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PSUs With Dual 12V Rails

S

sirspotti

Senior member
How do I know, for example, what power is going to the cpu, motherboard, and video card? I'm a n00b to psu's and was just wondering this out of curiousity.
 
AFAIK, depends on the mobo. For example, I just read that VIA & SIS chipsets use the +5v rail for powering the cpu, while the nForce mobo's use the 12v rail. If correct, there will be some differences depending on your hardware. IIRC, the 12v rail also powers the gfx card.

Notwithstanding the above, let this serve as a "bump" for more detailed info.

Fern
 
thanks fern,
i think what i was wondering is that if the X800Xl doesn't have a molex power connector then does that mean it will be feeding off the same rail as the motherboard and cpu? and even if that does happen would that be a problem for the single 15 or 16A rail. i've never really taken interest in the psu as a piece of hardware worth being too concerned over but a lot of threads have been posted lately about getting quality psus and this was the first question that came to my mind.
 
Originally posted by: Fern
AFAIK, depends on the mobo. For example, I just read that VIA & SIS chipsets use the +5v rail for powering the cpu, while the nForce mobo's use the 12v rail. If correct, there will be some differences depending on your hardware. IIRC, the 12v rail also powers the gfx card.

Notwithstanding the above, let this serve as a "bump" for more detailed info.

Fern
Click to expand...

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure everything (CPUs) runs off the 12v rail.

As far as dual rail PSU's I haven't used any yet but I'd assume that one rail would be primarily for the 20/24 (CPU) pin ATX connector and the other would power the peripherals (video cards, HDs ect.)
 
Originally posted by: sirspotti
thanks fern,
i think what i was wondering is that if the X800Xl doesn't have a molex power connector then does that mean it will be feeding off the same rail as the motherboard and cpu? and even if that does happen would that be a problem for the single 15 or 16A rail. i've never really taken interest in the psu as a piece of hardware worth being too concerned over but a lot of threads have been posted lately about getting quality psus and this was the first question that came to my mind.
Click to expand...

Well, you might as well try your existing PSU. But I think you'll find 16A on the 12v rail to be too little though. If you get stability or graphical probs, try another/stronger PSU
 
Originally posted by: Operandi
Originally posted by: Fern
AFAIK, depends on the mobo. For example, I just read that VIA & SIS chipsets use the +5v rail for powering the cpu, while the nForce mobo's use the 12v rail. If correct, there will be some differences depending on your hardware. IIRC, the 12v rail also powers the gfx card.

Notwithstanding the above, let this serve as a "bump" for more detailed info.

Fern
Click to expand...

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure everything (CPUs) runs off the 12v rail. Well, I don't know if it was acuurate, but it was Monday I read about the SIS & VIA chipsets being different from the nForce mobos (5v vs 12v rail). It did make some sence to me as I have wondered why there seems to be so many amps on the 5v rail. In generall, it seems everytime this question pops up I hear differering opinions on which rail powers what

As far as dual rail PSU's I haven't used any yet but I'd assume that one rail would be primarily for the 20/24 (CPU) pin ATX connector and the other would power the peripherals (video cards, HDs ect.) Yeah, thats pretty much what I have read
Click to expand...

 
I have nothing to convince me to buy a dual rail model over one with a single strong 12v.
 
It was in one of the Forums I frequent: here, Abit (nForce section) or nForcersHQ. Don't think I visited Tom's that day.

If I can find it I'll post back. If your really curious let me know. There's an EE type who refurbs mobo's etc for a living over at Tom's. I could PM him, I'm pretty sure he'd know.

Fern
 
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