Overvolting on OCZ Powerstream

[Revivalist]

I was thinking about getting a 520W OCZ Powerstream to power a DFI Expert that's on the way. I was looking over this documentation (http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/OCZPowerStream.pdf) for the OCZ Powerstream and I see that the +3.3V, +5.5V, and +12V rails can be overvolted to the following values:

+3.3V: Up to 3.8V
+5.5V: Up to 5.5V
+12V: Up to 13.2V

I was just wondering what benefits one could expect from overvolting these lines? Also what risks are there? Specifically, I was wondering

1. Will running 3.8V help to keep the voltage on RAM more stable?
2. Will running 5.5V on the 5V line help give a more stable overvolt on the CPU?
3. What components can run at 13.2V and how can this help or harm them? (Specifically, will my mcp655 water pump run faster? WIll my UV lights shine brighter? Will my Panaflo fans run faster? etc.)

Thanks for any help. :)

[mantralord]

Don't overvolt it, there isn't any benefit. Things like the CPU aren't affected by fluctuations in line voltage (to a reasonable degree) because they're regulated by mosfets on the motherboard. I recommend you just calibrate it to spec, since the mosfets probably run better at their rated voltage.

[Revivalist]

Ok, what about when people complain about their rails dipping too low under load (Vcore, Vdimm, +3.3V, +5.0V, +12V, etc.) Could that be corrected for by adjusting the voltage slightly higher?

Also, what about overvolting fans, pumps, and lights. Would it help those at all?

[ckj]

Ok, what about when people complain about their rails dipping too low under load (Vcore, Vdimm, +3.3V, +5.0V, +12V, etc.) Could that be corrected for by adjusting the voltage slightly higher?

Also, what about overvolting fans, pumps, and lights. Would it help those at all?

1) No because the drop in rails means the psu was at or near its limit in a poorly built supply.

2) Sure it would make it run faster/brighter but it would decrease the life of the component.

[DeepScience]

Ok, what about when people complain about their rails dipping too low under load

I don't think many people with the OCZ520 complain about that


:D

[3DFlyer]

There's no need to overvolt a OCZ520 PSU. You will never have a problem with rails drooping on a quality unit like the OCZ. If you are getting any drooping (as measured with a DMM) then it will only show through the board. If you measure it at the PSU you will not see any drooping at all with the OCZ. It might droop a hundredth at a full load, but that is nothing.

If you meaure it at the mosfets, or better yet at the CPU socket, you may notice some droop, but that is because of the power circuitry of the board, and the way to get rid of that is with a droop mod.

Cranking the voltage at the PSU will do nothing but further heat up the mosfets and the board, and will more than likely damage it.

The only thing you might want to crank up a little is the 3.3 volt rail IF, and only IF you have done a mod to the board to allow a higher vDimm than 3.3v.

When using the above information NEVER rely on software to get voltages. They are wrong. Only use a digital multmeter (DMM). Also, NEVER adjust the rails of a PSU without a DMM. If you don't have a DMM, don't adjust them. You absolutely MUST have a DMM to get a proper reading.

One of the best things about the OCZ520 is it's ability to hold voltage under load. This is becasue of it's strong single rail of 33amps on the 12+, the 40amp rail on the 5+, and the 28amp rail on the 3.3+.

The OCZ 520 is a VERY strong PSU. It's bullet proof. I have tested mine thoroughly, and it runs my OC'd Prescott based system like it was nothing. The unit never even gets warm. It bows cool air out the back, and the PSU case is cold to the touch...even when gaming and benching, and stress testing.