New PSU help

[Psycho_eddie]

Currently have a Thermaltake Toughpower 700W Modular PSU.. With four 12V lines 18A each... someone said this might be the problem for my recent 8800gtx not working...

In next few months will probably be needing a new psu... so whats the best site for range of 800W and up PSU's?

Quite like the look of the Antec Quatroo 850W/1000W psu but it has four 12V lines instead of one single high amp line which would be preffered.

So what powersupply?

Must be:

At least 800W
Single 12V line (Or Four high amp lines)
Both 6 and 8 Pin PCI-E power conectors so i can use 2900XT fully...


So what we rekon?

[dieqast]

Must be:

At least 800W

-.-'

I'm betting your current rig won't get even close of 40 Amps on the 12V rail, for a single 12V PSU that would be around 500W. So why go for 800 as future components will only get more efficient (and performanceincrease makes around the some range of amperage as current amperages).
Looking at the requirements you make a Antec Quattro 850W sure fits the bill.
Though I would still go for something say a Olympia/Decathlon 650 (voltage-regulation gets worse on the higher wattage models so I don't recommend the 750 or 850 Olympia/Decathlon). For your connectors a HX620/HX520 will also suit your every need, as new batches comes with 2 cables that has 1x 6-pin & 1x 8-pin PCI-E each, which makes 2900XT CF possible. Though Corsair will tell you it has 3 12V-rails due to the ATX specification, in essence it is a single-rail Seasonic OEM supply.

[Psycho_eddie]

Thanks for info, looking like silverstone do some nice PSU's.. mostly all there range features a single 12V line which is the way forward... not too keen on antec quatrro using four 12v lines mind but it does have 2 x 8pin pci-e means i can go 2x2900xt for crossfire later :D

As far as i can tell the dec vs olyp ... Dec has larger fan and modular.. which prefur so dec is is...

Looking the min psu that has dual 8pin pci-e is the 850W ..

Will 850W Dec.. run my future rig:

Amd Phenom Quad
2900XT crossfire

??

[Source]

Thanks for info, looking like silverstone do some nice PSU's.. mostly all there range features a single 12V line which is the way forward... not too keen on antec quatrro using four 12v lines mind but it does have 2 x 8pin pci-e means i can go 2x2900xt for crossfire later :D

As far as i can tell the dec vs olyp ... Dec has larger fan and modular.. which prefur so dec is is...

Looking the min psu that has dual 8pin pci-e is the 850W ..

Will 850W Dec.. run my future rig:

Amd Phenom Quad
2900XT crossfire

??Up to OP850/DA1200 they both have a 120mm fan.

Easily run it with the DA850, as far as the info on the new AMD goes..
Specially when the VGA's / CPU's going to use less power.

[adamsleath]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=3208229&sku=S35-1168

http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=100&page_num=4 - can only find op650 review...
op1000 & op 650 both get 9/10 from jonnyg...

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088 - psu ratings


Tier 1 Brands - The Most Powerful And Stable Components On The Market
Enermax Galaxy
PCP&C TurboCool
PCP&C Silencer >610
Zippy/Emacs SSL
Zippy/Emacs GSM
Zippy/Emacs PSL
Silverstone ZF (Etasis 85/75/56)
Seventeam ST >600 (SSI, V2.91)
Silverstone OP/DA >700W

oh; the DA is modular and OP is not?

[then the 850DA looks like the one....
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005754&prodlist=pricegrabber

BUT; achtung! only 8/10 from jg (maybe because of high ripple on 12v rail/s:eek:)
http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=112&page_num=3
http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=112&page_num=2 - check out the ripple - should be a straight line - not a profile of the alps!!!]


http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=120&page_num=3
- Antec Quattro 850W 9.5/10 - much better stability/ripple characteristics.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10006250&prodlist=pricegrabber - $170 bucks; has 2x 8pin adapters and is modular.

i'd have to choose antec TruePower quattro based on the info i have at hand...

[Psycho_eddie]

Cheers for finding out that info, i see what you mean about the ripple on the Da850 vs Antec 850 jesus thats alot!

Antec i have bought for my dads pc recently as i thought it was good but it seems to be better with high end to get a psu with single 12V line??

Whats the effects of 12V single vs 12V 1-4? With loads spread across?

I.e limits GPU draw... would be problem if i had 2 x 2900XT??

You think this Antec Quatrro 850 is enough for 2 x 2900xt or 1000W model is needed?

[adamsleath]

i think it depends on all the components in the psu


(i do not pretend to understand how 4 rails are distributed) amps wise...
or how the internals differ between single and multirail; surely someone around here must have an understanding of the fundamental difference between single and multi rails....

i believe that (theoretically) it may be possible to reach a higher loading with a single rail; depending on the ratings of all the other components in the psu.

but:

Antec test no.10: 64A and 977W load. (81% efficiency)

850DA test no.10: 68A and 1083W load. (78% efficiency)

again i have to :shrug:

i think it really depends on all the components of the psu; not just whether it's single or multi-rail.

the 850 DA has higher possible peak power maybe, but only just.

and you are getting more power efficiency with the antec in these tests. ;)

and both have been tested well above their rated Watts....if not fully pushed to their 70A nominal ratings.

anyway; if you are getting CF cards, splitting hairs over a few bucks on psu's doesnt really make much sense.

i'm just having a look...

why dont you check out 1000W psu's on jonnyguru's website....and really confuse yourself :)

i just reckon that ripple test on the 850DA looks like some mis-design inherent to the psu - i dont like it.

