PSU's& OC'ing

[catkicker]

Since I picked up my DFI board I have been frustrated with trying to OC my 3200+ Newcastle. I would get a stable 2.4GHz. primed 8 hours plus pass OCCT and the next day BSOD or other system problems. then it would'nt OC for crap no matter how much voltage, and memory absolute pain in the ars I would have to dick with memory setting constantly and even with dividers I had problems. One attempt I worked it up to just under 2.5GHz. stable passed prime, two hours later it went to crap.
I had noticed what seem to be lower then optimal rail voltages and my voltage readings on MBM5 and smartG. seem to show alot of fluctuations in rail voltages and voltage readings on cpu and chipset and MEM. Initially I did not give this to much thought because of inaccuracies of software programs. And my Antec truepower 550watt PSU could'nt be the problem. Well I pulled out the trusty digital multi meter
and low and behold MBM5 was almost dead on. Contacted Antec about this. Got a great 7 word response " Voltage readings are within the acceptable tolerences"
I had ordered a new 620watt dual 12V rails for my new nF4 build. So I thought what the hell I put it in my nF3 system and BAM 2.4GHz stable 10 hours passed OCCT
on 1.54V and and all mem timings on auto except divider and 1T now currently at 2.45GHz. stable. going to work on the numbers and see if I can hit 2.5GHz. again.

 

[computerpro3]

new 620watt dual 12V rails

Brand?

I always stressed the importance of the psu for overclocking, shame so many laughed at me when I did....But then, not many of them could ever overclock like I do either, so...

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I'm guessing it's a Skyhawk. Sorry to say it, but I'm not sure it'll last as long as the Antec did

 

[computerpro3]

If it's a skyhawk (what makes you guess that Oklahoma?) please get a new psu....again

The importnace of a good psu CANNOT BE STRESSED ENOUGH. I'm not sure how to really stress that any more.

Look at the brands in the sticky only and you cannot go wrong.

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

If it's a skyhawk (what makes you guess that Oklahoma?)

I read the sig

It should do ok for a while, but I honestly wouldn't trust it in any rig of mine. Still not 100% sure it's a Deer, but the build quality of them is underwhelming.

 

[_Korruption_]

Sky Hawk and EagleTech both link to the L&C brand... all of which point to Deer.

 

[[Spectre]]

I read the sig

Hahaha

 

[catkicker]

Well Skyhawk has made some changes and I have read some good reviews on there PSU's
they also increased there warranty length. And has some nice features and its modular If you go by the specs alone on it, its a great PSU runs neck to neck with OCZ's PSU of similar wattage http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817193003
I have talked with some people who are useing this brand PSU and they are more then pleased with there performance. So we shall see how it holds up over time. Guess it could be crapier then my antec. My Antec is less then a year old. Guess it will do for my 7 year old sons computer I'm building. Antec builds great PSU's And I would not hesitate to buy another one.

The reason for this post was not to get into a debate about the pro's and cons' of various brand PSU's. In fact it was posted to let some people know that PSU's do have a major impact on the success of OC'ing.

 

[[Spectre]]

Well Skyhawk has made some changes and I have read some good reviews on there PSU's
they also increased there warranty length.

Tommy: Let's think about this for a sec, Ted, why do they put a guarantee on a box? Hmm, very interesting.
Ted: I'm listening.
Tommy: Here's how I see it. A guy puts a guarantee on the box 'cause he wants you to fell all warm and toasty inside.
Ted: Yeah, makes a man feel good.
Tommy: 'Course it does. Ya think if you leave that box under your pillow at night, the Guarantee Fairy might come by and leave a quarter.
Ted: What's your point?
Tommy: The point is, how do you know the Guarantee Fairy isn't a crazy glue sniffer? "Building model airplanes" says the little fairy, but we're not buying it. Next thing you know, there's money missing off the dresser and your daughter's knocked up, I seen it a hundred times.
Ted: But why do they put a guarantee on the box then?
Tommy: Because they know all they solda ya was a guaranteed piece of shit. That's all it is. Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for right now, for your sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality item from me.

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

That reminds me, I'm due for a Tommy Boy fix soon - love that movie

If you go by the specs alone on it, its a great PSU runs neck to neck with OCZ's PSU of similar wattage

Until it dies. Sorry, but when it comes to Foxconn/Deer/Allied/L&C/US-Can/Tsunami/Eagle/Mustang/Duro/Okia/Austin/Turbolink (and I'm 99.5% convinced Skyhawk is Deer at this point), specs alone are not good enough. Nor is a longer warranty or nicer features. They are the worst examples of electronics engineering I have seen yet.

I have used Deer before, and it was my own foolishness that kept me from opening it up to evaluate for myself (I have been an electronics tech for 17 years now) whether it was a quality unit or not. I paid for it in hard drives, but other Deer owners have not been as lucky. The older 235w model I had boasted in my estimation a 60%-80% failure rate in the field - they were dropping like flies everywhere I looked. True, they have definitely improved since those days, but not nearly enough IMO.

 

[[Spectre]]

That reminds me, I'm due for a Tommy Boy fix soon - love that movie

Yeah every time someone says something about a warranty on a piece of crap I think of that bit.

 

[_Korruption_]

they also increased there warranty length.

That really doesn't matter when all your data and possibly worse, your entire rig is gone up in smoke. You'd probably want to punch somebody instead. Sending the power supply in for warranty work may be the last thing on your mind.