A8N-SLI Power issues

[kaborka]

bluslice: I'm happy with the Fortron FSP550-60PLN I got from Directron. I just fired up my A8N-SLI for the first time a couple of hours ago. I checked out the PSU on my oscilloscope. The ripple under load is less than 100mV on all outputs. This is an EPS PSU, but it has the 4-pin 12V connector for compatibility with ATX 12V. It is totally silent (at idle), too, with built-in fan speed control. I haven't installed the OS yet, so I can't say how loud it would be under heavy loads.

This PSU has only one SATA power line, but that one does have the 3.3V line. It has scads of regular Molex power connectors, so you can use the adapters that came with the A8N to power additional SATA drives, as long as they don't need 3.3V.

 

[Insomniak]

Well, all kinds of name brands to choose from. Good PSUs are made by:

Antec
Enermax
OCZ
PC Power and Cooling
Fortron
Seasonic


AS for my recommendation to you, that would be the OCZ Powerstream 600W: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-104-153&depa=0

This power supply is not a toy. 600 watts, dual 12v rails with almost 40A between them, every connector under the sun, and of course it's OCZ, a company which really impresses me. OCZ seems to refuse to make a bad product. This thing will power whatever you throw at it and still have enough left over to give your car a jump....enjoy...

 

[FastEddie]

This is what I'm using, which has much better voltage rails than my Antec True480 and True550. It also has a three year warranty and won't break the bank---> A-GPB 500W Model AP-P4ATX50F12

 

[vidguru83]

what about a vantec 520 watt PSU? is this one good enough for a SLI mobo?
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-103-473&depa=0

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: FastEddie
This is what I'm using, which has much better voltage rails than my Antec True480 and True550. It also has a three year warranty and won't break the bank---> A-GPB 500W Model AP-P4ATX50F12

That's pretty impressive, but how's the company? I've never heard of A-GPB. 61A on the 5v rail is nuts.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: vidguru83
what about a vantec 520 watt PSU? is this one good enough for a SLI mobo?
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-103-473&depa=0

I think it'll be ok, if you're going to be running dual video cards, I'd go for at least 30A on the 12v rail.

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: JMag
I just switched from a 24pin Pc Power and Cooling 510W EPS12V to a ThermaleTake 480w 20pin and my mahcine hasn't had nearly the problmes it was...

This thermaltake only has 18amps on the 12v rail too!
Currently I am running a 3000+ @ 2.6ghz, 2 HD's, a DVD, a 6800GT and 1gb of ram and the 12v rail is dipping to abou 11.8 but it doens't have any serious fluctuations or spikes. I am thinking when my 2nd BFG 6800GT comes back from RMA I will have some power issues!

Anyway, my psu was working fine in the previous rig (although I built this current one just after a move, so it is possible I damaged the PSU during the move)

Also, I am not even using the 20 to 24pin adapter (there are 4 exposed female pins on the motherboard power header) However, I did plug a molex into the EZ-Plug

My machine has been able to run for about 3 hours under various loads with no problems yet

what problems were you having with the pcp&c 510?

Well I just switched out the PC Power and Cooling from my P4 when I put together my a8n system... well I was having all sorts of problems, but the main thing was that my computer would just turn off in random intervals. Initially, I thought it might be the PSU, but I wa slike " PC Power and Cooling is the best" so I ruled it out in my mind.

Anyway I ran some speedfan graphs and found out that my rails were spiking all over the place. As I said previously, I just moved into a new place and during the process I could have damaged the PSU, but I am unsure... It could also be that fact that the PSU has two seperate 12v rails and I could be overloading one of them by hooking up the improper molex connnectors.

Just as an update my ThermaleTake 480w (w/ only 18amp on the 12v) has been rnning my 18n-sli (with only one 6800GT atm) with ZERO problems. I have tried doom3 timedemo runs @ max settings and no worries.