[Bail_w]

I have a antec quattro 850w for my friend's ( i have one also, in my rig) 2 x 2900xt crossfire with overclocked E6400 @ 3.0ghz, so far it is very efficiency and stable. btw, i bought it at compusa for 130 included tax :)

[Alik4041]

Another vote for the Antec 850w :woot: I love the yellow stripes (I'm a Steelers fan :D )

As for single rail vs multiple rail (it's a good read)...

So why do they split up 12V rails?

With the demand on +12V becoming greater and greater, Intel decided it would be "safer" to split the duty of supplying +12V across two rails. It's "safer" because less amperage can get to the end of a connector, therefore being less of a burn or a shock hazard. Furthermore, with the isolation of rails, shorts on one rail can be prevented from damaging components on another rail.

To split the duty up between two (or more) +12V rails, one can use cooler running, cheaper transistors and transformers to supply the power to multiple +12V rails. Though typically, a rail is split by simply taking a single +12V source and breaking up the capability with a series of over current protection; essentially a "logic" that prevents a certain amount of current from going to a wire, or group of wires.

Some people have questioned the principle of multiple 12V rails. And for good reason! But I don’t think multiple 12V rails in general should be shunned. But it’s best to know what rails go where when considering using a multi-12V rail power supply with a high end system.

ATX specifications only say that the CPU (the 2x2 4-pin connector) is put on a separate rail from the ATX connector (the 20 or 24-pin) and the drive (also used for fans, lights, etc.) power connectors. They also specify that no one rail should have more than 20A available on it (that’s their “safe” limit, so to speak.)

So if you breeze through reading that, you would say “Ok. The CPU gets it’s power from the 12V2 and everything else gets it’s power from the 12V1.” But then you realize there’s a problem with that. 20A for just a CPU, even a dual core or even a dual CPU, is overkill. And 20A may be enough for some drives, lights, fans, etc. But what about PCI express video cards that regulate their voltage from the 12V rail via an auxiliary 6-pin connector? High-end video cards can easily tax 7A or more EACH off of the 12V rail. 20A leaves zero overhead.

Unfortunately, some power supplies adhere to the “quick read” version of the ATX standard and put everything but the CPU on one rail. This is where everyone seems to be running into problems. Fortunately, some other power supply companies have gotten creative with rail distribution. I’ve seen power supplies with the PCI express connectors on 12V2 and even some with one PCI-e connector on each of the two 12V rails. THESE are the kind of dual rail power supplies you need to look for.

Some power supplies have more than two rails. The Antec NeoHE, for example, has three. Two modular connectors are labeled for 12V3 use. These are the two ports one should plug their PCI-e connectors into. Other power supplies have four 12V rails. These typically adhere to a standard other than ATX called “SSI” but PCI-e is taken into consideration by keeping the PCI-e off of the same rail as all of the drives. Even if a PCI-e is plugged in using a typical drive Molex, that rail is still separate from the ATX connector, and the 2x2 4-pin connector.
http://www.jonnyguru.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1036

[Psycho_eddie]

Okay so definatly the Antec Quattro it is..

I can get 850W for £110 Deliverd vs 1000W for £140 delivered.

Whats key differences between the two apart from +200W??

Just i dont wana buy the 850 then in a month realise i should of got the 1000W... wana buy it and be done :D


To Bail_W... what other componemtns u got in ur pc?

so Far 2 x 2900XT... they using 8/6 pin or 6/6?... u overclocked them?

I would wana use:

Amd 6000X2 overclocked @ 3250
2 x 2900XT Overclocked
2 x 250GB Hds Raid 0
2GB PC8500 Ram

Should be enough @ 850 or 1000 is needed??

[Alik4041]

Here are the wattage ratings to help you out:

Antec 1000w

5V and 3.3V = 200w MAX

12V = 840w MAX

Antec 850w

5V and 3.3V = 180w MAX

12V = 768w MAX

[yonton228]

Figure I can just ask my question here and not make a new thread. Are the modular PCI connectors on the PSU (not the cables) only to be used for vid cards? Or can you connect one of the spare molex or SATA power cables to the PCI connections?

Thanks for the help.


-yonton228/timmy

[Source]

http://www.dvhardware.net/reviews/silverstone_da750/16.jpg

By the Decathlon serie you can't connect other cables, where they not should be plugged in.

As you can see, all the plugs are different so you can't plug in the wrong one.. Fool proof :cool:

[Alik4041]

Figure I can just ask my question here and not make a new thread. Are the modular PCI connectors on the PSU (not the cables) only to be used for vid cards? Or can you connect one of the spare molex or SATA power cables to the PCI connections?

Thanks for the help.


-yonton228/timmy

I think your talking about the antec 850w & 1000w series. The answer is No and yes. The red molex connector on the PSU is for the graphics card (it has more than enough power to power a highend graphics setup from those connectors. They can be used for any other peripherals though. So just connect it to the red connector.