Mobo and video card makers...PLEASE get the word out on your PS requirements;-)

[Budarow]

From the many posts circulating around the various forums on the net, I KNOW I am not the only person struggling to find out if my brand new PS will perform well with some of the latest mobos (e.g., especially the nForce4 Ultra, etc.) and video cards out (e.g., 6800GT, X800 Xl, and higher).

Believe me...the more I have to search (and also other pc hobbyists) for information regarding PS requirements for mobo's and video cards, the more these hardware makers will lose (i.e., if it takes me and many others a couple of months to decide which combination of hardware will be stable, the lower their sales and the lower their selling prices will be).

The least the mobo and video card makers could do would be to provide some general guidelines on PS specs (i.e., a 20-pin ATX PS with approximately 22 amps on the +12DC rail should be sufficient to power your system depending on the mix of other devices installed...blah, blah, blah).

The only "firm" advice I've seen was for the DFI nForce4 ultra boards which apparently says they were "engineered" for use with a native 24-pin ATX PS and also for the Epox nForce Ultra which apparently states "a 20-pin ATX PS will work". I've seen nothing firm coming from the video card makers.

I recall plenty of guidance from ATI (for the 9800 Pro) and nVidia (for the fx5900) regarding the requirement for an available 4-pin PS connector and that a floppy connector would not suffice.

Am I missing this information from the various mobo and video card makers?

 

[ScrapSilicon]

:thumbsup:

 

[Matthias99]

How can a motherboard maker tell you how much PSU capacity you need when it depends on what video card you have, how many hard drives you have, what other peripherals you have, what kind of CPU you have, etc.? Ditto for video card makers, but substitute "motherboard" for "video card" in that list.

Basically, unless you have some super-uber-mega rig with SLI, a 300-400W PSU is more than enough, unless you buy some craptastic no-name model with hardly any amps on the +12V rail.

I've gotta finish up my PSU FAQ. This is getting ridiculous.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
How can a motherboard maker tell you how much PSU capacity you need when it depends on what video card you have, how many hard drives you have, what other peripherals you have, what kind of CPU you have, etc.? Ditto for video card makers, but substitute "motherboard" for "video card" in that list.

Basically, unless you have some super-uber-mega rig with SLI, a 300-400W PSU is more than enough, unless you buy some craptastic no-name model with hardly any amps on the +12V rail.

I've gotta finish up my PSU FAQ. This is getting ridiculous.

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon
:thumbsup:

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: Budarow The least the mobo and video card makers could do would be to provide some general guidelines on PS specs (i.e., a 20-pin ATX PS with approximately 22 amps on the +12DC rail should be sufficient to power your system depending on the mix of other devices installed...blah, blah, blah).

I recall plenty of guidance from ATI (for the 9800 Pro) and nVidia (for the fx5900) regarding the requirement for an available 4-pin PS connector and that a floppy connector would not suffice.

I don't believe anyone expects hardware makers to pass judgement on specific PC hardware builds, but I sure do expect them to do their best to guide their customer base when there's a transition going on from 1 specification to another (i.e., 20-Pin ATX to 24-Pin ATX). Especially a critical specification like power supply which greatly effects the whole PC (i.e., we ain't talk'n floppy drive specification here🙂.

As far as I'm concerned...I'll just wait around not buying any hardware until I get enough "trial and error" results from the customer base over the net and/or when the hardware makers provide some guidance with respect to mobo and video card PS requirements. And as always...I'd like to thank all you board members for sharing your PC experiences. Without you, we'd all have fuparts on our hands.

I've got 2 fully functional PCs waiting for me right now which will more than suffice for my PC gaming needs (both nForce2, Radeon 9800 Pro, XP-M2400+ at ~2.15 GHz, 1 GB RAM, etc.).

Who knows...when it comes to mobo and video cards, maybe I'm the only person on the planet waiting for some actual guidance regarding PS requirements? That's okay too...I'll just keep my money in my pockets for now;-)

 

[bendixG15]

When you are in the minority, you have to wait your turn.....

Gamers do not rule.........

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: bendixG15
When you are in the minority, you have to wait your turn.....

Gamers do not rule.........

Are you saying the hardware makers should be given more time to figure out and/or publish compatibility requirements for their "high" end parts (i.e., they sell many more units of OEM parts of basic design verses higher end retail parts designed for hobbyist) because they are busy with the OEM side of their business?

If so, I'd be fine with that strategy. However, I believe the 939-socket PCI-E mobo's have been out since last ~October. Something tells me we won't be seeing many details regarding compatibility of existing models of PS/mobos/video cards.

I believe nVidia caught hell for INITIALLY recommending a ~480 watt PS for their 6800 Ultra. So they soon reduced this recommendation;-)

 

[imported_Kensai]

But if you're like me, a 480W PSU will probably not even start up my system. (17 X 400GB, dual 6800U)

 

[Budarow]

Originally posted by: Kensai
But if you're like me, a 480W PSU will probably not even start up my system. (17 X 400GB, dual 6800U)

Ah...I don't think a nuclear reactor could supply enough juice to run your rig. I'm a little confused regardin the "17x 400GB"? Do you have 17, 400 GB hard drives?

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Budarow

Originally posted by: Kensai
But if you're like me, a 480W PSU will probably not even start up my system. (17 X 400GB, dual 6800U)

Ah...I don't think a nuclear reactor could supply enough juice to run your rig. I'm a little confused regardin the "17x 400GB"? Do you have 17, 400 GB hard drives?

*Drool*