Conroe and PSU

[xombie2000]

Ok as the title might (could be a little vague) indicate, I am trying to pick a PSU for a Conroe build with a single video card set up, I really doubt I'll go CF or SLI because of DX10 cards looming on the horizon in 6 months(ish)? I have used Antec for years but thought of trying Seasonic or Fortron. It boils down to Antec TruePower 2.0 550 Watt (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931) or Seasonic S12-500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817151024) or FSP Group (Fortron Source) FX600-GLN (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104014). I was curious if there is any indication that these PSU's will provide adequate enough future power requirements? I realize all are SLI certified and I noted above that I wont be using an additional video card until DX10, then again I only have a 19" monitor so it would probably be a waste. I guess the question here is which are any of these better than the rest? I already read the PSU forums but really I just came away from it more confused because of conflicting reviews.

[Johnny Sack]

You don't want those dual rails, you want a strong single rail.

Mega amps on the single +12V rail. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCompare.asp?CompareItemList=N82E16817103517 %2CN82E16817711002%2CN82E16817163111&SubCategory=58)

Conroe's are so efficient with the power. If they're anything like what they have a head for the 45nm, you'll be set for a while with those PSUs I linked.

[xombie2000]

You don't want those dual rails, you want a strong single rail.


Would you mind elaborating a little? Is this because of the power requirements from a single power hungry video card? What those seem to have in common is really high amps on the 1 12 volt rail.

[nn_step]

any of these will work nicely for you for a while
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Description=&MinPrice=&MaxPrice=&OEMMark=-1&Manufactory=1919&Manufactory=1504&Manufactory=1550&Manufactory=1400&Manufactory=9830&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=1314%3A14179&PropertyCodeValue=1314%3A14178&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&PropertyCodeValue=0&Submit=Property&SubCategory=58
provided of course you don't plan on doing Xfire X1900XTXs

[Johnny Sack]

Because when you have those dual/hydra rails you limit the cpu(s) to 12-18A circuits. 12V capacities in dual/hydra rails go to waste with certain setups. While dual/hydra rails dedicate a line to the CPU, typically they are limited to 20A.

This is my understanding.

[xombie2000]

Thanks.

[musshy mushkin]

sorta off topic but are thermaltake PSU any good?
or should i just stick with antec.

[nn_step]

sorta off topic but are thermaltake PSU any good?
or should i just stick with antec.
ThermalTake PSUs suck
please use the link I posted above.

[Johnny Sack]

I'd stay away from almost all Thermaltakes, in almost any situation. And I'd stay away from the dual rails in his PSU suggestion list, as well.

cheers

[Fred_Pohl]

You don't want those dual rails, you want a strong single rail.

Mega amps on the single +12V rail. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCompare.asp?CompareItemList=N82E16817103517 %2CN82E16817711002%2CN82E16817163111&SubCategory=58)

Conroe's are so efficient with the power. If they're anything like what they have a head for the 45nm, you'll be set for a while with those PSUs I linked.

What's wrong with dual 12V rails? I remember reading about this before as a potential SLI/Crossfire issue but don't remember why. I replaced my FSP530W with an Antec SP500W over concerns about the FSP's single 18A 12V rail being inadequate and went with the Antec's dual 18A rails instead. Should I have bought the OCZ 520W with a single 22A 12V rail instead and if so, why?

[charlie]

for the $$ the Tagan 580W is nice... has a SWITCHABLE DUAL RAIL 12v @ 20a/20a OR 1 SINGLE 12v RAIL at 30a! And it's $90.

[GMX]

for the $$ the Tagan 580W is nice... has a SWITCHABLE DUAL RAIL 12v @ 20a/20a OR 1 SINGLE 12v RAIL at 30a! And it's $90.

I think when combined via the switch it is around 33A to 35A, no?

I was just about to buy one, that's why i ask.

[Vric]

sorta off topic but are thermaltake PSU any good?
or should i just stick with antec.

A Lot of people hate them (not sure why)

I have one 420W PFC for 3 years now, and it run over 12 hours a day. Not a single problem.

My 370W Enermax on my second computer died twice in the last 3 years. Since Enermax don't have any service in Canada, it took over 6 weeks to have a replacement.

