People who want SLI might as well throw their PS in the trash...

[fkloster]

Look. Thanks Dug for the heads up...

 

[Vegito]

they're making 700/900w power supplies

 

[BentValve]

:QHoly Clap man!

 

[Transistor]

I think almost everyone who will go SLI will build a new system. So, there won't be anything to throw in the trash for those people. The people who can afford to do 6800 GTs or Ultras in SLI won't cut corners by using components from an old system.

The exception may be the people who think they want to build a system with 6600GTs. However, the I calcuate that the power requirements of 6600 GTs in SLI would be about 280 Watts peak based off of their numbers. So, the same PSU that can handle a 6800 Ultra should be able to handle 6600GTs in SLI.

 

[LTC8K6]

How fast are 2 6600GT's compared to a single 6800U?

I still think the idea of buying one card now and one card later is just not going to work out well.

SLI only makes sense to me if you have the dough to buy the whole shebang at once using the top end cards.

 

[Transistor]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
How fast are 2 6600GT's compared to a single 6800U?

I still think the idea of buying one card now and one card later is just not going to work out well.

SLI only makes sense to me if you have the dough to buy the whole shebang at once using the top end cards.

It depends on the application and resolution. In most cases two 6600GTs in SLI would perform about the same as a 6800GT.
Here is a link to an Anandtech article on SLI performance, with benchmarks.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284

 

[fkloster]

Originally posted by: Transistor

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
How fast are 2 6600GT's compared to a single 6800U?

I still think the idea of buying one card now and one card later is just not going to work out well.

SLI only makes sense to me if you have the dough to buy the whole shebang at once using the top end cards.

It depends on the application and resolution. In most cases two 6600GTs in SLI would perform about the same as a 6800GT.
Here is a link to an Anandtech article on SLI performance, with benchmarks.

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2284

Only bad news w/2 6600GTs is that the motherboard will still cost +/- $300 give or take 20 bones...

 

[biostud]

As far as I can see it's the total system consumption. So when using 365W a 400W PSU would in theory be enough, although one with a bit more headroom would be recomended

 

[fkloster]

Originally posted by: biostud
As far as I can see it's the total system consumption. So when using 365W a 400W PSU would in theory be enough, although one with a bit more headroom would be recomended

I would not feel comfortable running SLI with anything under a quality 500 watt powersupply considering the cooling that will be needed as well...

 

[Transistor]

Originally posted by: fkloster
Only bad news w/2 6600GTs is that the motherboard will still cost +/- $300 give or take 20 bones...

Good point. That is why I stand by my original statement that I believe most people who go the SLI route won't be recycling old PSUs or using 6600GTs. They will be building entirely new systems with new PSUs and using 6800 GTs or Ultras.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: biostud
As far as I can see it's the total system consumption. So when using 365W a 400W PSU would in theory be enough, although one with a bit more headroom would be recomended

I think you would need more than a 125 watt PSU to run a 6800 in non-SLI.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: biostud
As far as I can see it's the total system consumption. So when using 365W a 400W PSU would in theory be enough, although one with a bit more headroom would be recomended

I think you would need more than a 125 watt PSU to run a 6800 in non-SLI.

It uses ~200W when under load. But as I said, in theory......
Also I think that it's possible to run 6800 in Shuttle systems which have an 250W PSU.


I wouldn't run 6800 in SLI with less than 500W

 

[mechBgon]

Shuttle began to use 350W PSUs a while back.

Bigger picture: an SLI board will need a 24-pin ATX cable anyway, so it's new-PSU time regardless (for 99.8% of us, at least).

 

[fkloster]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Shuttle began to use 350W PSUs a while back.

Bigger picture: an SLI board will need a 24-pin ATX cable anyway, so it's new-PSU time regardless (for 99.8% of us, at least).

stupid question... how many pins are used on the current ATX cables?

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: biostud
I wouldn't run 6800 in SLI with less than 500W

Quality >* quantity when it comes to power supplies. If you have a ~365W load, it would be better to have a *good* 400W PSU than a cheap 500W unit -- and you'd be wasting 130W of capacity in a *good* 500W PSU. They're designed to run at the rated load, and often are more efficient when close to capacity. Of course, if you want to overclock, you'll need more power.

