Power supply for 8800GTS?

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SinfulWeeper

Diamond Member
Sep 2, 2000
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I am building myself a new computer and I just got the EVGA 8800GTS 640MB card. On the box it says the minimum power requirements are 400 watts (no biggy) with 26amps on the 12v rail minimum (thats where I have the problem).

After a days worth of searching, I only found one power supply that offers more then 26amps on the 12v rail, made by a company called Ultra. From all reviews that I read, that power supply does not fit my other requirement. That is being quiet. All reviews say the darned thing is loud, in the mid 40db area. I am wanting something 30db or quieter. Anyone have any PSU recommendations that offer 26amps on the rail and offer quietness?
I realize this might fall under the cases/cooling forum better. But based on the power needs of this video card, I thought it would be better fit here.
 
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SinfulWeeper

Diamond Member
Sep 2, 2000
4,567
11
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Many thanks for the jonnyguru link. Found a PSU that seems to meet my needs on paper, just gunna have to see if it meets my needs in real life.
http://www.directron.com/ein650awt.html
Figure I can return that purepower PSU and exchange for that one depending on their return policies, they did not have that in stock when I ordered, wish they did =\.

Noise does in fact bother me however. So I'll have to pass on your PSU. I am a real noise freak when I build my computers as I tend to leave mine on 24/7 on the other side of my bedroom either downloading, crunching, leaving characters logged in on my MMO's or all of the above. lol.
 
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coolpurplefan

Golden Member
Mar 2, 2006
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Uh, Seasonic are silent.

Fortron as well although they also have a fanless model as well. I like the Fortron Blue Storm II as a cheap solution.
 
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SinfulWeeper

Diamond Member
Sep 2, 2000
4,567
11
81
Unfortunately all fanless designs I seen never exceeded 400W. They also are all really gimp on the 12v rail, usually 14amps or less. That enermax is rated @ 22db's in silent mode (I assume PC at idle from boot up). Probably gets louder as power consumption is increased. If that is the case, I can likely just exchange the fan for a different 120mm fixed RPM fan that is ~ 18-28db's. While I do trust the seasonic might be quiet, from what I read on the 500watt models, none of them do not have the power requirements.
I only hope the cables are long enough on that enermax. lol, my P180 case is a little unforgiving on short wires.
 
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JBird7986

Senior member
May 17, 2005
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Quick question, because I also bought an 8800 GTS 640MB. For power, I bought a 550W Antec NeoPower power supply that's SLI certified. However, I've got three 12v rails with 18amps on each. Will this power supply suffice?
 
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Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
2
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ostif.org
Originally posted by: JBird7986
Quick question, because I also bought an 8800 GTS 640MB. For power, I bought a 550W Antec NeoPower power supply that's SLI certified. However, I've got three 12v rails with 18amps on each. Will this power supply suffice?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
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Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
2
76
ostif.org
Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper
I am building myself a new computer and I just got the EVGA 8800GTS 640MB card. On the box it says the minimum power requirements are 400 watts (no biggy) with 26amps on the 12v rail minimum (thats where I have the problem).

After a days worth of searching, I only found one power supply that offers more then 26amps on the 12v rail, made by a company called Ultra. From all reviews that I read, that power supply does not fit my other requirement. That is being quiet. All reviews say the darned thing is loud, in the mid 40db area. I am wanting something 30db or quieter. Anyone have any PSU recommendations that offer 26amps on the rail and offer quietness?
I realize this might fall under the cases/cooling forum better. But based on the power needs of this video card, I thought it would be better fit here.
Click to expand...

I use a thermaltake 500w in my current rig.

Its an overclocked Core 2 Duo @ 3.15ghz, 2 gigs of ram, 2 hard drives, 8800gts 320.

Runs fantastic and the rails are stable.

Whatever you get, DO NOT get a truepower 2.0, those things are fireballs.
 