I will need a new PSU for my Conroe too. I'm not sure what I will choose either. Sure Thermaltake offer good value on paper, but all "anti Thermaltake guy" make you wonder why they are so cheap :D

[freecableguy]

Or just get yourself a PCP&C 510 and be done with it. ;)

[charlie]

I think when combined via the switch it is around 33A to 35A, no?

I was just about to buy one, that's why i ask.

Oooopsss... you're right. It's 35a when switched to single 12v RAIL.

BTW, I opened the Tagan 580W today and found 2 x POTS!! Should be 12v and 3.3v/5v adjustments.

[Dumo]

You don't have to upgrade for a long time with this one:) ..$325+shipping from Cali...Direct from Zippy USA..http://www.zippy.com.tw/AZ_worldwide.asp?lv_rfnbr=2

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/9310/screenshot0316dw.jpg

[Dr.Frankenstein]

for the $$ the Tagan 580W is nice... has a SWITCHABLE DUAL RAIL 12v @ 20a/20a OR 1 SINGLE 12v RAIL at 30a! And it's $90.

Where might one of these be found for $90? Best I could find is one for $106.00 shipped at ewiz, shipping included. I'm a penny pincher...

Thanks,

[GMX]

Oooopsss... you're right. It's 35a when switched to single 12v RAIL.

BTW, I opened the Tagan 580W today and found 2 x POTS!! Should be 12v and 3.3v/5v adjustments.


This may aid you Charlie,
http://www.sysxtreme.com/showthread.php?p=40147#post40147

In that guide he mentions the 2 pots do nothing, but the one that is sort of hidden looks like it tweaks 12v/5v. 3.3v Is controlled by sense line, so a good old sense line mod should do the trick

Dumo, Direct order from Zippy, will ship worldwide? I have contacted Zippy HQ many times but they never reply email. So i gave up looking for Zippy.

[andyisc00l]

Anyone been using this OCZ 700W PSU...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002

was wondering how that was working?

[RyderOCZ]

Anyone been using this OCZ 700W PSU...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002

was wondering how that was working?http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99830

[irev210]

You don't have to upgrade for a long time with this one:) ..$325+shipping from Cali...Direct from Zippy USA..http://www.zippy.com.tw/AZ_worldwide.asp?lv_rfnbr=2



much agreed.

Or go to www.myaopen.com and buy the same powersupply for cheaper, still shipped directly from zippy, just for less.

[snatchmonkey]

Oooopsss... you're right. It's 35a when switched to single 12v RAIL.

BTW, I opened the Tagan 580W today and found 2 x POTS!! Should be 12v and 3.3v/5v adjustments.

Yep, there are 3 pots, one pot controls both the 5v and 12v together and two don't appear to do anything (OVP?). BTW for the vsense, you don't need to run it to ground like on most PSU's, just cut the vsense and put a resistor in it. I just use a 1ohm fixed resistor which gives me 3.42v - increase resistance for more :)

[nn_step]

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=99830
I'm loving the 2% tolerance but mind if I make a few suggestions.. one could you please make it so we don't void the warrenty should we adjust the rails.
Keep the Mobo and the PCIe connectors the way they are but perhaps make the other lines (the Molex and floppy and the like) modular to keep the case cleaner.
After that.. I think you have an unbeatable winner.

[xombie2000]

Or just get yourself a PCP&C 510 and be done with it. ;)

I have read these are noisy, is that true? I have hardwood floors and sound just seems to be amplified by it.

[Pandamonia]

Powerstream by OCZ

amazing PSU

full stop

[ScottFern]

I have an Antec NeoPower 480W PSU and it has dual rails. Are you guys saying that I won't be able to achieve an acceptable OC because of my PSU possibly?

[nn_step]

I have an Antec NeoPower 480W PSU and it has dual rails. Are you guys saying that I won't be able to achieve an acceptable OC because of my PSU possibly?
Acceptable but not Great.. Infact it is suggested for Benching of the CPU to use a PCI card ;)

[JoeBar]

If my Hiper Type-R 580W can power my 940@4.52ghz it'll surely do with a conroe... :)

[Fred_Pohl]

What's wrong with dual 12V rails?

