How many amps does my PSU have ?

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 5, 2016

So my question is simple ?
On my PSU stands
Load Min Max
+3.3V 0.3A 24A
+5V 1.0A 30A
+12V1 0.5A 19A
+12V2 0.5A 20A
-12V 0A 0.6A
+5VSB 0A 2.0A

Max power=550W
Super-Flower

I need to know how many amps do I have since I have a GTX 580, that requires 42A and 600W minimum power to run it.
My graphics card wont even turn the monitor only the fan is working. Sometimes I even can't turn on the PC from the first try, is my graphics card wasting too much power ? Do I need a new PSU and which one ? (HOW MANY AMPS AND HOW I CAN KNOW HOW MANY AMPS THERE ARE)

elbert · Oct 5, 2016

Power is questionable depending o many factors. Age, quality of parts, and if the PSU maker has over or underrated the output. Now your 580 is old and a 1060 would blow it out of the water. That powersupply should push a 1060 but not a 580.

TJ Hooker · Oct 5, 2016

GPU amps come from the 12V rail. [strike]Your PSU is rated for a total of 19+20=39A on the 12V rail. So no, your PSU cannot handle a GTX 580, at least on paper.[/strike]

Edit: Can't just add up the multiple 12V rail amps to get total 12V amps, as pointed out below.

geofelt · Oct 5, 2016

What you want to see is the combined +12v amps.
Look on the data plate.
Or, if it is measured in watts, divide by 12.
The amps available is not the sum of the 12v1 and 12v2 numbers, but something less.
If you are using a power hungry cpu like a FX9590 that will be a problem also.

Superflower is a good quality brand.
But, older units delivered power on other than the 12v rails where modern graphics cards and processors need it.

If your psu does not have the 6 and 8 pin connectors required of the GTX580, you need to buy a psu with that capability.
You may find that in a good 550w psu, but more likely in a 600w unit.

As another option, you might sell the GTX580 and buy a newer gen card which will use much less power.
Your 550w psu can likely run a card as good as a GTX1070
Here is a chart for other options:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

And, here is a list of psu quality:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

geofelt :

What you want to see is the combined +12v amps.
Look on the data plate.
Or, if it is measured in watts, divide by 12.
The amps available is not the sum of the 12v1 and 12v2 numbers, but something less.
If you are using a power hungry cpu like a FX9590 that will be a problem also.

Superflower is a good quality brand.
But, older units delivered power on other than the 12v rails where modern graphics cards and processors need it.

If your psu does not have the 6 and 8 pin connectors required of the GTX580, you need to buy a psu with that capability.
You may find that in a good 550w psu, but more likely in a 600w unit.

As another option, you might sell the GTX580 and buy a newer gen card which will use much less power.
Your 550w psu can likely run a card as good as a GTX1070
Here is a chart for other options:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

And, here is a list of psu quality:
http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm

I have a 550W superflower that has a 6+2 pin and a 6 pin so that should be okay so far

Dark Lord of Tech · Oct 6, 2016

You can easily run a GTX 1060 or 1070.

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

Could any of hose two run my 580 ?

Dark Lord of Tech · Oct 6, 2016

Both brands are very poor , wouldn't power any PC with them.

junkeymonkey · Oct 6, 2016

amps cant exceed watts watts /volts [12] = amps

750w /12 = 62 amps at the 12v+

now keep in mind that's a true psu and some may be showing there 750w and not be close to true amps

multi rail psu's like you show is combined each rail will hold up to x amount of amps and most times a unit under 600w are not true and may be sold as 550w but only able to supply no better then a 450w [very few units under 600w are true amps]

like this unit its max combined is only 450w but sold as 550w unit

http://www.super-flower.com.tw/products_detail.php?class=2&sn=12&ID=110&lang=

this is there single rail 550w and shows darn close true amps [550w = 45.8 amps]

http://www.super-flower.com.tw/products_detail.php?class=2&sn=1&ID=73

mulit rail psu are confusing and hard to understand at first but google it around and read up and get a understanding on how it works and what to look at/ for in one ..

for the most part multi rail psu's are old hat and most psu;s today go single rail and easy to understand what you get at the 12v and the math will show true

just to add I was suppressed how power hungry that card is NVidia show it could draw up to 244w

http://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-gpus/geforce-gtx-580/specifications

like black bird pointed out best invest in a solid 650w or higher single rail unit , myself I don't go below a solid quality 750w anymore for performance pc needs [high end power cards non sli] sli nothing less then a grand

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

Thank you for answering i will google it more
tell me will this psu do it

junkeymonkey · Oct 6, 2016

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/314712-28-please-read-determine-power-required

don't forget 18x4=72 a 650 is only capable of 54 amps

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/how-to-determine-real-12v-amperage-on-your-psu.91124/

I avoid multi rail psu's too much head scratching determining how true they really are and how the manufacture designed the combined part of things .. you just got to read up on it and draw your own conclusions.

single rail psu are pretty much cut and dry just to add and naybe my bad luck but my last and only thermaltake psu blew up like a flash bang in a year of use

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=94

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

today i tested the gtx 580 on my psu and nothing shows up on the monitor, i went to a friend that has a 780 and the same problem occures

madmatt30 · Oct 6, 2016

What does that mean you tested the card in his PC on his PSU??

