Power me!

[Ampz]

I'm running tri sli 780s, a 4770 haswell, asus vi extreme, 32gb tridents, 1 512gb ssd, and 3x 1tb sata for storage. What do I need?

 

[aigomorla]

ax1200i may be pushing it...

300W each for 780GTX -> 900W
300W for your processor and board and everything

nets u 1200W

However i still think u may be running a bit too close...

Possibly that lepra 1600W may be another contender if its a true 1600W.

 

[Ampz]

Thanks for your response. What about the Silverstone ST1500? It's $300 bucks, unless I can get something better for that price? Appreciate the response, aigomorla.

 

[aigomorla]

there is no psu with greater quality then the AX1200i.

if u want the best of the best, its the AX1200i.

The Lepra i have no idea how it performs... if the 1600W is a true 1600W and not a 240V only 1600W, then that might be a good solution.
Make sure u verify that it is a true 1600W.
Meaning it will do 1600W @ 120V and not just 240V.

I dont like silverstone PSU's outside the Zeus series....
The Zeus series were made by ETASIS.

If your going for the best... AX1200i.... as i said twice above.. its the best out of the best.

 

[Ampz]

Going to order the AX1200i now then. It's only 20 bucks more. If it's the best of the best, it's a no brainer. Thanks again for your help. Greatly appreciated

 

[aigomorla]

can i ask why u require 3 video cards ?

what type of display(s) are u powering?

You know 2 x 780GTX overclocked will keep over 60fps in almost anything u throw at with max settings unless ur running an insane resolution.

 

[Ampz]

I'm currently running an eyefinity setup. I aspire to go 4k when possible or minimally higher than 1080p asap. I'm also considering 290x but I'd wait until the end of next month for custom cards. I'm too lazy and old to do any water or zub zero. So it looks like I'm stuck on air lol.

 

[Micrornd]

there is no psu with greater quality then the AX1200i.

if u want the best of the best, its the AX1200i.

The Lepra i have no idea how it performs... if the 1600W is a true 1600W and not a 240V only 1600W, then that might be a good solution.
Make sure u verify that it is a true 1600W.
Meaning it will do 1600W @ 120V and not just 240V.

I dont like silverstone PSU's outside the Zeus series....
The Zeus series were made by ETASIS.

If your going for the best... AX1200i.... as i said twice above.. its the best out of the best.

The Corsair AX1200i is an excellent 1200w unit without a doubt.
But "best of the best"

Jonny's site has reviewed both, and while the Corsair is an excellent PSU in it's 1200w class, that's all it is, a 1200w unit :\.

The Lepa G1600-MA is in a much higher wattage class and while the Corsair is Platinum 80 plus rated @1200w, the Lepa is Gold rated @1600w and just short of Platinum at that 1600w level.

Interestingly during the reviewing, Corsair barely made the Platinum rating @1200w (and then only after factoring in a margin of error :sneaky, but the Lepa easily surpassed the Gold rating @1600w (and if you look closely at the numbers, Platinum @1200w)

The Lepa G1600-MA is a true 1600w unit (in the US on 120v) and can produce more (almost 1700w @240v).
The only caveat is that it does require a 20A outlet (as do any PSUs that actually produce over about 1300w) and it uses the standard 20A power cord (supplied) and prong connector, rather than the usual 15A most are familiar with.
I like the fact that it's cooling fan runs a short while after shutdown to cool it's components, rather than allow them to heat sink.

And yes, I have both and prefer the Lepa as it has the available overhead (so it is lighter loaded even with a tri-fire setup or multiple HDD arrays) and I have found it is quieter at the same output level.

They both have their place.
And of course the AX1200i has Corsair's kitchy software Link app for monitoring it for those who want or need it, while the Lepa doesn't, 'cause it doesn't need monitoring and costs less also :biggrin:

 

[aigomorla]

oh really?

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=300

" Boy, where do I start here? Do we talk about the excellent voltage regulation? Maybe we can talk about the excellent ripple/noise suppression instead. With an average (all 3 main rails) of less than 1% when it comes to voltage regulation, this has to be the BEST performing unit to date here at JonnyGURU.com. With the maximum ripple of 13mV during our progressive tests, we have nothing to complain about there either. Although the AX1200i did have a tough time hitting 80+ Platinum for us, when we factor in our 1% error tolerance, we are still in good shape. All I can say is.... 10, 10, 10... 10 I say! "

Jonny gave it a flat 10.. he straight up even says no doubt 10, and spams it at the end to emphasize 10 on performance.


Performance
10

Functionality
9.5

Value
9

Build Quality
10
Total Score

9.6


that Lepa does not get numbers like that...
Here is the Lepa..
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story5&reid=283

Performance
9.5

Functionality
10

Value
10

Build Quality
8.5
Total Score
9.5

it loses to the AX1200i on 2 of the important parts in jonny's test.. Performance + Build quality.

How can you say the lepa is a greater power supply when it scores 1.5 lower in build quality, and .5 lower in performance.

Also if ur looking at adding 3x780gtx.. the last word in your dictionary is value.... i should know, im about to run a simular config soon.
so the only thing the lepa would win in.. which is VALUE... is a subject thrown out the window from the beginning of the project.

 

[Micrornd]

it loses to the AX1200i on 2 of the important parts in jonny's test.. Performance + Build quality.

How can you say the lepa is a greater power supply when it scores 1.5 lower in build quality, and .5 lower in performance.

WADR

Build Quality - A pinched wire is an anomaly.
My first AX1200i was DOA, so does that make all of them bad?

As to soldering, pretty is not a direct requirement of functionality, it's nice to have, but I don't count something that isn't necessary or even visible in use, as a plus or minus.

And without more than one unit to compare, neither of the above are really a valid test points for anyone's product (and one of my biggest gripes about internet testing sites in general, one unit does not a product line make when you're talking about mass production items).

Performance - The AX1200i is Platinum rated @1200w. If you actually look at the numbers @ 1200w the AX1200i didn't actually achieve that, but was given a "margin of error" pass.

The Lepa G1600MA, if it were tested as a 1200w unit, would achieve a Platinum rating as evidenced by the numbers shown during testing.

However the Lepa IS a Gold rated, full 1600w unit @120vac (and the only 1600w unit IKO to achieve that), something the AX1200i can not compare to (or was ever meant to).

Also if ur looking at adding 3x780gtx.. the last word in your dictionary is value....

Value is not determined by a price tag alone, there are other factors also.

As for the 3-780GTs, the AX1200i should be fine with those and a single cpu, but since I run dual 2687w's and dual 7970s and play with tri-fire and quad-fire, the AX1200i isn't adequate.
So it is not a matter of price, but a matter of what actually has the capacity and the reserve capacity for future use.

Since a PSU doesn't draw any more power than it needs for a given output, having a PSU with a larger capacity than you need currently is not a negative.

Don't get me wrong I use Corsair products (memory and cooling currently).
Heck, I've got dual H110s cooling my 2687w's and once I got rid of the Corsair fans they came with, and replaced them with silent push-pull 12" fans, they work great.

There is nothing wrong with the AX1200i, and it might very well be the best available 1200w unit out there.
I don't know, since I haven't needed to try it against other 1200w units.

But given the fact that the G1600MA can achieve everything the AX1200i can, with the casing being 3/4" shorter, with 400 more watts available, with virtually identical temperature drop across the electronics at the same amp draw, all the while being quieter (by my own comparison here), AND at a lower price, well, all that makes it a better value and better product

I stand by the Lepa G1600MA as a better product than the AX1200i.
Respectfully, perhaps you should actually try both, as I have, before rendering such an absolute opinion as "best of the best"