Xylo
07-24-2005, 06:33 PM
I need to pick out a PSU for my new system that will be watercooled. I'm wondering what special considerations I might want to be aware of in purchasing such?
I've looked at various websites that try to give good estimates for probable demands on the PSU depending on what you plan to put in the system, but one component they all leave out is any additional water-cooling equipment! So far, it seems to most sites that I won't really need much over a 350W PSU, so I'm thinking for going 450W to be safe. Naturally, also, will be over-clocking... (FWIW, it's an AMD64 3500+ w/ a Radeon X850 XT PE...so the demands aren't as bad as a nVidia 6800 or anything, but still non-trivial.)
I know the 12V capabilities are important...running the pump, etc. (there will also be some internal lighting) I want something with a decent # of amps on the 12V rails...but how much total will I realistically need? I've seen PSUs having anywhere form 19 to 34amps total on the 12V rails...
My biggest question though is: how nice/beneficial is it to have two separate 12V rails? (ie,. ATX 2.0, etc.)
And, is there anything else I should bear in mind with regards to WC'ing?
(My other reqs are also that it be something conducive to OC'ing, so if anyone has any input there also, I'd be more than happy to listen... ... Plus, I'm hoping to get a single 120mm fan PSU for noise reduction...and the modular cable PSUs seem interesting -- but in practice, just how useful are they?)
I've found plenty of nice power supplies that meet 2 of three of the following:
- dual 12V rails
- modular cables
- single 120mm
Any words from folks on just which "really" matter?...heh. I say the single 120mm for sound purposes, but perhaps that's wrong? As for the modular cabling, is it not that useful after all?
Thanks for any input anyone might have...
Xylo
I've looked at various websites that try to give good estimates for probable demands on the PSU depending on what you plan to put in the system, but one component they all leave out is any additional water-cooling equipment! So far, it seems to most sites that I won't really need much over a 350W PSU, so I'm thinking for going 450W to be safe. Naturally, also, will be over-clocking... (FWIW, it's an AMD64 3500+ w/ a Radeon X850 XT PE...so the demands aren't as bad as a nVidia 6800 or anything, but still non-trivial.)
I know the 12V capabilities are important...running the pump, etc. (there will also be some internal lighting) I want something with a decent # of amps on the 12V rails...but how much total will I realistically need? I've seen PSUs having anywhere form 19 to 34amps total on the 12V rails...
My biggest question though is: how nice/beneficial is it to have two separate 12V rails? (ie,. ATX 2.0, etc.)
And, is there anything else I should bear in mind with regards to WC'ing?
(My other reqs are also that it be something conducive to OC'ing, so if anyone has any input there also, I'd be more than happy to listen... ... Plus, I'm hoping to get a single 120mm fan PSU for noise reduction...and the modular cable PSUs seem interesting -- but in practice, just how useful are they?)
I've found plenty of nice power supplies that meet 2 of three of the following:
- dual 12V rails
- modular cables
- single 120mm
Any words from folks on just which "really" matter?...heh. I say the single 120mm for sound purposes, but perhaps that's wrong? As for the modular cabling, is it not that useful after all?
Thanks for any input anyone might have...
Xylo