Enermax PSU wire length

[Ross]

I know there is a difference in power "cleanliness" with longer wires, and the Enermax PSU could power two full tower PCs on opposite ends of a room! Other than for simple neatness, is the length of the wires much of a problem in terms of getting clean power from one end to the other?

I am considering shortening them and am not looking forward to all the soldering...I need a reason more than just cleaner routing to do it :)

All readings are slightly over spec at the molexes, but I've somehow managed to lose the ability to O/C @ 997 stably (is that a word?) switching from a generic 400W PSU to the Enermax 465VE-FMA. The Enermax is definitely heavier than the generic, but I'll bet at least a 1lb. of it is excess wire :)

If anyone has shortened the wires on their Enermax PSUs...was it worth the hassle? Any noticeable change in OC ability? Any pointers while I am in there?

Thanks...

[AKDUDE]

I don't think you will gain much shortening the wires, especially if your already "overspec" on them.

The problem is amps, and the Enermax PS is/was notorious for dipping on the 5v and 3.3volt line when under stress, causing stability problems and such.

I notice on my 331watt model that when I up the voltage on the processor the 5 volt rail dips a bit.
AKDUDE

[Ross]

Thanks for the reply.

I was bored, so I started shortening them today without waiting to hear anything. If nothing else, it will be a WHOLE lot neater in the case. I did some reading on the 5V problem and it is apparently cured with the addition of a 1K VR (with R82), 10K VR (and no R82), or a single resistor in series with R82 if you know how much it needs to be adjusted. Mine only drops to 5.05 (from 5.15V), but I am still only running a Celeron...though it has a higher Vc than the P4 probably will (1.825V). Apparently, some mobos use only the 5V rail for all power and that is what is kicking the crap out of them.

I only got the PSU a week or so ago and I seem to have a different R82 resistor than people with the bad 5V rails have. As far as I can tell from the colors, it is still a 7.16K, but it's a 2% tolerance instead of 5%. My DMM battery died sometime in the past week, so I can't measure it, but I'll confirm the R when I get the battery replaced. I figure I am going to do the 1K VR mod while I am in there anyway just in case it becomes a problem on the P4 mobo (whichever one that may be)...

Thanks again

[Ross]

Just thought I'd post the results...

So far I've shortened the two main molex leads (with the FDD molexes on them) and the mobo harness. Plugged it in and 997 was no longer a problem. In fact, for the first time EVER, I was able to solidly bench @ 1007, which is what I wanted to do before going P4....guess it's time to move up!

When I can stand to hold a soldering iron again, I'll shorten the lead with the 4-molexes and the auxilary/P4 leads too. Wiring will be a helluva lot neater and the case will be lighter :)

FYI, on the regular leads, I took out 12-13" and on the mobo harness I took out 11"....plenty of room to still get everywhere in the case.

[Ross]

Forgot to change my sig! Every FSB counts :D