I'd want 400W, certainly, given those power numbers linked to above. But 500+W is still overkill unless you're also adding a ton of other peripherals or have dual CPUs as well.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: fkloster

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Shuttle began to use 350W PSUs a while back.

Bigger picture: an SLI board will need a 24-pin ATX cable anyway, so it's new-PSU time regardless (for 99.8% of us, at least).

stupid question... how many pins are used on the current ATX cables?

20 pins. I was checking out the Enermax units that do 24-pin and found their hybrid 24/20 cable interesting: pic

 

[Whitedog]

One of these days, PC's are going to require a 30amp plug and it's own circuit to the breaker panel.

UL will classify them as an "appliance", much like the stove, refrig, washer/dryer. :disgust:

 

[jvarszegi]

For my new first-ever build, I bought an Enermax 600W power supply. By luck, the case I chose, Cooler Master's Praetorian, has a special frame to hold it-- that sucka is hea-vy!

 

[fkloster]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: biostud
I wouldn't run 6800 in SLI with less than 500W

Quality >* quantity when it comes to power supplies. If you have a ~365W load, it would be better to have a *good* 400W PSU than a cheap 500W unit -- and you'd be wasting 130W of capacity in a *good* 500W PSU. They're designed to run at the rated load, and often are more efficient when close to capacity. Of course, if you want to overclock, you'll need more power.

I'd want 400W, certainly, given those power numbers linked to above. But 500+W is still overkill unless you're also adding a ton of other peripherals or have dual CPUs as well.

Very good point... I know how important quality it.... I meant 500 watt QUALITY powersupply ( i do not agree with your points about running a quality 400 power supply to run a SLI power rig)

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: fkloster

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: biostud
I wouldn't run 6800 in SLI with less than 500W

Quality >* quantity when it comes to power supplies. If you have a ~365W load, it would be better to have a *good* 400W PSU than a cheap 500W unit -- and you'd be wasting 130W of capacity in a *good* 500W PSU. They're designed to run at the rated load, and often are more efficient when close to capacity. Of course, if you want to overclock, you'll need more power.

I'd want 400W, certainly, given those power numbers linked to above. But 500+W is still overkill unless you're also adding a ton of other peripherals or have dual CPUs as well.

Very good point... I know how important quality it.... I meant 500 watt QUALITY powersupply ( i do not agree with your points about running a quality 400 power supply to run a SLI power rig)

I thought we all meant quality

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Paragon made a nice guide for determining your power needs Text

 

[fkloster]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Paragon made a nice guide for determining your power needs Text

Well after reading paragons sweet ass guide.... it looks like overclockers who want SLI will be buying 650 watt peak (510 watt nominal) power supplys!!

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: fkloster

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
Paragon made a nice guide for determining your power needs Text

Well after reading paragons sweet ass guide.... it looks like overclockers who want SLI will be buying 650 watt peak (510 watt nominal) power supplys!!

He assumes a 20% safety/upgrade margin, *then* a 25% overclocking power margin. If you're not overclocking or stuffing your system to the gills with lights, fans, and hard drives, it's WAY overkill.

Very good point... I know how important quality it.... I meant 500 watt QUALITY powersupply ( i do not agree with your points about running a quality 400 power supply to run a SLI power rig)

You don't need 500W of PSU to run 365W worth of equipment (assuming the "500W" PSU can actually output 500W!). You just don't. You'd be just fine with a 400W unit, which would cost less and probably be more efficient than a 500W one.

 

[fkloster]

Is there a company that manufactures a 400 watt continuos quality power supply that has a 24 pin ATX connector?

 

[mechBgon]

Personally, I like overkill. Running stuff anywhere near redline, unless it's my bicycle engine maybe is not in my game plan. Considering the frivilous ways people will blow money on their systems (lighted fans, etc), putting the "towing package" on the PSU for another $20-$40 seems pretty reasonable.