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coolpurplefan

Golden Member
Mar 2, 2006
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Originally posted by: Acanthus
DO NOT get a truepower 2.0, those things are fireballs.
Click to expand...

I know both Antec and Enermax have their budget line and their "way better" line of PSUs. I would buy the better ones they have. I believe for Enermax it's their Noisetaker line and for Antec, I can't remember, maybe something Phantom I don't know.

I've had an Enermax before and it was OK, voltages were within 1% but I wanted a 120mm fan so I went with a Seasonic. Then I bought a Fortron because it also has a 120mm fan and it's cheaper (it's only for a secondary machine).
 
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SinfulWeeper

Diamond Member
Sep 2, 2000
4,567
11
81
Originally posted by: JBird7986
Quick question, because I also bought an 8800 GTS 640MB. For power, I bought a 550W Antec NeoPower power supply that's SLI certified. However, I've got three 12v rails with 18amps on each. Will this power supply suffice?
Click to expand...

More then likely. From what I am reading different manufacturers have different requirements for their video cards. eVGA seems to want a lot of amperage from the 12v rail, I do not know who makes yours so I can not vouch certainly for yours.
That said, I am more then certain all PSU manufacturers allow for over drawing on the 12v rail, take my video card for instance. Requires 26amps from the 12v rail, even though the PSU I have is only rated at 18amps like yours, I am more then certain it can crank out the additional amps.
However that said, overdrawing of any of the rails can cause one of two things to happen, or both. Your OL protection can start to degrade over time and you'll trip your PSU quite a bit after extended use. Or secondly, overdrawing of the 12v rail will severely shorten the life of the PSU.

As I said earlier, I leave my computer on 24/7. So I not only want to meet the video cards requirements, but I do not want to overdraw on the 12v rail shortening the lifespan of my PSU. I need it all to run smoothly for the life of my computer. Your needs might be different then mine.

I owned Enermax PSU's on past builds, the older models I can say are very reliable. Same with Antec and Vantec for that matter, I do not know about the new ones. I normally choose PSU's with high amperage on the 12v rail in the past as for some reason on P4 systems and older, required a PSU to crank out the ampage for more stable OC's when stuffing 12v into the motherboard became standard over the older 3v/5v. However my most recent one only had 24amps on the 12v rail, and is not compatable with newer systems as I got it in the S478 era long before SATA and PCI-E standards were nothing more then a design concept. This is my first time I ever had to get a PSU with such high 12v requirements just for the video card. I figure I'll also need the addional amps because I still OC all my systems.

Basically here is the system specs of the parts I have so far.
P180 case
Asus Commando motherboard
eVGA 8800GTS 640mb version
SATA DVD writer
IDE DVD-Rom
52-in-one card reader

CPU is yet to be determined, I think I am gunna get a e6600 or a cheapo celeron... see below.
Memory, I am still a little uncertain about. I think I am gunna get the dominator 8500 sticks, or just go cheap on memory for the time being and wait for the new x38 chipset motherboards to come out and go with DDR3. Hard to say as I already have the motherboard and x38 will not be out till the ending of this yearish time frame. But the thought of a celeron is appalling.
Hard drives will likely be 3 x 750GB seagates unless Hitachi gets off their lazy bums and cranks out the 7K1000 hard drives, in that case I'll get 3 of those. They have 3 1/2 weeks to get them on shelves.
 
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customcoms

Senior member
Dec 31, 2004
325
0
0
For the price of the Enermax, get this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139002
Modular, ROCK SOLID, and quiet. It is pretty much the hands down recommendation for PSU's in that price range for systems not doing 8800GTX sli (even though that psu will handle that as well, just not suggested).

http://www.diy-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=73137

What you must remember is the eVGA's recommendation is clearly for a single rail psu, 95%+ of units these days have multiple rails. For example, my 480 watt Tagan has a 28A rating on the 12v rail. However, this psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817189005, which has two rails, is probably a better unit at a MUCH better price (that unit could also handle your system btw).
 
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