Overclock.net › Forums › Components › Power Supplies › Modular PSU - What Does it Mean?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Modular PSU - What Does it Mean?

post #1 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:15pm
Thread Starter 
As the title states, what does modular, or non-modular PSU's mean?

Whats the difference, and which is better?
IDKFA
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 @ 400x8 (3.2) 1.356 Vcore ASUS P5Q-E eVGA 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 @ 691/1512/1215 4GB DDR2-800 Crucial @ 5-5-5-15 801 Mhz 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
1TB Western Digital Cavier Black SATA Windows 7 64-bit Release Candidate build 7100 19" Acer Widescreen 700W OCZ ModXStream-Pro PSU 
Case
Cooler Master CM 690 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
IDKFA
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 @ 400x8 (3.2) 1.356 Vcore ASUS P5Q-E eVGA 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 @ 691/1512/1215 4GB DDR2-800 Crucial @ 5-5-5-15 801 Mhz 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
1TB Western Digital Cavier Black SATA Windows 7 64-bit Release Candidate build 7100 19" Acer Widescreen 700W OCZ ModXStream-Pro PSU 
Case
Cooler Master CM 690 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #2 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:18pm
Quote:
A modular power supply is a relatively new approach to cabling, allowing users to omit unused cables. Whereas a conventional design has numerous cables permanently connected to the power supply, a modular power supply provides connectors at the power supply end, allowing unused cables to be detached from the power supply, producing less clutter, a neater appearance and less interference with airflow. It also makes it possible to supply a wider variety of cables, providing different lengths of Serial ATA power connectors instead of Molex connectors.

While modular cabling can help reduce case clutter, they have often been criticized for creating electrical resistance. Some third party websites that do power supply testing have confirmed that the quality of the connector, the age of the connector, the number of times it was inserted/removed, and various other variables such as dust can all raise resistance. However, the amount of this resistance in a good connector is small compared to the resistance generated by the length of the wire itself.
source
Edited by Juggalo23451 - 2/22/09 at 12:23pm
Case Labs th10
(21 items)
 
TBA
(18 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
970 evga 4way 2 gtx590 6gigs muskin ram 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingCooling
2tb wd,128 ssd/crucial lg dvd koolance gtx590 block x 2 white heatkiller 
CoolingCoolingCoolingCooling
RX480 rad x2 MCP35x (X2) gentle typhoons 1850 rpm (8) xigamtek fans  
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
win pro 64bit samsung 2343 x3 6144x1152 logitech g19 silverstone 1500watt 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
case labs th10 deathadder 3500dpi cheap one Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty C... 
Other
XSPC dual bay reservoir  
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
3930k  Asus Rampage IV Extreme EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN Superclocked EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN Superclocked 
RAMHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
corsair dominator platinum WD 2TB C300 128gig LG dvd  
CoolingOSMonitorMonitor
CM Hyper Evo Win7 64bit Samsung 2343BWX Samsung 2343BWX 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Samsun 2343BWX Logitech g19 Seasonic 1250 Danger Den Torure Rack 
MouseMouse Pad
BF3 Razer mouse Razer BF3 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Case Labs th10
(21 items)
 
TBA
(18 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
970 evga 4way 2 gtx590 6gigs muskin ram 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingCooling
2tb wd,128 ssd/crucial lg dvd koolance gtx590 block x 2 white heatkiller 
CoolingCoolingCoolingCooling
RX480 rad x2 MCP35x (X2) gentle typhoons 1850 rpm (8) xigamtek fans  
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
win pro 64bit samsung 2343 x3 6144x1152 logitech g19 silverstone 1500watt 
CaseMouseMouse PadAudio
case labs th10 deathadder 3500dpi cheap one Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty C... 
Other
XSPC dual bay reservoir  
View all
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
3930k  Asus Rampage IV Extreme EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN Superclocked EVGA GeForce GTX TITAN Superclocked 
RAMHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
corsair dominator platinum WD 2TB C300 128gig LG dvd  
CoolingOSMonitorMonitor
CM Hyper Evo Win7 64bit Samsung 2343BWX Samsung 2343BWX 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Samsun 2343BWX Logitech g19 Seasonic 1250 Danger Den Torure Rack 
MouseMouse Pad
BF3 Razer mouse Razer BF3 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #3 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Juggalo23451 View Post
modular psu are designed to use on the cable you need to hook up yuor compure for power. Which means better airflow
Can anyone explain this a bit more clearly?
IDKFA
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 @ 400x8 (3.2) 1.356 Vcore ASUS P5Q-E eVGA 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 @ 691/1512/1215 4GB DDR2-800 Crucial @ 5-5-5-15 801 Mhz 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
1TB Western Digital Cavier Black SATA Windows 7 64-bit Release Candidate build 7100 19" Acer Widescreen 700W OCZ ModXStream-Pro PSU 
Case
Cooler Master CM 690 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
IDKFA
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 @ 400x8 (3.2) 1.356 Vcore ASUS P5Q-E eVGA 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 @ 691/1512/1215 4GB DDR2-800 Crucial @ 5-5-5-15 801 Mhz 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
1TB Western Digital Cavier Black SATA Windows 7 64-bit Release Candidate build 7100 19" Acer Widescreen 700W OCZ ModXStream-Pro PSU 
Case
Cooler Master CM 690 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #4 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:20pm
Modular PSU's have cables that well... unplug. Both are good, just some people prefer modular for cable management.
All your base are belong to us
(13 items)
 
MacBook Pro Retina
(5 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 930 @ 3.7 HT Gigabyte X58A-UD3R VisionTek 4870x2 3x2GB's G.Skill Pi 1600 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
500GB AAKS, 2x 640GB AAKS, 2x 1TB Samsung SH-S203B Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Samsung 245BW 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Happy Hacking Keyboard 2 Silverstone OP850 Antec 1200 [Three Nanoxia FX12] [Two San Ace 1011] Logitech G500 
Mouse Pad
Razer eXactMat 
View all
CPUGraphicsRAMHard Drive
i7 3615QM GT 650M 16GB DDR3 256GB SSD 
OS
OS X Mountain Lion 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
All your base are belong to us
(13 items)
 
MacBook Pro Retina
(5 items)
  		 
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 930 @ 3.7 HT Gigabyte X58A-UD3R VisionTek 4870x2 3x2GB's G.Skill Pi 1600 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
500GB AAKS, 2x 640GB AAKS, 2x 1TB Samsung SH-S203B Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Samsung 245BW 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Happy Hacking Keyboard 2 Silverstone OP850 Antec 1200 [Three Nanoxia FX12] [Two San Ace 1011] Logitech G500 
Mouse Pad
Razer eXactMat 
View all
CPUGraphicsRAMHard Drive
i7 3615QM GT 650M 16GB DDR3 256GB SSD 
OS
OS X Mountain Lion 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #5 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:20pm
Modular PSUs are constructed so you can unplug the cables you don't need from the PSU so they're not cluttering up your case, while with non-modular, the cables aren't removable.
iRacing Rig
(18 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 920 Foxconn Bloodrage PNY GTX 580 (SLI) 6GB OCZ Platinum DDR3 1600MHz 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
OCZ Vertex 2 120 GB Seagate 1TB Seagate 2TB Pioneer DVD RW 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Professional x64 Dell U2312HM x3 Das Model S Professional Corsair TX 750 
CaseMouseAudioAudio
Antec 1200 Logitech G500 Xfi Titanium HD Audioengine 5 
Audio
Velodyne Impact 12 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
iRacing Rig
(18 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
i7 920 Foxconn Bloodrage PNY GTX 580 (SLI) 6GB OCZ Platinum DDR3 1600MHz 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
OCZ Vertex 2 120 GB Seagate 1TB Seagate 2TB Pioneer DVD RW 
OSMonitorKeyboardPower
Windows 7 Professional x64 Dell U2312HM x3 Das Model S Professional Corsair TX 750 
CaseMouseAudioAudio
Antec 1200 Logitech G500 Xfi Titanium HD Audioengine 5 
Audio
Velodyne Impact 12 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #6 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:20pm
  • Joined: Jul 2008
  • Location: Alabama
  • Posts: 1,021
  • Rep: 84 (Unique: 78)
  • Folding Team Rank: 349
  •  
    Name Team Rank Points / May Work Units / May
    millillion 349 7,979,447 / 267,116 9,291 / 132
     
  • Select All Posts By This User
You plug the cable of a modular PSU into your components and the PSU, allowing you to use only the cables you need.
Sisyphus V1.2.0
(18 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
Intel Q9450 @3.5 GHZ ASUS P5Q Powercolor HD6870 Sapphire HD5770 
RAMHard DriveOSMonitor
8GB G.Skill DDR2 876 WD6400AAKS 640GB Windows 7 Acer X213H 
MonitorMonitorKeyboardPower
Acer X193w (right wing) Acer G185HV b (left wing) Logitech G110 Thermaltake Toughpower 750W 
CaseMouseAudioAudio
Cooler Master 690 Razer Naga Hex Sennheiser HD201 Asus Xonar DG 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Sisyphus V1.2.0
(18 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsGraphics
Intel Q9450 @3.5 GHZ ASUS P5Q Powercolor HD6870 Sapphire HD5770 
RAMHard DriveOSMonitor
8GB G.Skill DDR2 876 WD6400AAKS 640GB Windows 7 Acer X213H 
MonitorMonitorKeyboardPower
Acer X193w (right wing) Acer G185HV b (left wing) Logitech G110 Thermaltake Toughpower 750W 
CaseMouseAudioAudio
Cooler Master 690 Razer Naga Hex Sennheiser HD201 Asus Xonar DG 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #7 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:23pm
Modular:


"Normal":


Hope that helps
~Error
Incoming!
(17 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Core i5 750 p55-gd65 HD5870 G Skill Ripjaws X (16GB) 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
OCZ Vertex 2 90GB WD Scorpio Black 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 500GB Firewire/USB DVD-RW 
CoolingOSMonitorMonitor
Custom loop! Arch x86_64 && Windows 7 x64 Ultimate HP ZR2240w HP ZR2240w 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Leopold Cherry MX Blue Otaku OCZ StealthXStream 600W CoolerMaster Scout [modded] Microsoft Sidewinder 
Mouse Pad
Steelseries Gaming Mat 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Incoming!
(17 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Core i5 750 p55-gd65 HD5870 G Skill Ripjaws X (16GB) 
Hard DriveHard DriveHard DriveOptical Drive
OCZ Vertex 2 90GB WD Scorpio Black 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 500GB Firewire/USB DVD-RW 
CoolingOSMonitorMonitor
Custom loop! Arch x86_64 && Windows 7 x64 Ultimate HP ZR2240w HP ZR2240w 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Leopold Cherry MX Blue Otaku OCZ StealthXStream 600W CoolerMaster Scout [modded] Microsoft Sidewinder 
Mouse Pad
Steelseries Gaming Mat 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #8 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:23pm
Modular PSU's dont have any connectors hooked to it to begin with, just ports for cables. So if you need a 4 pin molex connector, connect it to the PSU, then connect your drives or whatever. A Non-modular PSU has the cables hardwired into the power supply itself. When you put it into the case, all the wires are in there, if you are using them or not.

The advantage of modular is that you only use the cables you need, so the case is less messy, and improves airflow, that sort of thing. However, having more connections between the PSU and the unit being powered creates a slight voltage drop, and because of the connection the power from the PSU isnt quite as pure as it would be if there was that one less connection.

