is my power supply failing?

Thu May 4 17:25:06 UTC 2006

On Thu, May 04, 2006 at 09:46:32AM -0400, Matt Price wrote:
> Hi folks,
> 
> I've been having some trouble with hard freezes/crashes and installed
> the lm-sensors package on my debian sid box.  It gives readings that
> sound   somewhat scary, e.g.:
> 
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> VCore 1: +1.78 V (min = +1.42 V, max = +1.57 V) 
> [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> VCore 2: +1.25 V (min = +2.40 V, max = +2.61 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> +3.3V: +3.10 V (min = +3.14 V, max = +3.47 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> +5V: +4.60 V (min = +4.76 V, max = +5.24 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> +12V: +12.99 V (min = +11.39 V, max = +12.61 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> -12V: -10.67 V (min = -12.63 V, max = -11.41 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> -5V: -8.86 V (min = -5.26 V, max = -4.77 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:37:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> fan2: 0 RPM (min = 3013 RPM, div = 8) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:01 anarres /USR/SBIN/CRON[19578]: (mail) CMD (  if [ -x
> /usr/lib/exim/exim3 -a -f /etc/exim/exim.conf ]; then /usr/lib
> /exim/exim3 -q ; fi)
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> VCore 1: +1.81 V (min = +1.42 V, max = +1.57 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> VCore 2: +1.25 V (min = +2.40 V, max = +2.61 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> +3.3V: +3.12 V (min = +3.14 V, max = +3.47 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> +5V: +4.60 V (min = +4.76 V, max = +5.24 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> +12V: +12.99 V (min = +11.39 V, max = +12.61 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> -12V: -10.67 V (min = -12.63 V, max = -11.41 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> -5V: -8.86 V (min = -5.26 V, max = -4.77 V) [ALARM]
> May  4 05:38:23 anarres sensord: Sensor alarm: Chip it87-isa-0290:
> fan2: 0 RPM (min = 3013 RPM, div = 8) [ALARM]
> 
> 
> my question:  how do I find out more about what are acceptable voltage
> levels on Power Supply outputs? for instance I'm getting a +12 voltage
> of about 13.0 (not in this particular case, I knw):  is this way out
> of spec?  If so, will changing my PS fix thep roblem?
> 
> thanks a lot for your help,

Keep in mind that unless you have a correct sensors config file for your
sensors in linux, the values could be very wrong that you see.  Just
because you can read the raw value from a sensor doesn't mean you are
handling it correctly, since different boards use different resistors
and other components along with the sensor chip.  Someimes you have to
divide or multiply the value, or offset it by a specific amount.  Check
the values reported by the bios (assuming it has a menu showing the
sensor readings).  If those look wrong, then try another power supply,
otherwise you just have to fix the sensors.conf in linux.

For example:
athlon:~# sensors
as99127f-i2c-0-2d
Adapter: SMBus Via Pro adapter at e800

VCore 1:   +1.79 V  (min =  +1.62 V, max =  +1.78 V)       ALARM
This one I am not sure about.

VCore 2:   +0.13 V  (min =  +1.62 V, max =  +1.78 V)       ALARM
I know this one is miscalculated for sure.

+3.3V:     +3.60 V  (min =  +3.14 V, max =  +3.46 V)       ALARM
This one I am not sure about either.  I think the bios shows the same
value.  Maybe my 3.3V rail really is running a bit high.

+5V:       +5.13 V  (min =  +4.73 V, max =  +5.24 V)
+12V:     +12.28 V  (min = +10.82 V, max = +13.19 V)
-12V:     -12.08 V  (min = -13.22 V, max = -10.74 V)
-5V:       -5.32 V  (min =  -5.25 V, max =  -4.74 V)       ALARM
This one may also be right and the -5V is running a slight bit high.

fan1:        0 RPM  (min =    0 RPM, div = 2)
fan2:     2922 RPM  (min = 2836 RPM, div = 2)
fan3:        0 RPM  (min =    0 RPM, div = 2)
M/B Temp:    +38 C  (high =  +105 C, hyst =    +0 C)
CPU Temp:  +46.5 C  (high =   +95 C, hyst =   +80 C)          (beep)
temp3:     -31.5 C  (high =  +122 C, hyst =  +121 C)
vid:      +1.700 V  (VRM Version 9.0)
alarms:
beep_enable:
          Sound alarm enabled

That is from an old rev 1.02 Asus A7V board, which I know has a few
problems, and some design problems which were fixed in later versions.
For all I know the sensor values were not calibrated correctly yet
either, so maybe everything is fine.  The system is certainly rock solid
in operation.

Len Sorensen
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