Your super flower should power the 580 full stop , it just shouldn't be an issue.
Are you sure the card is not broken ??

What are the rest of your components ??

elbert · Oct 6, 2016

Dzenan Aljukic :

In theory yes it should if new as the 580 requires 600w and 42amps. Note you will have to span 2 rails for any chance of get enough amps for the 580. I tho would suggest a new PSU with enough power to push the card for sure.
The corsair 650W has a single 54amp rail that should push the card without issue.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139143

turkey3_scratch · Oct 6, 2016

junkeymonkey :

Multirail PSUs are much safer than single-rail PSUs and cost more money due to better protection ICs and more shunts. It's scary that there are 750W, 1000W, and even 1600W single-rail PSUs out there. Short circuit protection only detects low resistance shorts, but a high resistance short will cause a resistance and cause an overload. Current will jack up and in many single-rail units you'll be left with molten plastic and copper at the bottom of your computer case whereas a multirail unit will have prevented it since it groups wires together and assigns them to their own overcurrent protections.

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

madmatt30 :

I am not sure if the card is not broken thats the problem
my other components work just fine, i5 3470, G-Skill ripjaws 2x4GB, ASRock h61m-vg3

madmatt30 · Oct 6, 2016

You tried the card in your PC with a super flower PSU that absolutely SHOULD power it fine?

You then tried the card in a friends PC who already is running a gtx 780 fine & get a black screen with the 580??

You're then blindly making the assumption that its probably your PSU ??

All likelihood points to the card being dead , I don't see how you can even summise it being anything different!

Irregardless of your PSU, when you put a high powered card like the 580 in your system & boot it is physically unable to draw full power until

1. The relevant drivers are installed under windows.
2. The card is put under a 100% load stress test.

That's when a PSU would give out , not during the boot sequence when the GPU is running 2d clocks & can likely only draw sub 50w from the PSU.

junkeymonkey · Oct 6, 2016

funny how multi rail psu been the only ones the catastrophically fails that I use ?? that's how ''safe'' they are I guess ..

one thing I keep forgetting to add is don't forget the card get up to 75w [6.2 A] off the slot

one rail with a 8 pin for the card should be able to do 150w [12.5A]
rail with 6 pin 75w [6.2A ]

6.2 + 6.2 + 12.5 = 24.5A each rail by its self is capable to do 18A as long as there combined total don't exceed the watts to amps of the unit as said a 650w true psu = 54A so you got about 29A left over for anything else in the system [haswell cpu is 85w for example that's only 7A ] so that good left over and should not stress or under power your build [single card non sli]

turkey3_scratch · Oct 6, 2016

junkeymonkey :

Your failures have nothing to do with it being multi or single rail. I'm not making stuff up, what I said is completely true.

junkeymonkey :

You care to much for labels. The rated amperages are really nothing more than some ink splattered on a label. You can easily go past the rated amperages on a good PSU and can't even reach the rated amperages on a horrible PSU. So there is really no consistency which is why looking at labels to make determinations is usually not the best. A PSU with two rails rated for 20A, usually overcurrent protection kicks in when those rails are loaded to 28A. Which I believe they should be rated for 28A in the first place, it's all nuts.

Anyway the OP's problem isn't even the PSU it seems. It sounds like the OP maybe bought used parts like his old GPU, and it's probably dead or something. Or he's doing an amateur mistake like plugging the video cable into the motherboard instead of the GPU.

junkeymonkey · Oct 6, 2016

glad I don't take your advice , master [lol]

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

i really dont know what to think anymore, my psu is a 550w superflower, and my friends that is running a 780 is a 600w that i put in a picture of. On some sites it says that the 780 is using 550w and on some 600w, i dont know you judge it, i will go tomorrow to a hardware store and let the graphics card to the test for the last thing that im going before giving it back to the seller

turkey3_scratch · Oct 6, 2016

Somehow this thread turned into power supply talk. So what was your initial problem again? You turn on a computer, and is everything running? It remains on, fans all running, right? But your monitor gets no signal, right? First off what are your completely full specs?

madmatt30 · Oct 6, 2016

Dzenan Aljukic :

thats an lc power with a 480w 12v rail (at a guess that is true because there isnt any bonafide full load rating information on there)
An LC power which is in no uncertain terms a fairly dire quality psu.
You on the other hand have a superflower manufactured unit showing a total 12v load rating of 468w - a full 12w less than a psu label rated for 50w more.
Even if that superflower is a pre 2012 model ( & it likely is becaue I cant find a unit with those dual rail specs anywhere) there is no doubt in my mind thats its a better unit than your friends.

a 780 can generally pull close to 250w - some models slightly more - on average 20-25w more thn your old 580.

If the 780 works in his rig with his psu & the 580 doesnt then its plainly the gpu that is faulty as Ive personally summised a fair few posts ago.

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

sorry for not uploading this picture first
so this is my curently psu and it shows that the 12v rails produce 420w

Dzenan Aljukic · Oct 6, 2016

Tell me one thing, are there any chances that, this PSU is too low for the 580, and that the 780 uses a bit less power just enough to make the 580 not start ?

How many amps does my PSU have ?

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