Problems With Powerstream 520W...

[Sentential]

First off I love my PSU but I want your opinion on this. I probably will RMA it cuz I know they guys at OCZ are exceptional when it comes to customer support, but I would like this case documented so to let OCZ know there might be a problem. I just want to bring this to everyone's attention.

Here are 2 screen-shots:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Sentential/desktop.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v180/Sentential/IMG_1775.jpg
Red = Over Spec
Green = On Target
Yellow = Below

<pix makes the remaining light too yellow, they are quite green>

What do you think? Im randomly getting freezing if I put the 3.3 "in the green" and in BIOS and core center it reads 3.18.

In addition my floppy drive is being intermittant for some odd ass reason. You guys think the mobo or the PSU is at fault?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Got a multimeter handy? Would help figure out where the problem is. The adjustment range of the OCZ is too wide to know for sure whether the red is indicating extreme overvoltage or not.

[Sentential]

Got a multimeter handy? Would help figure out where the problem is. The adjustment range of the OCZ is too wide to know for sure whether the red is indicating extreme overvoltage or not.
No sadly I dont have a DMM...need to get one tho. All I can go off of is instinct. When its "in the green" or normal, I get lots of freezing issues and instability... only when its in the red does it act normal.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

About all I can suggest is email OCZ and see what they have to say about it. Gotta love that warranty ;)

[Grov]

Wouldn't take to much notice of the colour of the LED's.

Ive heard a lot of problems with the 520W and the MSI 939.

[g0dM@n]

You should get a DMM... you can find cheap ones at like Radio Shack I think. Always a good thing to have one =)

Want me to buy you one, Sen? I'll mail you one if you want. I have a job now, remember? :p :santa:

[Sentential]

You should get a DMM... you can find cheap ones at like Radio Shack I think. Always a good thing to have one =)

Want me to buy you one, Sen? I'll mail you one if you want. I have a job now, remember? :p :santa:
lol....thanks but ill be fine

[Sentential]

Bump?

[jcw122]

when do u mess with the voltage screws? are you SUPPOSED to turn them when the PSU is ON? i dont have one of these PSU's but soomething just tells me that ur spose to turn them when its off...but im not too sure...

[crimedog]

you can adjust voltages while your computer is on, just be careful

usually motherboards read voltages low, you have to get a DMM sentential. spend $5 at ratshack and it'll give you a lot of piece of mind

[Sentential]

Yea I ought to do that. So wait....i thought you were supposed to tune the pots while the PSU is on....am I wrong in that assumption?

[crimedog]

no, how else are you going to find out what it's been changed to?

[Jumpin Jack]

Yea I ought to do that. So wait....i thought you were supposed to tune the pots while the PSU is on....am I wrong in that assumption?

No, no, no your fine to adjust these pots when running. How else can you see what your adjusting too. Use and insulation trim pot screwdriver (buy one from an electronic parts store like radio shack) and be respectfully carefully inside this unit as there is AC in there and it can kill you!!! If your unsure, take it to a PC shop or electronics repair shop, they will do it for you.

[g0dM@n]

Yea I ought to do that. So wait....i thought you were supposed to tune the pots while the PSU is on....am I wrong in that assumption?

I adjusted my Fortron 530 wide open while EVERYTHING (including 7 Blue LED case fans) was all on. I accidentally dropped the 12V+ line really fast to a very low level (like 11.50volts) while I adjusting. This happened b/c I moved the screw a little too fast since it felt stuck at first and you have to give a certain amount of pressure before it moves. I pushed a little too hard you can say. Anyways, and all the lights and fans dimmed, but that's about it. Then I went a little above 12.00 and then back down to even it out at 12ish. I played with the pot little by little to get the right feel and now it's steady between 11.92 and 12.03volts.

You can tune voltages while the PC is on within a .5Volt range, approximately, most likely without damaging it. Bring it down to 11.75 and then up to about 12.25 just to get a feel of your pot and to know its limits. I don't recommend you going below 11.70, but I've had a PSU run an overclocked AXP 2500 Barton at 210x11 @ 1.8V stable with 11.55Volts (BIOS reading) until I bought my Fortron. I had used a Turbolink (I think that's what it's called) 350 watt.

You're better off not adjusting to 12.00volts right away and actually playing with the pot to make sure it can sit in the spot you leave it. Do realize that when you have to apply pressure to a tiny object that it can drift to its most comfortable position. This is why I adjust up and down a little bit at first to slightly break it in. You will notice when you adjust on how it feels. I don't know how it is on the Powerstream, though.

I think the pots used in my Fortron are course pots. They should make them a bit finer by putting them in parallel. Anyone ever add their own pots? Anyone know how to find out the resistance the current pots use?

[jcw122]

oooh yeah! forgot lol! forget about my previous post then hahaha wow that was dumb

no, how else are you going to find out what it's been changed to?

[Sentential]

No, no, no your fine to adjust these pots when running. How else can you see what your adjusting too. Use and insulation trim pot screwdriver (buy one from an electronic parts store like radio shack) and be respectfully carefully inside this unit as there is AC in there and it can kill you!!! If your unsure, take it to a PC shop or electronics repair shop, they will do it for you.
I appreciate the concern but these pots are external so its not a big deal :D

[Jumpin Jack]

I appreciate the concern but these pots are external so its not a big deal :D

OK, much safer.... You probably already know this as well, but I'll say it anyway.

IMHO, it is better to adjust these voltages when you're on full load. This is when you need the voltages to be spot-on to deliver the correct power to the different rails. Unlike when the PC is at idle and they can be near enough without causing any stability issues.

[erasmus372]

I have seen a few instances of people using OCZ 520's on Neo2's having problems - but not stability...their systems will die. So I doubt that's your problem :D But it could be that your Neo2 just hates the 520 enough to mess with your stability, but not damage either of them.

Its like the Antec issues with Neo2, but much less common.

[schismspeak]

You get a DMM yet? The 3.18 could even be lower than actual, my onboard sensors read my 12v as 12.2+ but in actuality they are 11.9-12.04 or so, or atleast they were before my psu started dying. :temper: