Any tips on how I can install a dedicated PSU for my video card. Are there some things that I should be careful about while doing it?
Secondary PSU
- Thread starter namityadav
- Start date
All you have to do is connect your psu to your video card and plug it in, but it probably won't fit inside a case.
Hi, My only suggestion is to get an AT PSU. A common toggle switch can be used for that one. ATX can also be used. Add a momentary push button switch between the GREEN and any BLACK wire in the Mother Board connector. Good Luck Jim
Oh .. Google is showing me some interesting external PSUs (I didn't even know they existed). I guess that's the way to go for me
zephyrprime
Diamond Member
- Feb 18, 2001
- 7,512
- 2
- 81
I wonder if there would be ground plane issues? Should the two poer supplies have their grounds connected?
http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Power/PurePower/w0099/w0099.asp
I don't know if it's for sale anywhere yet though.
I don't know if it's for sale anywhere yet though.
One item I would be concerned about would be the power switch. You would want the power switch to power up/down both power supplies.
most power supplies are equipped with over-current protection. They shut down automatically in case of a sudden load increase. I wonder what happens if one of the two supplies goes into that mode while the other remains operating!
This can get nasty if the graphics card is one of those that gets power from the motherboard as well as through a Molex connector. In that case, the motherboard would be powered down while the Molex connector (coming from your secondary supply) still providing voltage.
Considering the trouble of finding space for two PSUs in your case and putting up with the noise of the extra fan(s), it seems like it may be easier to just get a more powerful power supply and just stick with a single power supply.
most power supplies are equipped with over-current protection. They shut down automatically in case of a sudden load increase. I wonder what happens if one of the two supplies goes into that mode while the other remains operating!
This can get nasty if the graphics card is one of those that gets power from the motherboard as well as through a Molex connector. In that case, the motherboard would be powered down while the Molex connector (coming from your secondary supply) still providing voltage.
Considering the trouble of finding space for two PSUs in your case and putting up with the noise of the extra fan(s), it seems like it may be easier to just get a more powerful power supply and just stick with a single power supply.
Hi Zip, The grounding will be done through all those black wires comming from both supplies. Earth (Safety) ground will be through the third wire (Green) in the power cables. Jim
I didn't know they made externals..but it doesn't sound wise. Two different PSU's involved in your PC's power management...possible conflicts it seems. If you want lots of juice invest in a more powerful "industrial strength, high effeciency" PSU.
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
I have dual PSUs (Seasonic 600w & Seasonic 500w) in my system. You first have to be concerned about physical dimensions, and if another PSU will actually fit. Secondly, you have to be concerned about cabling, because there are going to be a lot of extra cables in your system if you add another PSU. I understand there are risks involved with using modular PSUs, but this is where it would really come handy, especially if you are adding a PSU for a single item (the vid card). An AT power supply isn't necessary if you have some basic soldering skills.
There are two ways of doing this of which I have done so far. The first involves soldering. Get a 24p extension cable, so that you don't have to modify the original wiring. Cut the green wire and a black wire near the far edge of the cable (so that the cable has 12" free instead of 1"). Then you will need two lengths of additional wire and a switch (to be mounted in the front of the case). Solder one wire to the switch and the green wire; solder the other wire from the other switch connection to the black wire. You now have control of your secondary PSU via a switch mounted in the front of the case.
Another way of achieving the same thing is using a 24p connector instead of an extension. You will also need a crimping tool and some ATX pins. Bascially what you do is you instead of cutting the green & black wires on the extension, you just pin two wires (green & black) on the 24p connector. Very effective, and very clean. This is the method I'm using now, after trying to other.
There are ways of installed a relay, or connector the secondary PSUs green wire to the primary PSUs green wire, but I haven't figured out a clean, effective way of doing these, so I can't say much on them. If you need any info, feel free to PM me.
There are two ways of doing this of which I have done so far. The first involves soldering. Get a 24p extension cable, so that you don't have to modify the original wiring. Cut the green wire and a black wire near the far edge of the cable (so that the cable has 12" free instead of 1"). Then you will need two lengths of additional wire and a switch (to be mounted in the front of the case). Solder one wire to the switch and the green wire; solder the other wire from the other switch connection to the black wire. You now have control of your secondary PSU via a switch mounted in the front of the case.
Another way of achieving the same thing is using a 24p connector instead of an extension. You will also need a crimping tool and some ATX pins. Bascially what you do is you instead of cutting the green & black wires on the extension, you just pin two wires (green & black) on the 24p connector. Very effective, and very clean. This is the method I'm using now, after trying to other.
There are ways of installed a relay, or connector the secondary PSUs green wire to the primary PSUs green wire, but I haven't figured out a clean, effective way of doing these, so I can't say much on them. If you need any info, feel free to PM me.
SparkyJJO
Lifer
- May 16, 2002
- 13,357
- 7
- 81
Another way that I have seen is use the same 24pin ATX extension cable that Fullmetal mentioned and tie in the green wire and a black wire from the 2nd PSU to the corresponding wires on the extension. Then, plug the extension into the 1st PSU and the motherboard. That way, the single switch on the case controlls both PSUs, and they will power up and shut down at the exact same time.
JimPhelpsMI, the single green wire on ATX cable is the power on wire, not the ground. All grounds are the black ones, and the earth ground is via the case, which is attached to ground pin on the power cord socket.
JimPhelpsMI, the single green wire on ATX cable is the power on wire, not the ground. All grounds are the black ones, and the earth ground is via the case, which is attached to ground pin on the power cord socket.
Sorry Sparky but the green wire is to be connected momentarily to any black wire. The black wires are common for all circuits and are connected to the case, the case should not be used. Jim
why would one need 2 psu.... is it that important to drain that much power for... what? just get one good psu and not 2 bad ones...
bamacre
Lifer
- Jul 1, 2004
- 21,029
- 2
- 81
namityadav,
Why do you want to do this? In your sig, I assume those are your system spec's. Is this a Dell? If so, what model? If it is a 9100/9150/XPS 400, then your PSU has 18A on the 12V rails and could EASILY handle your video card and everything else for that matter.
Why do you want to do this? In your sig, I assume those are your system spec's. Is this a Dell? If so, what model? If it is a 9100/9150/XPS 400, then your PSU has 18A on the 12V rails and could EASILY handle your video card and everything else for that matter.
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
I would just get one good PSU. Having voltage regulators in parallel (like you would if running dual power supplies) means that they will respond slower, which means you will have bigger voltage fluctuations.
RoD
RoD
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
You do not necessarily have to run them in parallel though. You keep the completely seperate. One PSU powers the mobo, video card, etc. The other PSU powers drives, fans, lights, etc. It works out very well doing it like this.
Keep the power supplies separate otherwise most of the power will be drawn from whichever supply offers a higher voltage and not so much from the other. Connect the green wires on both power supplies together. They will both turn on/off together.
- May 13, 2003
- 13,704
- 7
- 81
I agree to some extent. Especially on the lower (<700 watts) end of the spectrum. But when you start getting 700+ watts, it's much more economical to get two PSUs. I would never get two 250w or something like that though. Well, unless I was doing some peltier cooling, but thats it.TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes + WCL Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 23K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter