+3.3v- What is it and why is it acting so strange?

[Raging]

the stickie in here http://forum.overclock3d.net/forumdisplay.php?f=36

edit: rofl? first post?

 

[Ghaz]

Okay, looking at speedfan charts, I got a bit worried, as the +3.3V spiked several times using orthos, to above 4v, then back again. So I load defualt settings and do the same, but this time, once it dropped down past 2v. So my question is, what is the +3.3V (I mean the 3.3v at the bottom of the voltage chart list on speedfan), and is this something I should be worried about?

 

[JN]

Sounds like speedfan is giving you false readings. If you've got a multimeter try reading the +3.3v rail with that.

If it went as low as 2v, you'd deffo be experiencing problems.

 

[Ghaz]

Sounds like speedfan is giving you false readings. If you've got a multimeter try reading the +3.3v rail with that.

If it went as low as 2v, you'd deffo be experiencing problems.

Ah okay. Where are these rails? I'm not sure what they are/what they do, I just got worried because of the spikes. A brief overview of where they are/what they do would be awesome. I've just got to find my multimeter ><;

 

[Ghaz]

Also, how do I use the multimeter to take reading? When the computer is on/off?