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PSU questions

M

Martyuk39

Member
I'm building what will eventually be a twin-SLI system for someone. So I'm forsaking my usual Antec Sonata and buying a nice case without a PSU. Thinking of perhaps a Jeantech Phong with its 2 120mm fans bundled with it, or perhaps a little more on a Thermaltake Tsunami. So now to the PSU. If I'm going down the track of a fairly beefy processor and SLI solution, what are the criteria I should be most interested in. Eg how much output do I need on the voltage rails? Just because a generic $40 PSU is rated at 600w won't mean it's any good, right? Also, it is preferable to get a PSU with SLI cables? Or does that not matter? I assume it'll have an SATA cable or 2 anyway. Will bigger fans make it run more quietly?

If anyone knows of a useful guide to PSU's for the ill-informed that'd be handy.
Thanks

[edit] after further reading I see that some 6600GTs (the GPU I'm going to get) take their power from the PCI-Express bus and therefore don't need external power connectors. And also it makes the normally critical 12v rail on the PSU less of an issue, so I shouldn't worry so much. Does anyone have an opinion on that?
 
For an SLI system you will most likely want at least a 500W PSU. Also you will want as many amps as possible on the 12V rail. I would say anything about 20amps ought to be sufficient, but more is always better. The OCZ Powerstream 520W might be something you should look into. As far as PCI-e connectors, they might be handy, but then again most of the cards that require them will come with adapters for them.
 
If you're running an SLI setup, you want at least 25A on the 12V rail(s).

Antec Truepower II series PSUs have a robust dual 12V rails.
 
i think its closer to 32-32 they want but i may be wrong.

anyway, the tpII line is great imo, the ocz powerstreams would do as well.

tpII 550

ocz 520

do the people you are building it for know a single 6800gt would out perform the dual 6600gt or are they more looking for the pure video?

edit--added links cuz i'm bored waiting for my ride

edit again---be sure to check with any mobo manufacturer you decide on first regarding the psu as i learned with dfi. they actually want 26a on the 12v for a single card so its not to say it won't run on less, it's just that the minute you have problems thats the first thing they'll point to.

and keep in mind next gen cards will be more power hungry so if you are spending the money on a nice psu you matters well go higher than just what you need.
 
The budget calls for a 6600gt-class card at the moment with the hope of adding a second one in a year or two maybe second-hand or something - seems like a sensible upgrade

Thinking about it I've just seen my Antec Sonata on offer at Amazon (in the UK) so I might get that and then upgrade the PSU when they go for the additional graphics card. Good/bad idea? I could possibly sell the PSU that it comes with, to put towards a better PSU at the time of the SLI upgrade. The Sonata power supply appears to be rated at 24A on the +12v rail so that seems decent enough. For now.

Review of Sonata from someone on Newegg - "The power supply is surprisingly beefy for a 380 watt. Powers my Athlon 3000 s939, MSI Neo4 Platinum, 6600GT system with two optical drives without so much as a hiccup." - this is pretty similar to my planned build.
 
Since you're talking about a Jeantech case, I guess you're not located in the States (please complete your profile and make it visible to other members, thanks) as they aren't sold here (unless under some other name-which would be a good thing). But if you can find an XClio 450 or similar (it's OEMed by Channel Well so it could be found under other names too). It's the best value in PSUs I've found in a while. See it at www.xclio.com and/or www.newegg.com .

.bh.
 
Thanks - profile now visible (nearly had to post a forum message to find out how!)

I'll have a look around for what you suggested
 
powerstream will be fine, its a solid PSU.

i have 520w mod stream with my rig now, it runs very stable, and i have had no problems.
 
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