[cupholder2.0]

I dont see whats so bad about dual rail 12v. My Antec Trueblue 2.0 got my PD 950 to 5.1 Ghz (Thermaltake BT).

[Tasselhof]

I found that Fortron Epsilon 700w - is pretty good, and rather cheap :)
And very important for me - its silent. I cant tolerate in my home rig something like zippy...that have sound like a turbojet ;)

[cirthix]

ThermalTake PSUs suck
please use the link I posted above.


while i'm not going to argue that they are awesome, they certainly dont suck. they are great power supplies for the $. I have used a few of them in a couple of systems and have had no problems, including running an axp at almost 2.8ghz with tons of vcore, a wcing system, and three 15krpm scsi drives. not bad for a 420w supply that cost me 40 bucks or so! they are certainly capable supplies and they have a rather cheap 420w with 22a on the 12v line. pretty good

[ConRoeFTW]

Picked up an Antec Smartpower 2.0 500w today for 15 AR at fry's for my upcoming Conroe Build.

[georgesod]

I think my 520 powerstream will handle well with upcoming conroe rig. What do you guys say?

[nn_step]

while i'm not going to argue that they are awesome, they certainly dont suck. they are great power supplies for the $. I have used a few of them in a couple of systems and have had no problems, including running an axp at almost 2.8ghz with tons of vcore, a wcing system, and three 15krpm scsi drives. not bad for a 420w supply that cost me 40 bucks or so! they are certainly capable supplies and they have a rather cheap 420w with 22a on the 12v line. pretty good
say that about ten seconds after the Thermaltake dies and kills your entire rig in the process :fact: Appearently you forget they didn't include the circuits that protect your rig incase of failure :fact:

[Fred_Pohl]

I dont see whats so bad about dual rail 12v. My Antec Trueblue 2.0 got my PD 950 to 5.1 Ghz (Thermaltake BT).

Thanks. Since no one has offered a logical reason for single 12V rail PSUs being better than dual rail, it sounds to me as though it's a matter of preference based on personal experience.

[NickS]

It pretty much is preference/personal experience tbh.

I have a Tagan 2Force, and I used to have it in dual rail config. When I got my X1800XT, I noticed my computer became slightly flakey. Switched it to single rail and its fine, heavily OC'ed. See sig.

Nick

[cupholder2.0]

Thanks. Since no one has offered a logical reason for single 12V rail PSUs being better than dual rail, it sounds to me as though it's a matter of preference based on personal experience.
I would think so too. Some of you seem to hate lower cost PSUs and call them all sh@ty. Not true at all. The thermaltakes arnt the best at all but they are decent. Amost everyone on here tod me my Allied 400 watt PSU was a POS and it was ready to die (before I got a new PSU), my allied has been powering my P4 (also my PD 950) systems for over 2 years, ocs very well, just as good as my Antec infact and it costed less than $32.

[Haltech]

Theres nothing wrong with dual rails as long you pick the right psu. Dual rail psu's relieve a lot of load problems with raid setups and heavy gfx cards. I know a lot of psu's out there couldn't handle my 7 drive raid6 setup on most single rail and dual rail psu'd. I use a Silverstone Zeus 650 which is a quad rail. 2 separate Pci-E (SLI) rails, 1 perpherial rail and 1 CPU rail. There is one pot which tweaks both 5v/12v together,, 1 ovp pot and the 3rd doesn't seem to do anything. I think people are looking at the combined amps to much. A cpu today doesn't need a +30a rail if your video and drives are seperated. Under full load, 165 @ 2800, 2 7900GT's at 700/1900 voltmodded and 7 drives in raid6, I have no stabilty issues. There was also a +/- .002% diiference in reported voltage @ load with a multimeter readout vs reported voltage in software. Pretty damn good if you ask me. OCZ, Silverstone, Zippy , and Tagan make great psu's. Don't be turned off by multi railers because someone tells you the combined amps is more important these days. Conroe is going to be so power efficient, its sick, so don't sweat it. Get a nice psu that's affordable. Hell, I even have a Rosewell RP550 that can hold its own on an Opty 148 with a DFI. It was $56.00 shipped from the egg.