Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

Looking at PSUs, confused about 12V rails and graphics card

Tags:
  • Power Supplies
  • Graphics Cards
  • Components
Last response: in Components
Share
September 26, 2013 9:23:17 AM

Hello all.

Had a couple of severe crashes Monday night, PC just shutting off without an error, smell of burning plastic, etc. Judging by where the smell is coming from, it's the PSU and I don't want to boot it again for fear of losing more of the rig.

Started the RMA process with Corsair, but I don't have a spare PSU to test and don't know how long the process is going to take, so I'm looking for a relatively cheap stopgap (or a replacement should the RMA not pan out). The PSU I'm coming from is this, which provides 54A on a single 12V rail: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I'm running an HD 7870 GHz edition, which research tells me requires at least 27A on the 12V, and 2 6-pin connectors. My question is, if I get a PSU that has 2 rails, can I use them both to power the card or does it not work properly. For reference, the PSU I'm looking at is this one, with a 23A and a 20A rail and 2 PCI-E connectors: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

Would that PSU be sufficient or do I need to find one with at least 27+ on one of its rails?

Thanks!

More about : psus confused 12v rails graphics card

a c 719 ) Power supply
a c 1423 U Graphics card
September 26, 2013 9:25:55 AM

As a stop gap it is sufficient it is the combined amps over both rails that count.
m
0
l

Best solution

September 26, 2013 10:20:22 AM

That should be fine. Most PSU's nowadays combine the output from the two 12V rails anyway and some would argue having multiple small power supplies in parallel is actually better.
Share
!