Non-modular PSUs only make the one connection at the device itself, which you cant avoid. The downside is that you need to find somewhere to stuff all those cables you arent using somewhere inside the case, which can hinder airflow and make things look messy.
Quad Rig
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9650 E0 4.11ghz 1.3v Asus P5k-Deluxe/Wifi Sapphire 5850/Asus 5850 2x 2GB G.skill DDR2-1000 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
2x 160gb Velociraptor Raid 0 2x Samsung 18x DVD-RW Windows Vista Ultimate X64 2x 22" ACER X223WBD 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Logitech G15 Corsair 750TX CoolerMaster Stacker 810 Logitech MX518 
Mouse Pad
UMAINE 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
Quad Rig
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q9650 E0 4.11ghz 1.3v Asus P5k-Deluxe/Wifi Sapphire 5850/Asus 5850 2x 2GB G.skill DDR2-1000 
Hard DriveOptical DriveOSMonitor
2x 160gb Velociraptor Raid 0 2x Samsung 18x DVD-RW Windows Vista Ultimate X64 2x 22" ACER X223WBD 
KeyboardPowerCaseMouse
Logitech G15 Corsair 750TX CoolerMaster Stacker 810 Logitech MX518 
Mouse Pad
UMAINE 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #9 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:23pm

thats a modular psu you only connect the cables you need it helps with cable mangement airflow its really helpful in small cases
My System
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
2600k @ 4.5ghz Asus P8P67 Gigabyte GTX 670 2GB 16GB GSkill Sniper DDR3 1866mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingOS
Kingston Hyperx 3k 240GB Pioneer BDR-206  Heligon HE01 w/2 San Ace 1011 Win7 64 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Samsung 2333SW 23" Ducky Shine II Cherry Red MX Switches SeaSonic X750 Gold Lancool PC-K63 
MouseAudio
Logitech G400 Asus Xonar D2X 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
My System
(15 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
2600k @ 4.5ghz Asus P8P67 Gigabyte GTX 670 2GB 16GB GSkill Sniper DDR3 1866mhz 
Hard DriveOptical DriveCoolingOS
Kingston Hyperx 3k 240GB Pioneer BDR-206  Heligon HE01 w/2 San Ace 1011 Win7 64 
MonitorKeyboardPowerCase
Samsung 2333SW 23" Ducky Shine II Cherry Red MX Switches SeaSonic X750 Gold Lancool PC-K63 
MouseAudio
Logitech G400 Asus Xonar D2X 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
post #10 of 22
2/22/09 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
Awesome... think it would be wise to purchase a modular PSU?

I don't really seem to have airflow problems in my CM690, most of the cables sit at the bottom of the case (around or below the video card) and my 8800GT still runs super-cool.

Although, it is using a non-stock cooler..

Anywho - recommended or no?
IDKFA
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 @ 400x8 (3.2) 1.356 Vcore ASUS P5Q-E eVGA 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 @ 691/1512/1215 4GB DDR2-800 Crucial @ 5-5-5-15 801 Mhz 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
1TB Western Digital Cavier Black SATA Windows 7 64-bit Release Candidate build 7100 19" Acer Widescreen 700W OCZ ModXStream-Pro PSU 
Case
Cooler Master CM 690 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
IDKFA
(13 items)
  		  
CPUMotherboardGraphicsRAM
Q6600 @ 400x8 (3.2) 1.356 Vcore ASUS P5Q-E eVGA 55nm GTX 260 Core 216 @ 691/1512/1215 4GB DDR2-800 Crucial @ 5-5-5-15 801 Mhz 
Hard DriveOSMonitorPower
1TB Western Digital Cavier Black SATA Windows 7 64-bit Release Candidate build 7100 19" Acer Widescreen 700W OCZ ModXStream-Pro PSU 
Case
Cooler Master CM 690 
View all
  hide details  
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Power Supplies
Overclock.net › Forums › Components › Power Supplies › Modular PSU - What Does it Mean?