Question about BFG 7950GT OC 512MB Vid Card

[Schfifty Five]

**I also made this thread in Power Supplies forum, but seeing as how it involves a video card, I figure I should put it here as well**

So Fry's has that really good deal of a BFG 7950GT 512MB Video Card for $160 AR.

On the side of the video card box it shows the requirements. For the power, it says:

A 350W PCI Express compliant system power supply (with 12V current rating of 22A or more)

Now, I have a Cooler Master 450W Real Power PSU and on that box it shows that +12V1 has 12A and +12V2 has 10A. That seems too low to me.

I also looked at other higher end PSU's at Fry's (OCZ, Antecs, etc) and most of them have either 2-12V rails or 4-12V rails, but each rail only has 17-18A.

So...if even the high end PSU's don't have 22A on the 12V rail, how is one supposed to run this 7950GT video card?

OR...when they say "22A" are they referring to the total current from all 12V rails?

Will my Cooler Master 450W PSU with the above specs be sufficient for this video card?

Thanks!

 

[pcslookout]

When they say 22A they are referring to the total current from all 12V rails but the total 12V Amps isn't the total amount you add together from +12V1 and +12V2. It usually a little lower.

Like for example I have a +12V1 20A and +12V2 20A I don't get a total of 40A on my +12V. I only get a total of 30A on my +12V. Not sure what yours would be inless it says it on your power supply somewhere or on their website.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: pcslookout
When they say 22A they are referring to the total current from all 12V rails but the total 12V Amps isn't the total amount you add together from +12V1 and +12V2. It usually a little lower.

Like for example I have a +12V1 20A and +12V2 20A I don't get a total of 40A on my +12V. I only get a total of 30A on my +12V. Not sure what yours would be inless it says it on your power supply somewhere or on their website.

thanks for the reply.

Actually I noticed that too about it not adding up. And I did a little more research and you need to get the total power output from the 12V rails and then you can determine the final max amp output from the 12V rails.

So i looked in my PSU manual and it says 264W from the 12V rails so 264/12 = 22A total.

so I guess my PSU just meets the requirements for this vid car.

thanks!