Is fortron blue (500w) adequate for sli ?

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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
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Hello. I am planning on building a new system in the next 3 to 6 weeks with the
following:

epox nf4 sli board (or similar)
amd 64 san diego, or opty 146 or similar (maybe 2x but probalby not)
single hard disk (probably 250gb wd sata with 16mb cache or hitachi t7k250)
single optical device (dvd-rom or dvd-rw)
sound card (xfi or audigy 2 z sb)
(maybe cheapo scsi card for film scanner)
(maybe tv tuner)(probalby not)
initally either x1800xt or 7900gt - more likley the 7900gt with possible future
upgrade to second one (though with dx10/am2 this might never happen)
(the 7900gt uses less power but might one day be two the x1800xt uses more
power but would never go above 1 on an sli board)
2gb ram (problaby g.skill dr400)
---
I think that's it. When I do the math it seems that this powersupply will work
and stay below 460W (for high efficiency from reviews) but i'm a power newbie
and i might be totally off. Also this psu doesn't include pcie or card
connectors but my understanding is most cards include adapters.

If this power supply is border line what od you recommend ? Would
Antec truepower2 (550W) or ozc 520W or fortron 600W be better buys? The
antec is around same price ~85 but the fortron and ozc are $55 more so a bit
of a jump.

(I hope this is the correct forum for psu questions)
 
Rinaun

Rinaun

Golden Member
Dec 30, 2005
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500w would be fine, but i would go 550-600 just so next time you upgrade you wont have to buy a new PSU.
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
6,558
1,594
136
Thanks Rinaun. Other than the second 7900gt i'm not too worried about upgrade. What normally happens is I build a new system in 2 years and pass an old one down to my sister, parents, .... who uses the pc in more productive ways than have software er render pretty pictures :)

[I wonder if most offices realize they can get away with win98 and pc400?]
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
6,558
1,594
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Couple of quick questions (this one shows i'm a reallll newbie) when you have quad 12v rails do you have to balance each rail independelty (i.e., pick which rail gets plugged into which device?) If so does the unit provide any hints when things are well balanced?

Also - is this the unit that requires load on the 5v for the 12v to work properly? (one of the silverstone had this problem). I'm only going to have 2 drives (one disk, one optical) hence my concern.

Is there a way to make sure hte cables are correct without a voltmeter (newegg notes lots of people who get the 4 pin cable in backwards and fry their system)

Last but least it seems that the efficiency is a bit low (more of a comment since i turn my game system off when not in use).

Thanks (still reading the other two reviews on this unit)

Hum it looks like xbitlab slightly favor the ocz 520 but it is really a toss up.
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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Bottom of the page http://www.silverstonetek.com/Q&A%20POWER.htm

75.80% efficiency is pretty good. If you want a powerful, high output P$U that is over 80%
look to the 850W pcp&c :D

Two things about the unit being discussed. It is 180mm deep. Standard ATX depth is 140mm.
If your case is small a/o the opticals deep this could present a conflict, so measure ;)
The stock fan is an ADDA@85cfm. They will ramped up early. If this is of concern, since
there is no warrenty sticker, the fan can be down rated to 70cfm(no less).

The problem with some of the Zeus units(made by Etasis:thumbsup: ) was a lack of load on
the 5V rail. A resistor loading up about 3A takes care of that issue. This problem is not
present in the Strider series. I bought the unit in question two weeks ago from eWiz.com
for $99. There are none left. My attitude is not, hey! buy this because I did. It just happens
to be a very good deal atm. In build quality it's just as good as the Enermax Liberty but much
cheaper. The Liberty does have a more attractive interior but costs considerably more.
You probably never heard of Enhance but they are one of the better PSU/SMPS builders,
every bit as good as Enermax if not better.


...Galvanized

 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
6,558
1,594
136
Thanks Galvanized:

My last two concerns are (a) How do you ensure that proper load is applied to each 12v (as oppose to putting full load on 1 12v for example)? This might be obvious once you have the powersupply not sure. (perhaps the link you provided indicates that each outlet on the supply is identified as to which rail and you manually spread the load ?)

(b) newegg reviews seem to indicate that it is easy to plug the cable in the wrong way and fry the system. If you don't have a volt meter to measure is this really a concern or were the people who did this being careless (i.e, in previous build i've done it has been obvious which way the cable go so I'm not sure if this is an issue specific to this power supply or something else)?

btw how do you down rate a fan (I probalby won't do this - just curious).
 
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GalvanizedYankee

Diamond Member
Oct 27, 2003
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I linked you to the cabling hook-up. On the lower right is the recomended hook-up for a second graphics card. Do it if you ever go dual card.

Take reviews at the Egg with a large barrel of salt as very few are worth noting. I did a quick look-see and did not find the burn up you speak of, link it. I think he/she might have flipped a 4pin Molex or the ATX 4pin. The ham fisted/impatient will do some incredably stupid things in hurried ignorance. All PSU connections are latched or have chamfered cornors, so if one looks at the shell and jack it is obvious how things get plugged in. There are ppl that will try to force main line plugs in, not even noting one is wider than the other. These folks need assistance hooking up a toaster :D

NOTE: I do recall someone adding a 4pin Molex to the modular connects at the back of the PSU and did it flipped. Some generic shells are very thin, soft plastic. This would cause a reversal of the 5V to 12V. YIKES!! The shells on the cabling that comes with this unit are decent quality, hard plastic and would be impossible to install flipped. He/she probably tried to add a 4pin Molex cable with the PSU installed and just felt for the port. Serves them right! But then to turn on the product for one's ignorance, just adds to the stupidity...Right?

PSU fans are easy to change out, Google for a tutorial. There is one at http://www.silentpcreview.com/ . At<40% load fan noise will be a none issue. Noise is subjective ;) The folks at SPCR go nuts with a fly in the room.

ATM, you'll be very hard pressed to find better for le$$.


...Galvanized
 
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you2

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2002
6,558
1,594
136
Ok sounds very good. All I have left to do is pick the case and make sure it fits (I think it will since I iwll only have one optical drive and can put it in a lower slot).

btw as i noted in my previous posting i did look at the diagram what wasn't clear to me is how you tell the psu which rail went to which device :(

Hum - any vendor you recommend for buying this psu (none of hte ones froogle list are my regulars)? Might as well as go ahead and get it checked off hte list.
 
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