Sufficient multimeter?

[djdelirius]

Is this a sufficient multimeter to test volts from a graphics card, mobo, etc.? This will be my first multimeter so I'm not too sure of what I need and don't need for oc'ing. After reading some in depth oc'ing threads from kingpin I thought this is as good a time as any to get one. Now the real adventure into overclocking begins....;)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0U008M6425

[Classic_GOD]

This Multimeter won't do anything your mobo won't do. AFAIK the point of using a multimeter is to get better, more frequent and more accurate reading than your motherboard allows. I would recommend something like Fluke 87 but it's probably way out of price range that you would like to spend for your first multimeter. Maybe someone would recommend something cheaper but I'm afraid that $12 multimeter will not cut it.

[djdelirius]

Classic_GOD wrote:
This Multimeter won't do anything your mobo won't do. AFAIK the point of using a multimeter is to get better, more frequent and more accurate reading than your motherboard allows. I would recommend something like Fluke 87 but it's probably way out of price range that you would like to spend for your first multimeter. Maybe someone would recommend something cheaper but I'm afraid that $12 multimeter will not cut it.

Well, I think I found one. I don't really want to spend $400 for the Fluke but I think this will work fine.

http://www.circuitspecialists.com/csims8040.html

[meankeys]

when your trying to read voltages in tenths and hundreds of a volt. you want a meter with a very tight Range Resolution Accuracy. the one you list does not. this is the one I use and is very accurate for the cost.

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3320-Auto-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B000EVYGZA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&q...

unless your trying to repair motherboards or other highly sensitive equipment you dont need to spend 400 on a meter. save your money for better ROG hardware. my meter will read voltages a tenth of a volt less that i read from cpuz or my AI suite but thats because of my settings in my bios

[djdelirius]

meankeys wrote:
when your trying to read voltages in tenths and hundreds of a volt. you want a meter with a very tight Range Resolution Accuracy. the one you list does not. this is the one I use and is very accurate for the cost.

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3320-Auto-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B000EVYGZA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&q...

unless your trying to repair motherboards or other highly sensitive equipment you dont need to spend 400 on a meter. save your money for better ROG hardware. my meter will read voltages a tenth of a volt less that i read from cpuz or my AI suite but thats because of my settings in my bios

Thanks, does the 3320 read to the hundredths? That was actually one of the first DMMs I was looking at because of the reviews but wasn't sure if it had all the functions I need to read GPU/CPU volts when benching since it was listed in the automotive section.

[Classic_GOD]

meankeys wrote:
when your trying to read voltages in tenths and hundreds of a volt. you want a meter with a very tight Range Resolution Accuracy. the one you list does not. this is the one I use and is very accurate for the cost.

http://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3320-Auto-Ranging-Digital-Multimeter/dp/B000EVYGZA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&q...

unless your trying to repair motherboards or other highly sensitive equipment you dont need to spend 400 on a meter. save your money for better ROG hardware. my meter will read voltages a tenth of a volt less that i read from cpuz or my AI suite but thats because of my settings in my bios

Why use it if it's less accurate than your MB? Also tenth of a Volt is a huge difference. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into extreme overclocking and maybe I'm not getting something but assuming your MB gives you more or less accurate results is there a point of using something less accurate? The only point I can think of that justifies using less accurate multimeter is to check voltages when you are not in the bios and not in the OS. Again, I've never used a multimeter on my PC for overclocking purposes so I'm a noob in this matter hoping that someone would correct me or confirm my assumptions 😄

[djdelirius]

Classic_GOD wrote:
Why use it if it's less accurate than your MB? Also tenth of a Volt is a huge difference. Don't get me wrong, I'm not into extreme overclocking and maybe I'm not getting something but assuming your MB gives you more or less accurate results is there a point of using something less accurate? The only point I can think of that justifies using less accurate multimeter is to check voltages when you are not in the bios and not in the OS. Again, I've never used a multimeter on my PC for overclocking purposes so I'm a noob in this matter hoping that someone would correct me or confirm my assumptions 😄

Well the reason I'm getting one is to monitor GPU voltage while benching. I've got an EvBot for my EVGA 780 Classy which allows me to change voltages on the fly as does my OC Panel for the MVIE. So you can up the voltage when running through the more demanding parts of a bench then take it back down to keep your temps down which can BSOD if they get to high. I definitely need a DMM that reads to the hundredth, not just the tenth....as you said 1 volt is a big difference.

I don't really know how to tell if a DMM will read to the tenth or hundredth by looking at the specs yet as I am also a noob to this. I haven't really had the time to sit down and study DMMs, voltage and how it affects the computer yet.

[Praz]

djdelirius wrote:

I don't really know how to tell if a DMM will read to the tenth or hundredth by looking at the specs yet as I am also a noob to this. I haven't really had the time to sit down and study DMMs, voltage and how it affects the computer yet.

This may help.

http://www.ni.com/white-paper/4439/en

[meankeys]

I think it reads three decimal places. like 16.525v