Is mine enough for 8800GT?

[Psychless]

I recently bought all the components I needed for my new computer except the video card, which wasn't in stock. I'm about to buy the PNY 8800GT, but I'm not sure if the power supply that came with my Antec Sonata III, the Antec Earthpower 500W, is going to supply enought amps to it. This is my first build, so I don't really understand the two rails thing. If it won't be enought, would the PC Power & Cooling 470W be enough?

 

[MarcVenice]

Nah, your antec earthwatts is just fine, assuming you're going to run a single cpu * dual/qaudcore is still a single cpu * and a single videocard and the normal amount of HD's, casefans, DVD drives and such.

 

[aussiestilgar]

The Antec will be fine.

 

[Psychless]

My question has changed now that I understand my problem. Which would be the cheapest reliable power supply that has 2 12V rails with one at 26 amps?

 

[Psychless]

I apologize for not seeing your replies. I don't see how mine can be enough. My video card needs 26 amps and the 2 12 volt rails I have only have 17 amps each.

 

[Psychless]

Or does the pci-e connector just draw from both rails? It seems I may have answered my own question.

 

[spittledip]

yes, but not for the sum of the 2 rails. Like the others said, you are good to go with that psu.

edit: it is odd, on the back of the unit, it states that the max load is 408 watts, which is the total of each 12v rail. That can't be right, can it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A500+500W+Power+Supply

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: spittledip
yes, but not for the sum of the 2 rails. Like the others said, you are good to go with that psu.

edit: it is odd, on the back of the unit, it states that the max load is 408 watts, which is the total of each 12v rail. That can't be right, can it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A500+500W+Power+Supply

That equates to 34A on the combined 12v rails. The PSU can easily handle the 8800gt, so don't fret over it.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: Lunyone

Originally posted by: spittledip
yes, but not for the sum of the 2 rails. Like the others said, you are good to go with that psu.

edit: it is odd, on the back of the unit, it states that the max load is 408 watts, which is the total of each 12v rail. That can't be right, can it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A500+500W+Power+Supply

That equates to 34A on the combined 12v rails. The PSU can easily handle the 8800gt, so don't fret over it.

But combined 12v are not supposed to equal the total amps. For example, if the rails are both 20 amps, they might equal 36 amps combined, not 40. That is how most are.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Psychless
I apologize for not seeing your replies. I don't see how mine can be enough. My video card needs 26 amps and the 2 12 volt rails I have only have 17 amps each.

Your video card will only consume around 9A under a full load. The 26A recommendation that you're referring to is for the entire system, and it's on the high side to account for semi-generic psu's. The EarthWatts 500 is also a single 34A rail with high efficiency and low noise.

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: Lunyone

Originally posted by: spittledip
yes, but not for the sum of the 2 rails. Like the others said, you are good to go with that psu.

edit: it is odd, on the back of the unit, it states that the max load is 408 watts, which is the total of each 12v rail. That can't be right, can it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A500+500W+Power+Supply

That equates to 34A on the combined 12v rails. The PSU can easily handle the 8800gt, so don't fret over it.

But combined 12v are not supposed to equal the total amps. For example, if the rails are both 20 amps, they might equal 36 amps combined, not 40. That is how most are.

While that is generally correct, some psu's do have a combined 12V which equals the (published) amps available on each 12V rail.

 

[SerpentRoyal]

Earthwatts is a single rail PSU rated up to 34A @ +12VDC output.

 

[jonmcc33]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Nah, your antec earthwatts is just fine, assuming you're going to run a single cpu * dual/qaudcore is still a single cpu * and a single videocard and the normal amount of HD's, casefans, DVD drives and such.

Even dual video cards will run on that PSU...

 

[John]

Originally posted by: jonmcc33

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Nah, your antec earthwatts is just fine, assuming you're going to run a single cpu * dual/qaudcore is still a single cpu * and a single videocard and the normal amount of HD's, casefans, DVD drives and such.

Even dual video cards will run on that PSU...

I concur, especially since the new 3870 & 8800GT aren't all that power hungry.

 

[MarcVenice]

Ya, good luck, with only 1 pci-e connector

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: Psychless
I apologize for not seeing your replies. I don't see how mine can be enough. My video card needs 26 amps and the 2 12 volt rails I have only have 17 amps each.

Your video card will only consume around 9A under a full load. The 26A recommendation that you're referring to is for the entire system, and it's on the high side to account for semi-generic psu's. The EarthWatts 500 is also a single 34A rail with high efficiency and low noise.

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: Lunyone

Originally posted by: spittledip
yes, but not for the sum of the 2 rails. Like the others said, you are good to go with that psu.

edit: it is odd, on the back of the unit, it states that the max load is 408 watts, which is the total of each 12v rail. That can't be right, can it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...A500+500W+Power+Supply

That equates to 34A on the combined 12v rails. The PSU can easily handle the 8800gt, so don't fret over it.

But combined 12v are not supposed to equal the total amps. For example, if the rails are both 20 amps, they might equal 36 amps combined, not 40. That is how most are.

While that is generally correct, some psu's do have a combined 12V which equals the (published) amps available on each 12V rail.

OK, I wasn't sure if they were fibbing or something on the wattage on the 12v good to know for future reference

 

[jonmcc33]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Ya, good luck, with only 1 pci-e connector

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=27500

PCI-E connector: one for 380W and 430W, two for 500W

No luck required.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Ya, good luck, with only 1 pci-e connector

The EarthWatts 500 comes standard with 2 PCIe connectors. Pic :camera:

In addition, by a psu not having two native 6-pin PCIe connectors doesn't imply that it is incapable of handling 2 graphics cards, an 8800GTX, 2900XT, etc.

 

[jonmcc33]

Originally posted by: John

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Ya, good luck, with only 1 pci-e connector

The EarthWatts 500 comes standard with 2 PCIe connectors. Pic :camera:

In addition, by a psu not having two native 6-pin PCIe connectors doesn't imply that it is incapable of handling 2 graphics cards, an 8800GTX, 2900XT, etc.

Ouch! Corrected twice!

Yes, I don't think he's ever heard of a PCIe 6-pin adapter at all.

 

[xgsound]

One 8800gt will even run on a $43 fps AX400 which has 1 18A and 1 16A 12V rail. I have one running. I believe the EVGA site says 26A (min total) for the +12v rails.


Jim

 

[John]

Originally posted by: xgsound
I believe the EVGA site says 26A (min total) for the +12v rails.

http://www.evga.com/products/m...2-P3-N802-A1&family=19

Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
(Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 22 Amp Amps.)

The 8800GT is only going to pull <10A under full load.

 

[exar333]

Your fine as long as you don't (1) OC the heck out of a quad-core and/or run an additional 8800GT in there. Dual core-singe GPU - your golden! (assuming you aren't running a xrazy setup with 4 optical drives and 6 HDD's)