• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Is dual 12V rails generally good for non-SLI systems?

A

Aisengard

Golden Member
So I was looking to get the Seasonic s12 500W Power supply, since it and the 600W are the only ones that come with the extra 6-pin cord for high-end video cards. My question is which components should go on which rail? And since a 6800 GT consumes 200W at full load, it would take up 17A, and one of the seasonic rails are only 17A. I've heard that they're excellent power supplies, but how would one go about connecting the power to each component so as to not overload the rail?
 
well i have a enermax 475 watt noise taker with dual 12v rails

now im not enitrely sure if im hooked up right, but i assume i have the 20pin and 4 pin mobo connectors are 1 rail and the other molex connectors are the other rail

but also coming off my PSU is a sleeved molex connector on its own. no leeching it just comes right out the PSU. its got extra printed on it. so thats what goes in my 6800GT....works pretty well so im not gonna mess on or complain

i dunno which rails which tbh

i hope i have the 6800GT on its own rail and everything else on the other one, but i can see it being (20 + 4 pin mobo connector = 1 rail, Molex's = 2nd rail)
the instructions never really made it clear.

jus connect it all up, run superPI, Memtest, Prime95, 3dmark05 etc....and if u dont crash then its all stable which means your all well and good.
 
Originally posted by: jenneth
And since a 6800 GT consumes 200W at full load, it would take up 17A, and one of the seasonic rails are only 17A.
Click to expand...

I don't think the 6800 GT consumes 200W at full load, look at HERE.

j.
Click to expand...

Oh. Wow. Okay, I think I was looking at some site, and they showed power consumption. Maybe it was for the whole system. Okay, this makes me feel a lot better.

But still, which parts (like CPU, Hard Drive, Optical Drive) get powered by which rails, and should I put the video card isolated on one 12V rail and everything else on another?
 
Disregarding all other features like efficiency and quietness, right? How much worse is dual rail if you know you're never going SLI?
 
Dual rail isn't necessarily more efficient or quiet. There are plenty of single-rail models that are very quiet and greatly exceed the latest ATX 2.x standard for efficiency. So don't believe all the crap you read on the fanboy sites re. PSUs.
.
. The main thing about split rails in the ATX standard is safety (keeping each rail at 20A or less) - nothing else. Standards don't make things better - better designs make them better!

.bh.

:moon:
 
I have the Seasonic S12 430 watt model... it is more than enough to run my system... the 600 watt (which you can get from ewiz.com for $130) is one of the best PSU's for an sli system

 
Well, the Seasonic 600 is a relatively recent design while the Sparkle 550-60PLG has been around a few years but still Seasonic claims UP TO (these are weasel words, BTW) 80% best case while Sparkle claims 63% WORST case. I would be willing to bet that real-world performance on that score is nearly equal. And even though the sparkle has only one 80mm fan it is still not very noisy (because they use really high quality NMB or Nidec fans in those units). Not to mention the price differential...
. The Zippy PSUs are also great single rail units and are rated for efficiency at full output. The range around 65-75% power is the sweet spot for efficiency which is why most systems should be running 350W PSUs or less as the real draw is usually between 150 and 250W on the DC side. I ran my system on a Sparkle FSP250-60ATV for a good while but I couldn't resist the 400W Sparkle refurbs with aPFC that SVC was blowing out for $25. (love that .97 power factor!) - they also had a few 550-60PLG refurbs at $70. (the lucky ones who nabbed those are VERY happy campers 🙂 )..

.bh.
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
Well, the Seasonic 600 is a relatively recent design while the Sparkle 550-60PLG has been around a few years but still Seasonic claims UP TO (these are weasel words, BTW) 80% best case while Sparkle claims 63% WORST case. I would be willing to bet that real-world performance on that score is nearly equal. And even though the sparkle has only one 80mm fan it is still not very noisy (because they use really high quality NMB or Nidec fans in those units). Not to mention the price differential...
. The Zippy PSUs are also great single rail units and are rated for efficiency at full output. The range around 70-80% power is the sweet spot for efficiency which is why most systems should be running 350W PSUs or less as the real draw is usually between 150 and 250W on the DC side. I ran my system on a Sparkle FSP250-60ATV for a good while but I couldn't resist the 400W Sparkle refurbs with aPFC that SVC was blowing out for $25. (love that .97 power factor!) - they also had a few 550-60PLG refurbs at $70. (the lucky ones who nabbed those are VERY happy campers 🙂 )..
Click to expand...

The Seasonic S-12 430W has an efficiency ranging from 78-83% from 65W to 430W load.
 
i believe the dual rails to be okay, singles preferable, but more than 2 seems to be silly, the ratings of the 3rd and 4th rails are normally low (very)
 
Originally posted by: Zepper
Well, the Seasonic 600 is a relatively recent design while the Sparkle 550-60PLG has been around a few years but still Seasonic claims UP TO (these are weasel words, BTW) 80% best case while Sparkle claims 63% WORST case.
Click to expand...

Seasonic PSUs are being certified by 80-plus.org as 80% efficient at 20%, 50% and 100% load-- One of the models already passed certification (400W Super Tornado).

Read all about it at Silent PC Review..

I would not be surprised if the efficiency ratings for the Seasonic S12-600 lives up to its claims.

 
It would be interesting to find out whether the unit of the Seasonic SS-400 that was tested was purchased on the open market or supplied to the testing lab directly from Seasonic (leaving open the potential for "cherry picking" or purpose-tuned units). And what Seasonic's relationship(s) to these obviously left-wing organizations are... I'm also wondering why 80plus doesn't specify a 75% test - in the sweet spot...

. And it is interesting to point out that the SS-400 is a single rail unit that doesn't meet ATX 2.x spec as its +12 rail exceeds 20A...

. bh.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top