Add 2 PSU review - $20 PSU expansion

[Mats]

The module is extremely easy to use. First you grab a spare 4pin Molex lead from your existing PSU and plug it into the Add2PSU module.
Next plug the 20pin or 24pin main power lead from the secondary PSU into the module. Finally mount the module in your case and route cables as needed.

When the main system turns on the power will activate the relay and prompt the secondary PSU to activate.

http://www.ninjalane.com/reviews/modding/add2psu

[Vinas]

Yup that's pretty cool, and simple. But we already have cables that do this... And relays can fail over time, so unfortunately this is already obsolete me thinks.

[Mats]

WE know.

[The Coolest]

And that looks pretty expensive for a PCB, relay and a couple of connectors...

[Utnorris]

I saw this the other night on Frozencpu. I like it better than the traditional PSU adapters since this can be mounted where the secondary PSU is sitting. Twice as much as the other ones, but it is pretty slick.

[STEvil]

None yet that allow combining of PSU's....

[nn_step]

ultimately a useless feature, since the largest power draw is not the hard or disc drives but rather the graphics card and the CPU and this solution does not correct that problem.

[Mats]

ultimately a useless feature, since the largest power draw is not the hard or disc drives but rather the graphics card and the CPU and this solution does not correct that problem.

What are you talking about? What does hard drives got to do with it?

It allows you to use a second PSU for graphics cards or whatever you like (except using two PSU's connected to one 24-pin ATX connector on a motherboard, which I wouldn't do anyway ).

[nn_step]

What are you talking about? What does hard drives got to do with it?

It allows you to use a second PSU for graphics cards or whatever you like (except using two PSU's connected to one 24-pin ATX connector on a motherboard, which I wouldn't do anyway ).

If you use it for the graphics card and there is a voltage difference between the 12v the first and second PSUs provide, you can fry the graphics card. Hence I was speaking of the devices which it could actually power, without risk of being fried.

[Darth_Penguin]

If you use it for the graphics card and there is a voltage difference between the 12v the first and second PSUs provide, you can fry the graphics card. Hence I was speaking of the devices which it could actually power, without risk of being fried.

Since I dont know the answer to this I have to ask. Why do 2 separate video cards needs the same voltage to run without risk of "frying"?

[nn_step]

Since I dont know the answer to this I have to ask. Why do 2 separate video cards needs the same voltage to run without risk of "frying"?

I believe that you parsed my sentence incorrectly.
the 24 pin of PSU #1 provides 12v to all PCIe cards
the 6/8 pin connectors of PSU #2 which when connected to a graphics card may not be at the same voltage as what was provided by PSU #1 to the PCIe cards.

Hopefully that clears up your confusion

[defect9]

isn't that what the vregs on both the mobo and cards are for, to not just smooth, but regulate the power to the proper voltage for optimum operation?

[STEvil]

isn't that what the vregs on both the mobo and cards are for, to not just smooth, but regulate the power to the proper voltage for optimum operation?

To the cpu/core/ram/etc, yes, but that doesnt separate the rails as they dont connect through the VRM, but rather before the VRM... if they do. Its not really an issue as the rail separation is pretty good these days after the earlier blunders of "multiple-rail" psu's.

[god_43]

To the cpu/core/ram/etc, yes, but that doesnt separate the rails as they dont connect through the VRM, but rather before the VRM... if they do. Its not really an issue as the rail separation is pretty good these days after the earlier blunders of "multiple-rail" psu's.

what about the 8 pin connector at the top of the motherboard? would we need an adapter cable for that as well; if we were to use two psu's?

[STEvil]

depends on how things were set up..

[PatRaceTin]

hmmm not interesting

[Humminn55]

I believe that you parsed my sentence incorrectly.
the 24 pin of PSU #1 provides 12v to all PCIe cards
the 6/8 pin connectors of PSU #2 which when connected to a graphics card may not be at the same voltage as what was provided by PSU #1 to the PCIe cards.

Hopefully that clears up your confusion

I've seen just such setups used for years by more than a few people (PS#1 supplying everything with power except the PCI-e cables and PS#2 supplying just the PCI-e cables to the gpus), and have never heard of rampant numbers of video cards frying.

[god_43]

I've seen just such setups used for years by more than a few people (PS#1 supplying everything with power except the PCI-e cables and PS#2 supplying just the PCI-e cables to the gpus), and have never heard of rampant numbers of video cards frying.

lol well i was about to make such a setup myself...but i think i will spend the 9.99 for the adapter cable just to be safe.

[owikh84]

Yup that's pretty cool, and simple. But we already have cables that do this... And relays can fail over time, so unfortunately this is already obsolete me thinks.

My TJ07 comes with this 24pins splitter cable in the box.

[SexyMF]

As long as your 0V point from each PSU is tied together then you are ok. This is done via the GPU power sockets anyway.

The ability to parallel up PSU's depends on the circuit of the SMPS.