Would I need a Second PSU?

[Baasha]

So I am getting a Quad-SLI setup; either 4 GTX-580s or 2 of the upcoming GTX-590/595 depending on which one performs better.

I currently have a PC Power & Cooling 1200W PSU which is absolutely phenomenal and beautiful, except for the un-sleeved cables! LOL...

With this monster GPU set up, I assume I'd need a second PSU (?). I have plenty of room in my case (Mountain Mods Ascension CYO) and a slot for a second PSU.

Do I need to get another PC Power & Cooling 1200W to make sure everything will work well and safely?

I wish I could tell how much wattage is being used right now but without a watt-meter, that seems futile.

Anyway, are there any good guides on how to properly setup a second PSU? I know I need some sort of adapter for the 24-pin connector on the MoBo. The question is, what peripherals do I connect with the second PSU? Just the GPUs?

Any good advice is appreciated.

 

[TemjinGold]

I thought SLI only went up to 3 cards? In any case, there's a fair chance your 1200watter can actually handle it...

 

[ZipSpeed]

I would play it safe and get a second PSU if you're running 4 x 580s. What's another few hundred bucks when you're dropping $2k on video cards already?

 

[yottabit]

I don't have any experience with a monster setup like this, but I can do some theorycrafting. GTX 580 TDP is 244 W and you can go over that if you do overclocking or Furmark. I'm assuming your running an X58 setup and probably overclocked so lets say 160 W for the CPU. That puts you very close to 1200 W for the total setup, neglecting all your drives and other accessories.

I would think you could get a reasonably sized PSU and use it to power 1 or 2 graphics cards and you would be perfectly safe. I think all you need to is send the power on signal from the 24 pin cable to the second power supply, if thats what you mean by needing an adapter. Just make sure if you are using the PSU to only power the graphics cards that it can output enough amperage on 12v

EDIT: Alternatively it looks like there are some good 1500 W PSU's out there... if you don't plan on overvolting and overclocking the GTX580s too much then that could be a good option

Guru3d did a nice little write up on it
http://www.guru3d.com/article/geforce-gtx-580-review/7

 

[Viper GTS]

You can do triple SLI with 580's, but quad SLI will only be two dual GPU cards (no 4 x 580s).

1200W should power either one.

Viper GTS

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

4x 580? That would be such a waste. Unless your a LN2 customer

 

[yottabit]

You can do triple SLI with 580's, but quad SLI will only be two dual GPU cards (no 4 x 580s).

1200W should power either one.

Viper GTS

Why can't you do 4x 580s? They make x58 boards that support quad SLI :/

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE

 

[yottabit]

To the OP, here's the type of cable you want:
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/56...ter_Cable.html

You could then just run the PCIe connectors from the second power supply to the graphics cards you choose. At least thats my understanding. May I ask what you're doing for a CPU?

 

[dualsmp]

Tom's did a quad SLI 480 setup that used 1364 watts AC or 1164 watts DC (PSU's are rated via DC).

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/quad-sli-nvidia-surround-geforce-gtx-480,2745-11.html

The GTX 580 and GTX 480 measured within 9 watts of each other playing Metro 2033, so the load numbers should be very similar.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/geforce-gtx-580-gf110-geforce-gtx-480,2781-15.html

1200w would be enough for quad sli, but it would be using near full capacity of the power supply.

 

[VirtualLarry]

If you got twin 1200W PSUs, how would you power them? Household 15A circuits will blow the breaker at something like 1800W.

 

[Rifter]

If you got twin 1200W PSUs, how would you power them? Household 15A circuits will blow the breaker at something like 1800W.

plug them into different circuits?

 

[Viper GTS]

Why can't you do 4x 580s? They make x58 boards that support quad SLI :/

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...7BBTkwCjCECjCE

Unless things have changed recently:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=185567

Short version is it may work but it's unsupported.

Viper GTS

 

[TemjinGold]

If you got twin 1200W PSUs, how would you power them? Household 15A circuits will blow the breaker at something like 1800W.

