has a floppy drive), insert a boot disk, enter BIOS and check the voltages.If you find the +12vdc is within range with just the hardrive or floppy drive, then plug in each peripheral one at a time to see if it loads down the +12vdc (you will have to turn off the computer PRIOR to plugging in the peripherals). If no peripheral loads down the +12vdc, then start adding the peripherals back to the system to see how the loading effects the +12vdc.I just replaced a PS, but it had a hard failure. I have identical computers so I used the other computer's PS to troubleshoot the failed unit. I found a cracked PS circuit card in the PS. I don't know if it was the culprit but a new PS fixed the problem. One day I may feel like messing with the failed unit to see what the problem really is.W. Sieffert

Wayne, I think you may be right,, - OR - The supply needed on the 12 rail is at the threshold of staying regulated. Now it gets even more interesting, today been flying for 3 hrs, computer's been on for 5, and been getting Vs in the 11.8 - 12.2 range. All day yesterday it never got above 10.3 . Thanx for the tips :-) ECS k7s5a, XP1800+, 1 gig RAM, Monitor 1 Asus 8200DLX 64mb 29.58 driver WQHLd ( auto installed by XP ), Monitor 2 S3 savage 4 32 meg 5.1.2001.0 driver WQHLd ( auto installed by XP ). Regards,RomanGREEN BAY PACKERS][/i :-ukliam :-beerchughttp://forums.avsim.net/user_files/31157.jpg