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davidhammock200 · 03-14-07

Updated March 9, 2007.

What Dave Would Buy

Quote:

Originally Posted by webstien

I had to make this

Quote:

As you will see all PSU's recommended for highend systems are Single +12V Rail PSU's.

This has now become necessary for several reasons:

PSU manufactures are now assigning the rails on their multi-rail (3 or more +12V rails) PSU's in whatever fashion pleases them.

Motherboard manufacturers are now requiring additional power connectors, beyond the standard ATX & P4/EPS connectors.

Sometimes the interaction of these unique rail assignments & additional power connectors results in mobo/PSU incompatibility.

All of these problems are of course caused by the ever higher power demands of ever more powerful GPU's.

Most Dual +12V Rail PSU's are not effected as one rail "should always" be used exclusively to power the CPU via the P4/EPS connector, however Dual Rail PSU's that follow the specs can not power highend SLI systems.

Therefore all PSU's recommended for highend systems now need to be Single +12V Rail PSU's.

Please note that the Seasonic built Corsairs & Antecs (HE & Trio) are, regardless of advertising,
Single +12V Rail PSU's, in that there is no per-rail current limiting, meaning that any +12V rail can pull whatever +12V amperage is available. This is also true of the Seasonic M-12's.
The Corsairs are built to higher standards than the Antecs.

From PC P&C's Power Supply Myths Exposed!: http://www.pcpower.com/technology/myths/

8. ARE MULTIPLE 12-VOLT RAILS BETTER THAN A SINGLE 12-VOLT RAIL?

With all the hype about multiple 12-volt rails (ads claim that two rails is better than one, five is better than four, etc.), you’d think it was a better design. Unfortunately, it’s not!

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.

PC Power and Cooling is once again leading the industry. All of our power supplies now feature a large, single 12-volt rail. The design is favored by major processor and graphics companies, complies with EPS12V specs (the 240VA limit is not a requirement) and is approved by all major safety agencies such as UL and TUV.

From Silverstone: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-da750.htm

"With the knowledge that single +12V rail power is the next generation power supply, SilverStone Technology introduces Decathlon series, offering enthusiasts more choices with single rail power selections to handle their system."

Please note that Dual +12V Rails are fine for low to mid-range systems.

Quote:

These PSU's were/are designed for older systems where the CPU is often powered from the +5V rail.
However these still provide enough +12V amperage to run most of today's lowend to midrange systems.

[20-pin ATX Only]
ENERMAX EG301P-VB-1-FM 300W
Output +3.3V@28A; +5V@30A; -5V@1A; +12V@22A; -12V@1A; +5VSB@2.2A
$32: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103463
Discontinued Model.

[Many Different Versions, many are 20-pin ATX Only]
ENERMAX EG365AX-VE(W) / EG365AX-VE(G) / EG365P-VE 350W
Output +3.3V@32A; +5V@32A; -5V@1A; +12V@26A; -12V@1A; +5VSB@2.2A
Specs: http://www.enermax.com.tw/english/pr...y1.asp?PrID=29
From $43: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...line&scoring=p

[Many Different Versions, many are 20-pin ATX Only]
ENERMAX EG465AX-VE(W) / EG465AX-VE(G) / EG465P-VE
Output +3.3V@35A; +5V@35A; -5V@1A; +12V@33A; -12V@1A; +5VSB@2.2A
Specs: http://www.enermax.com.tw/english/pr...y1.asp?PrID=28
From $46: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...line&scoring=p

[20/24-pin ATX]
VANTEC ION 2 VAN-460N ATX12V/ EPS12V 460W
Output +3.3V@28A; +5V@30A; -5V@0.5A; +12V@30A; -12V@0.8A; +5VSB@3.0A
Specs: http://www.vantecusa.com/p_ion2460.html
From $60: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?so...line&scoring=p
This is my #1 Recommendation for this class of PSU's.

