Where's the cable?

[WoodButcher]

I'm trying to find ribbon cable similar to the cable Ultra and Corsair use on their modular PSU's. I don't know the specifics to search for. I plan to convert a PC P&C 610 to modular connections and re-sleeve everything, I would prefer not to use the braided wrap over hook-up wire. I have an ultra psu and love the cable, I may toss the psu and use the cable!
If anyone could direct me with a link or two I would be eternally grateful,,,,,

 

[HOOfan 1]

Flexforce cables

says unavailable to buy, but perhaps you could contact them

CPU 12V cable at Tigerdirect

Molex at Tigerdirect

 

[John Galt]

Why not just get a Corsair HX620. They are both based on the same Seasonic platform but the HX620 is quieter and already has the modular cables you want.

 

[WoodButcher]

Thanks HOOfan, I'd really be happy if I could get my hands on a roll of the cable they use to make the 24 pin cable, IIRC it's a 12 conductor cable. If it comes to it I'll get a hand full of those 8 pin cables to hack into my own lengths.

Hey John, welcome to Anandtech, 49 amps on the single 12v rail as opposed to 18 on any one of 3 for the corsair. This is what sold me

quoted from PC P&C- Here are the facts: A large, single 12-volt rail (without a 240VA limit) can transfer 100% of the 12-volt output from the PSU to the computer, while a multi-rail 12-volt design has distribution losses of up to 30% of the power supply's rating. Those losses occur because power literally gets "trapped" on under-utilized rails. For example, if the 12-volt rail that powers the CPU is rated for 17 amps and the CPU only uses 7A, the remaining 10A is unusable, since it is isolated from the rest of the system.

Since the maximum current from any one 12-volt rail of a multiple-rail PSU is limited to 20 amps (240VA / 12 volts = 20 amps), PCs with high-performance components that draw over 20 amps from the same rail are subject to over-current shutdowns. With power requirements for multiple processors and graphics cards continuing to grow, the multiple-rail design, with its 240VA limit per rail, is basically obsolete.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: WoodButcher
Thanks HOOfan, I'd really be happy if I could get my hands on a roll of the cable they use to make the 24 pin cable, IIRC it's a 12 conductor cable. If it comes to it I'll get a hand full of those 8 pin cables to hack into my own lengths.

Hey John, welcome to Anandtech, 49 amps on the single 12v rail as opposed to 18 on any one of 3 for the corsair. This is what sold me

quoted from PC P&C- Here are the facts: A large, single 12-volt rail (without a 240VA limit) can transfer 100% of the 12-volt output from the PSU to the computer, while a multi-rail 12-volt design has distribution losses of up to 30% of the power supply's rating. Those losses occur because power literally gets "trapped" on under-utilized rails. For example, if the 12-volt rail that powers the CPU is rated for 17 amps and the CPU only uses 7A, the remaining 10A is unusable, since it is isolated from the rest of the system.

Since the maximum current from any one 12-volt rail of a multiple-rail PSU is limited to 20 amps (240VA / 12 volts = 20 amps), PCs with high-performance components that draw over 20 amps from the same rail are subject to over-current shutdowns. With power requirements for multiple processors and graphics cards continuing to grow, the multiple-rail design, with its 240VA limit per rail, is basically obsolete.

Ok... First off, what "sold you" is FUD. In most cases, there is no "trapped power." The sum of multiple +12V rails is typically greater than the +12V capability of the PSU. In other words, there is overlap that prevents "trapped power". Have a look at any PSU with multiple +12V rails and do the math.

You have to realize that PCP&C's "myths" is marketing worded to propel sales in the direction of PCP&C product. You just fell for something that is a kin to what a used car salesman would tell you in order to get you to buy a POS car. Not to say that PCP&C is crap or is relative to a POS car, but the marketing does size up to used car salesman tactics. They're very good power supplies, but they are kings of marketing FUD.

Instead of FUD, here's fact:

What is "multiple +12V rails" really: In most cases, multiple +12V rails are actually a single +12V source just split up into multiple +12V outputs each with a limited output capability. There are a few units that actually have two +12V sources, but these +12V outputs are either combined into one or split into four or more. To be clear: These REAL multiple +12V rail units are very rare and are all 1000W+ units (Enermax Galaxy, Topower/Tagan "Dual Engine", Ultra X3 1600W, etc.)

Do multiple +12V rails give me "better stability", etc: Nope. Not at all. The components that spilt up the +12V into multiple +12V rails doesn't do any kind of regulation, filtering, etc. They just split the source up into two, four, six, whatever +12V circuits and has a logic that "shuts down" the PSU if any of the circuits exceed a particular current.

So why split the +12V rails up?: Well.... 240VA+ is a lot of power. Some shorts aren't always detected by short circuit protection if there's enough resistance in the load. These "slow burn" shorts are enough to melt insulation and cause a small fire.

Why do some people FUD that single is better?: Because a while back, some PSU companies followed EPS12V specifications, which is for servers, not "gamers", for quad +12V rail PSU's and put ALL of the PCIe connectors on one of the +12V rails. The +12V rail was easily overloaded and caused the PSU to shut down. Instead of correcting the problem, they just did away with the splitting of +12V rails altogether. Multiple +12V rail "enthusiast" PSU's today have a +12V rail just for PCIe connectors or may even split four or six PCIe connectors up across two different +12V rails. The rails themselves are capable of far more power output than any PCIe graphics card would ever need.

But some people claim they can overclock better, etc. with a single +12V rail PSU: B.S. It's a placebo effect. The reality is that their previous PSU was defective or just wasn't as good as their current unit. If the old PSU was a Coolmax with four +12V rails and the new one is a PCP&C with one +12V rail, the new one isn't overclocking better because it's a single +12V rail unit. It's overclocking better because the old PSU was crap. It's only coincidental if the old PSU had multiple +12V rails and the current one has just one. The only "problem" with multiple +12V rails is that when they have a +12V rail overloaded, the PSU shuts down. Since there are no "limits" on single +12V rail PSU's, you can not overload the rails and cause them to shut down..... unless you're using a "too-small" PSU in the first place. Single +12V rails do not have better voltage regulation, do not have better ripple filtering, etc. unless the PSU is better to begin with.

Secondly, the Corsair HX isn't really split +12V rail. They only put that on the label so they could adhere to the ATX12V specifications at the time the unit was released. The Corsair is, and always has been, a single +12V rail without rail division, without OCP.

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Secondly, the Corsair HX isn't really split +12V rail. They only put that on the label so they could adhere to the ATX12V specifications at the time the unit was released. The Corsair is, and always has been, a single +12V rail without rail division, without OCP.

i.e. the Corsair HX620 really has a single 12v rail capable of 50Amps

 

[jonnyGURU]

Yup... 12W more than the Silencer 610W.

Also, the Corsair is rated at 620W at 50°C as opposed to 40°C. Not that the operating temperature should exceed 40°C, I just feel it's a mark of quality.

 

[WoodButcher]

Ouch! beat me w/ a stick whydontcha! :laugh:
Thanks for the info, I guess I'll take solace in the fact that I paid less for the 610 than I would have for the Corsair but honestly, for the amount of hack and butch I have in mind I feel better chopping up the 610. I'll test it first in one of my existing systems beforehand,
[copied from another thread]-what I'm thinking is to reverse the fan to blow in, not use the top of the psu case but fabricate the psu into a duct that will incorporate 1 of the 120 fans in the top mounted radiator to exhaust the psu. I can mount molex into the bottom of the duct and I've also got an idea of a power rail running down the back / right side if the drive bays w/ molex to plug in short jumpers. dunno yet????

Any more suggestions for that cable?