Suitable PSU.

[rallynavvie]

"never truer words have been spoken"

Well, just speaking from experience

[ocgw]

"never truer words have been spoken"

Well, just speaking from experience

daaammmmnnnnnnnnn!!

"never seen a grown man cry before"

ocgw

peace

[A Traveller]

Any opinions on this one?

http://www.rackmountnet.com/tagan-800w-power-supply-p-2208.html

It has 6 +12v rails (20A each), however, it also states

"TURBO mode switch can integrate all six separate +12V-rails into one single common rail with more DC power output."

Anyone have any experience of something like this? By using the 'Turbo' switch, would it be the same as if it were a 120A single rail?

Thanks.

[rallynavvie]

How can it have 20A on each rail if the PSU is only 800W? Theoretical max amperage of an 800W PSU would be about 66A not including the other voltages. Am I missing something?

Besides that is way more than that PSU is worth when compared to something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341011

[A Traveller]

Hi rallynavvie. I don't know, haha. I just thought that's what was meant from looking at the manual.

http://www.tagan.com.tw/page/datasheet/U33/TAGAN_U33800_uk_mini.pdf

I think this PSU is quite old and not easily available anymore. I think the price will be lower than on the link I provided.

[ocgw]

Any opinions on this one?

http://www.rackmountnet.com/tagan-800w-power-supply-p-2208.html

It has 6 +12v rails (20A each), however, it also states

"TURBO mode switch can integrate all six separate +12V-rails into one single common rail with more DC power output."

Anyone have any experience of something like this? By using the 'Turbo' switch, would it be the same as if it were a 120A single rail?

Thanks.

It is just like w/ A/V receivers, just because they have 5x 100w amplifiers doesn't mean it is a 500w receiver (unless it is full THX certified), they will typically have a 350w total output

I would rather have a psu w/ 1 30a 12v rail than a psu w/ 2 18a 12v rails

ocgw

peace

[A Traveller]

Ok, I'm close to choosing between the following.

(Single rail and not modular)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256012

(Single rail and modular)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037

(Multiple rails, not modular and around 15.00 cheaper )
http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=34654&tid=frooct

I can purchase the first two for around the same price.

So, which is it going to be?

Thanks.

[ocgw]

Ok, I'm close to choosing between the following.

(Single rail and not modular)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256012

(Single rail and modular)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037

(Multiple rails, not modular and around 15.00 cheaper )
http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=34654&tid=frooct

I can purchase the first two for around the same price.

So, which is it going to be?

Thanks.

Notice carefully that the CoolerMaster 700 watt psu has a single 50 amp 12 volt rail

http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=2874

The Silverstone 650 watt psu has a single 54 amp 12 volt rail (but then again it costs $10USD more)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171037

I would recommend either of those single 12v rail psu's, and think the CoolerMaster is an exceptional deal for a modular (if you use a window case, if not go for the Sliverstone quality)

There is a lesson to be learned here, if the Manufacturer's rated power of these 2 psu's does not accurately represent their capabilities, how can you know what the the transformer feeding a multiple 12v rail psu can deliver?

Trust me, multiple 12v rails psu's max power output are almost never "equal to the sum of their 12v rails"

The problem is when industrial design engineers are unduely enfluenced by the "marketing guys"

Single 12v rail psu design = simpler design = ease of manufacturing = cost saving which may translate into higher quality components (and you more accurately know what you are getting)

IMHO

The Silverstone (what I use in my HTPC) is rated more conservatively, or dare I say more honestly

ocgw

peace

[A Traveller]

Thanks again for the very good advice, ocgw.

The links which I provided were just so that the full specifications could be seen. The prices for both the single rail cards are almost exactly the same in my region, so price difference is not a factor.

Nothing on/in the pc will be for display/visual purposes. Looks are not important at all in my considerations, so it won't be a window case.

I think I will go with your advice.

Thanks everyone who replied to my questions and been patient with my obvious lack of knowledge in this subject. Now I need to start searching for a good case to fit it all in!!!! Haha.

[A Traveller]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my questions, provided advice and helped me choose my components. For your information, I opted for the Silverstone in the end.

[DarrellS]

My PC died on me right in the middle of my work so I put the working drive in my other PC and finished my work. Next day, went down to Fry's and picked up the 750W Corsair and the main PC is back up and running.

One thing I did not like was that I had to separate the 8 pin power connector and when I plugged it into the board, sparks flew out the side that was not plugged in. I'd much rather have a 4 pin power connector. I thought I had fried the board after finding out my original problem was the PSU.

[ocgw]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my questions, provided advice and helped me choose my components. For your information, I opted for the Silverstone in the end.

Another Silverstone convert welcomed into the fold w/ open arms lol

ocgw

peace

[rallynavvie]

One thing I did not like was that I had to separate the 8 pin power connector and when I plugged it into the board, sparks flew out the side that was not plugged in. I'd much rather have a 4 pin power connector. I thought I had fried the board after finding out my original problem was the PSU.

Are you sure that wasn't the EPS12V connector?

[DarrellS]

That's exactly what it is. On my MB diagram it shows an ATX_12V_2X connector with 8 pins but my board has a cover over half of the connector. It's a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3P. Can I pull the cover off the board and connect all 8 pins? I assumed half of it was covered for a reason.

http://download.gigabyte.ru/manual/motherboard_manual_ga-ep35-ds3p_e.pdf

http://www.corsair.com/products/tx/default.aspx

[rallynavvie]

What is up with Gigabyte putting that half-covered EPS12V connector on their desktop boards? I've heard of several like that. Apparently the EPS12V connector does work with the cover removed (so using all 8 pins) but I'm not guaranteeing anything because I've not seen it or tried it myself. I've also seen people using half the EPS12V connector pins but that's too risky since it won't latch into place that way and bumping a power connector out while the machine is running could be catastrophic. There should be a 4-pin power connector on there too somewhere, isn't there? My system uses the ATX, EPS12V, a 4-pin 12V, and a regular Molex 4-pin. Any EPS12V PSU should have both the 8-pin and 4-pin 12V connectors.

[DarrellS]

There should be a 4-pin power connector on there too somewhere, isn't there?

Nope!

One 24/20 pin connector, one 8/4 pin EPS/ATX12V connector, four 8 pin PCI-E connectors, eight SATA connectors, eight periphial connectors and two floppy connectors.

EDIT: I do have a molex power connector on the board but I'm afraid to plug a cable into it. I have no idea what it's for (looks like it's 12V out for PCI-E).

[ocgw]

There should be a 4-pin power connector on there too somewhere, isn't there?

Nope!

One 24/20 pin connector, one 8/4 pin EPS/ATX12V connector, four 8 pin PCI-E connectors, eight SATA connectors, eight periphial connectors and two floppy connectors.

EDIT: I do have a molex power connector on the board but I'm afraid to plug a cable into it. I have no idea what it's for (looks like it's 12V out for PCI-E).

That's probably a 12v in for SLI or X-fire

oxgw

peace

[rallynavvie]

That's probably a 12v in for SLI or X-fire

Is that what that is for? I've got one on my board but it doesn't support SLi/CF but does have two full x16 2.0 slots.

[DarrellS]

I assumed it was to put an adapter to hook to your SLI/Crossfired video cards.

[rhegedus]

I bought a Dabs own brand 650W PSU when I was building my Q6600 a few years back.

It powers:

Q6600
GTX260
3xsolid state drives
3xSATA hard drives
1xBlu-Ray burner
1xPCI 4xUSB card
4xfans and lights to go with them

Never had a problem