He won't be anywhere near 1800 watts draw.

 

[Baasha]

Unless things have changed recently:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=185567

Short version is it may work but it's unsupported.

Viper GTS

hmm... that's pretty weird.. there are many folks out there with Quad-SLI setups with the GTX-580; the only issue is I don't know how reliable their systems are.

However, difference between 3 and 4 cards will definitely matter for surround gaming, which I am planning on doing!

Of course, if the GTX-590/595 trounces the 580, then I'll get two of those for "Quad" SLI.

My only concern is scaling of dual-GPU cards (GTX-295 Quad-SLI sucked balls) but hopefully NVidia would have worked out the kinks by then! :fingerscrossed:

 

[Baasha]

If you got twin 1200W PSUs, how would you power them? Household 15A circuits will blow the breaker at something like 1800W.

Hmm.. never thought about that.. How do others do it then? If I plug each PSU into different wall sockets, will that draw power from different circuits or is it the same circuit in one room?

 

[PreferLinux]

Doesn't matter. Those circuits support 1800 W, but you'll only be drawing like 1500 W. I almost feel sorry for you over there...Our circuits support 2400 W!

 

[HOOfan 1]

They don't make the PC P&C Turbo Cool 1200 anymore anyway. It has always been overpriced and over loud. Now it is such and old and inefficient design. You would be better off getting a single Silverstone Strider 1500W

 

[Baasha]

They don't make the PC P&C Turbo Cool 1200 anymore anyway. It has always been overpriced and over loud. Now it is such and old and inefficient design. You would be better off getting a single Silverstone Strider 1500W

well, the PC Power & Cooling 1200W PSU is still available if needed. And, I've had a really good experience with them so far. What do you mean by "inefficient design"? This PSU is supposed to be one of the best PSUs, ever.

And, if I do get a second PSU, it will be another 1200W, either the same one or Corsair AX1200 or something else.

 

[HOOfan 1]

It is a 5 year old design. It is inefficient because it pulls more power from the wall than a more efficient PSU running the same components.

I can't imagine why anyone would pay over $400 for a PSU that has been eclipsed in performance by PSUs that cost $100 or more less and are newer designs. It would be like paying $1000 for a Core 2 QX9800 when you can buy a Core i7 2600K for $300

 

[rgallant]

-watch the vram if your going super high res. you might want the 3gb 580's.

 

[gevorg]

Why not dual Seasonic X-850? They rate their power very conservatively and gold rated for efficiency.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

It is a 5 year old design. It is inefficient because it pulls more power from the wall than a more efficient PSU running the same components.

I can't imagine why anyone would pay over $400 for a PSU that has been eclipsed in performance by PSUs that cost $100 or more less and are newer designs. It would be like paying $1000 for a Core 2 QX9800 when you can buy a Core i7 2600K for $300

I take it you dont know much about powersupplies do you?

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

with what system is he going to pull 4x580s?????

 

[Baasha]

with what system is he going to pull 4x580s?????

what do you mean? CPU? or everything in general? I just upgraded quite a few components in my system over the past 2 months so it's getting ready to demolish the gaming experience!

 

[HOOfan 1]

I take it you dont know much about powersupplies do you?

If you think anything I posted in that post was untrue, then I would say I know a sight more than you do.

Lets take a look at some facts

PC P&C Turbo-Cool 1200w

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=458&type=expert&pid=1

You'll see the review date is October 2007. Over 3 years ago, but it is built on the same platform as the older Turbo-Cool 1kW. So 5 years, perhaps some exaggeration, but the design is still at least 4 years old.

20% load efficiency is 77%
50% load efficiency is 84%
100% load efficiency is 80%

do a google search for what they are selling for still...~$400+


Or he could buy this for less than $300
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=198

Newer design
20% load efficiency 88%
50% load efficiency 90%
100% load efficiency 87%

So that is a newer, cheaper, more efficient and better PSU.

Is there any reason to replace a PC P&C Turbo Cool with the Antec? No
But, why would you buy a new one instead of that?