PCP&C vs Thermaltake

[GameMusic]

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=63

PCP&C:

Most respected
Some say it is kind of loud for a high end PSU?
1% more efficient at load

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=7

Thermaltake:

4 12V Rails
Modular
140mm fan
Quiet pad

How important are multiple rails for safety? I am paranoid about fires. There are a lot of papers around and it's a hot room.

The rails are: CPU, MoBo, 2xPCI-e, and molex.

That is an optimal setup for SLI or one dual PCI-e card, but if I wanted to SLI eventually it would probably be with dual PCI-es and I expect that molex to PCI-e would not work on that 4th rail. I doubt I would ever SLI but options are a bonus.

Modular is an advantage to me, and I like the quietness, but just how important is the PCP&C quality? Are the 19" cables long enough for a NZXT Tempest?

[burebista]

You have there a Seasonic (Silencer) vs. a CWT (Toughpower). Both are very good PSU's. You can't go wrong with any of these so the choice is only by budget and personal taste.
About multiple rails read here (http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3990).

[mpilchfamily]

If you value silence the Thermaltake is your better option. The 2 have about equal quality and safty isn't an issue with either brand be it sigle or multiple rails.

[zanzabar]

the PCP&P is 750W sustained and 825W peak (if u remember right), and the TT is 750W max

but i like my 750TX its 750W sustained 800 something peak and its made by CWT and its rated for 50c were the 2 mentioned are 40c

[GameMusic]

Thanks. Is there any fire safety advantage to virtual rails or is it just less likely to kill your comp since it is actually a single rail behind them?

Safety. It's done for the same reason that there's more than one circuit breaker in your house's distribution panel. The goal is to limit the current through each wire to what that wire can carry without getting dangerously hot.

Short circuit protection only works if there's minimal to no resistance in the short (like two wires touching or a hot lead touching a ground like the chassis wall, etc.) If the short occurs on a PCB, in a motor, etc. the resistance in this circuit will typically NOT trip short circuit protection. What does happen is the short essentially creates a load. Without an OCP the load just increases and increases until the wire heats up and the insulation melts off and there's a molten pile of flaming plastic at the bottom of the chassis. This is why rails are split up and "capped off" in most power supplies; there is a safety concern.

I'm wondering if that molten plastic actually has any chance of starting a fire outside the case.

Some say that it's for safety, while others say it isn't an issue. So is that ".001% chance with multiple and .002% chance with single, either way it's infinitesimal," or ".001% chance either way, it truly makes no difference?"

Obviously I am doing a ton of research and I am VERY paranoid. :P

BTW, is the rear fan of the PCP&C more suitable for a bottom-mounted PSU case like the NZXT Tempest than a vertical fan?

[Tonucci]

According to some experts, an multi-rail design does increase safety by an "infinitesimal" margin :)

And about the continuous/peak figures, IIRC, some companies just not inform peak values. Over Current Protection would kick in anyways. Practically every quality PSU nowadays are rated for continuous output, even if the figure is named "max output". I could be wrong, so it would be nice to have some kind of confirmation.

[zanzabar]

dont bother compairing multi and single rails, i like singe becouse i multi that wouldent power anything but now they are the same

and i dont think that the TT is actually a 4 rail, its the same CWT unit (with a lower rating) as corsair and silverstone use and they are all rated as 4 rail but operate as 1 rail

and the fan position dosnt matter u can turn the psu so it isnt trapped against a panel and can get air

[jas420221]

and i dont think that the TT is actually a 4 rail, its the same CWT unit (with a lower rating) as corsair and silverstone use and they are all rated as 4 rail but operate as 1 railmore or less yes. It is multiple rails, but any rail can take any amount of power (not the 20A limit set by TRUE multi rail PSUs).

[Damian^]

Both will work well for your set up and you wont see a difference really since it will deliver the output needed for your system, i myself am not a fan of Thermaltake power supplies, except for their toughpower line which are excellent but a bit overpriced for the power they deliver.

Nonetheless; like the user stated above, go with the power supply that your budget can handle. You will be happy with either, even in SLI/Crossfire