Power Supply voltage levels

[SiliconJon]

Anybody out there have any readings on their PSU's? It's my understanding that +/- 5% is the max tolerance generally desired for voltage levels on PC PSU's. And that less variation is better. Correct me if this is wrong or you have heard otherwise.

Here are the readings of my power supply on the system I am on right now, which just froze 3 times in 10 minutes:

VCore: 1.67V
3.3V Channel: 3.37V
5.0V Channel: 5.25V
12 V Channel: 12.6V

It's a MACRON MPT-400, one the the units that NewEgg supplies with the Chieftec towers.

These are pretty much steady values.

Anybody else get that high on their 12V rail? Perhaps this is why the problem seems to follow my Maxtor hard drive, as it may not like that high a voltage, eh? The other PSU I had that came with their Chieftecs, but a 420, had similar high readings. And when I had the maxtor in that system, she had the same freezing problems.

[ArcticFox]

I'll go out on a limb and say that's too much variation on your 12v rail. Running at .6v more than you should be is a risk to your hardware. I know why though: that power supply probably cost $4 and weighs 2oz. I recommend replacing it with an Antec TruePower, which are pretty much glued in the Top 5 power supplies.