I run CoD for a few hours lzst night and the only thing I noticed is my 12v rail dipped to a min of about 11.76volts but other than that it hasn't crashed or BSOD or Turned Off on me in a couple days. I AM STOKED!

I ordered another PSU the other day, So I can put the TT back into my p4 rig. It is interesint though... I ordered a 400w Zippy which according to the specs has +3.3V@25A, +5V@35A, +12V@30A,
12 more amps than the themaltake and it is rated at 80w less... HAH! (it is a 24pin btw)

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: Insomniak

Originally posted by: FastEddie
This is what I'm using, which has much better voltage rails than my Antec True480 and True550. It also has a three year warranty and won't break the bank---> A-GPB 500W Model AP-P4ATX50F12

That's pretty impressive, but how's the company? I've never heard of A-GPB. 61A on the 5v rail is nuts.

Athena Power is who makes it. Three year warranty. Tyan has approved this psu for dully, and as it's server class rated, hence it's stable as hell. Everyone thinks it's only the 12v rail that matters. Follow the link to the chart and take a look at where most components in a system get there power from--->
Chart

 

[bob661]

That chart is 2 years old and although it is not uncorrect it doesn't take present video cards and processors into account. Video cards are now drawing from the 12V rail as well 3.3. Processors especially are drawing heavily from the 12V rail. The 12V rail needs to be beefy.

I would try to get a power supply that has adjustable rails and a connector that isolates fan noise too.

 

[FastEddie]

Originally posted by: bob661
That chart is 2 years old and although it is not uncorrect it doesn't take present video cards and processors into account. Video cards are now drawing from the 12V rail as well 3.3. Processors especially are drawing heavily from the 12V rail. The 12V rail needs to be beefy.

I would try to get a power supply that has adjustable rails and a connector that isolates fan noise too.

I agree, even more so now! My point is "Everyone thinks it's only the 12v rail that matters." That's not the case, the amps on the +5v and the +3.3v rails are just as important!

 

[JMag]

Originally posted by: FastEddie

Originally posted by: bob661
That chart is 2 years old and although it is not uncorrect it doesn't take present video cards and processors into account. Video cards are now drawing from the 12V rail as well 3.3. Processors especially are drawing heavily from the 12V rail. The 12V rail needs to be beefy.

I would try to get a power supply that has adjustable rails and a connector that isolates fan noise too.

I agree, even more so now! My point is "Everyone thinks it's only the 12v rail that matters." That's not the case, the amps on the +5v and the +3.3v rails are just as important!

Well the 12v is most important for an SLI system using two highend vid cards... Most PSU's seem to have plenty of amps in the 5v and 3.3v line, sometimes PSU manufacturers skimp on the 12v rail, especially thermaltake.

 

[Baboon 5]

I found this on asus' website:

Flexibility: Users don't need to buy a 24-pin PSU when they setup a SLI system. A high-wattage 20-pin PSU will work just fine.

I found it here under "What is the purpose of 4-pin power connector near PCI-Express x16 slots?"

So I think it's more important that your PSU is powerfull enough, not that it has the 24-pins powerconnector.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: FastEddie

Originally posted by: bob661
That chart is 2 years old and although it is not uncorrect it doesn't take present video cards and processors into account. Video cards are now drawing from the 12V rail as well 3.3. Processors especially are drawing heavily from the 12V rail. The 12V rail needs to be beefy.

I would try to get a power supply that has adjustable rails and a connector that isolates fan noise too.

I agree, even more so now! My point is "Everyone thinks it's only the 12v rail that matters." That's not the case, the amps on the +5v and the +3.3v rails are just as important!

IMO, you can't seperate the rails in terms of importance. THey're ALL needed. If you don't have adequate power to one part of your system, the whole system gets hit with instability.

I think the emphasis on the 12v rail these days is because that's the one people commonly have trouble with, as they don't realize how easy it is to clobber that rail with a lot of spinny dealies...

Anyway, that's a very nice PSU. I might have to look into one if I ever need an upgrade...