[20-pin ATX Only]
PC P&C Silencer 360 ATX 360W
Output: +5V @ 30A, +12V @ 21A, -12V @ 0.8A, +3.3V @ 26A, +5VSB @ 2A
Specs: http://www.pcpowercooling.com/produc...view=techspecs
$65: http://www.pcpowercooling.com/produc...ATX&view=about

This is what I would buy & use, if these were my systems.

Class 7: Dual or Quad Core CPU with Dual R600's in CrossFire, Ultimate Gaming or Video Workstation Maxed-Out or
2 to 4 Way Server with dual redundant 1TB SCSI RAID 10/50.

PC P&C Turbo-Cool 1KW: http://www.pcpowercooling.com/produc...view=techspecs

Silverstone Olympia OP1000: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-op1000.htm

Class 6: Dual or Quad Core CPU with Dual 8800GTX's in SLI Ultra Highend Gaming or Video Workstation Maxed-Out or
2-Way Server with dual redundant 1TB SCSI RAID 10/50.

Zippy PSL-6850P 850W (G1)-PCIE4: http://www.zippy.com/P_product_detai...850P(G1)-PCIE4

Zippy PSL 6850P 850W: http://www.zippy.com.tw/P_PRODUCT_DE...r=3&lv_rfnbr=2

PC P&C Silencer 750 EPS12V Quad: http://www.pcpowercooling.com/produc...hp?show=S75EPS

Silverstone Decathlon DA750: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-da750.htm

Silverstone Olympia OP750: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-op750.htm

Class 5: Dual or Quad Core CPU with 8800GTS's SLI, Workstation/2-Way Server.

SeaSonic M12 SS-700HM: http://www.seasonicusa.com/m12.htm

Corsair HX 620W: http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair...er_supply.html

PC P&C Silencer 610 EPS12V: http://www.pcpowercooling.com/produc...hp?show=S61EPS

SilverStone Olympia OP650: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-op650.htm

Antec TruePower Trio 650W: http://www.antec.com/specs/TP3_650_spe.html

Class 4: Dual or Quad Core CPU with Midrange SIL/Crossfire or ANY single GPU. [/B]

Corsair HX 520W: http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair...er_supply.html

Silverstone Zeus ST56ZF 560W: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products-56zf.htm

Antec Neo HE 550W: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoHE550_spe.html

Antec TruePower Trio 550W: http://www.antec.com/specs/TP3_550_spe.html

Class 3: Dual or Quad Core CPU with single Highend GPU, Highend Business/Gaming PC.

Any of the above.

Antec Neo HE 500W: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoHE500_spe.html

Class 2: Dual or Quad Core CPU with single midrange GPU, Midrange PC.

Antec NeoHE 430W: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoHE430_spe.html

Antec Trio TP3 430W: http://www.antec.com/specs/TP3_430_spe.html

XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W: http://www.xclio.com/htm/products-PSU-Goodpower500w.htm

Enhance ENP-5150GH 500W: http://www.enhanceusa.com/series.php?series_id=4#115

VANTEC ION 2 VAN-460N 460W: http://www.vantecusa.com/p_ion2460.html

Sunbeam NUUO 550W: http://www.sunbeamtech.com/PRODUCTS/...O/nuuo-550.htm

Class 1: Dual Core CPU with single lower-end GPU, Lower-end PC.

Antec: NeoHE 380W: http://www.antec.com/specs/NeoHE380_spe.html

Antec EarthWatts EA380 380W: http://www.antec.com/specs/EA380_spe.html

XClio 450BL ATX 450W: http://www.xclio.com/htm/products-PSU-450BL.htm

Enhance ENP-5140GH 400W: http://www.enhanceusa.com/series.php?series_id=4#43

Class 0: Single Core Lowend CPU, Intergrated Graphics, Very Lowend PC.

Almost any 300W to 400W PSU made by Enermax or Fortron/Sparkle with a min of +12V@22A.

If I was building/specing the system, this is pretty much what I would buy.

Dave

:smokin

Updated March 9, 2007.