Dual 12V rails PSU's

Subhuman25

Senior member
Aug 22, 2004
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Given a dual 12V (e.g. 18A + 15A : 33A total) rail PSU wich rails would be used for wich components.Should certain components go onto the higher rated rail etc?
 
Jun 14, 2003
10,442
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think graphics cards like the 6800gt/ultra need good amperage......so i would give the highest rail to the grafix then the other to the mobo
 

Matthias99

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2003
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I'd agree; put the graphics card on one, and your hard drives, optical drives, and/or motherboard (if you have a choice!) on the other.

Note: this assumes you don't have a whole slew of hard/optical drives, in which case you'd be better to spread them a bit.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
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If we're talking an Enermax split, then the main 20-ping/4pin connectors carry one 12v rail and power motherboard/CPU/onboard 12v devices.
There is one aux connector marked as 12v 1 or something, which uses the same rail as the main ATX connector plugged into the mobo.
All the other molex (4 pin) connectors carry the other 12v rail.

I have the main connector plugged into the mobo, and the aux for it plugged into my HS/F fan on the CPU.
Then the 2xHDD, 2xOptical and 9800 are connected to the other molex's, and use the power from the other rail.

Bearing in mind I used to use a system with ~15A total, and now have 13A + 14A, this should be OK, even if you have a few more drives (HDD's are ~2A each max pull from the 12v rail).



If you have a 6800 card, then I would put the main connector into the mobo (obviously), and the aux. for that 12v rail I would split into any HDD's.

Then the other rail (molex's) would be free for the graphics card, optical drives and any fans needing connections.