Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > is 400W/Dual rail at 18A enough for 8800gts?

is 400W/Dual rail at 18A enough for 8800gts?

Forum CPU & Components : Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods - is 400W/Dual rail at 18A enough for 8800gts?

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vasanx   10-30-2007 at 02:18:40 PM

hey all,

Going to build me a new system as cheap as possible. I want to run a 8800gts 640MB which has this req,
"Minimum 400W or greater system power supply (with 12V current rating of 26A"

I've zeroed in on this Silverstone psu, looks promising at 400W with 18A on +12V1 & +12V.

http://www.silverstonetek.com/prod [...] 0&area=usa

This is the build:

Duo Core E2180 Dual 2.00 1MB 800 (Going to OC it to 3.6GHz)
Freezer 7 (Socket LGA775)
Asus P5B 965P 16x FSB1333-ATX+GL+S
Corsair PC5400 DDR2 667 1GB (rm90) x2
WD3200KS 320GB SATA 16MB
Winfast PX8800GTS 640 DDR3 320 500 1600
Lite On DVDRW (18X) 18x/8xDL/12xD-Ram (18AP)
Creative Inspire 2400 21W

So, do u all think this is advisable? i still can't figure out the 12V rail thingy.

please enlighten me.



------------------------------ AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+ Venice (2.2GHz), Asus A8N5X nforce4
Galaxy 7900GS Premium (OC to 540/1500)(256MB, 256bit), Samsung 930BF LCD 19inch
Kingston 2x1GB DDR 400, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy, WD SATAII 250GB, MAXTOR 120GB
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Bronze CPUs badge Delluser1   10-30-2007 at 02:54:06 PM
- 0 +

" i still can't figure out the 12V rail thingy "

It's there in the specs, 29 amps combined, it's enough.
Read this
http://www.overclockers.com/articles1452/

This Corsair for $8 more after rebate , would give you more breathing room with up to 33 amps on the +12v rail.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Prod [...] e=10006428

------------------------------ q9650 @ 4.050 | Asus Rampage Formula | 2x2 & 2x1 Corsair Dominators | WD Black 640 x2
EVGA GTX260 Core216 @ 686/1479/1103 | Antec TPN 750

 

Reply to Delluser1

CannedTurkey   10-30-2007 at 02:59:54 PM
- 0 +

The combined 12volt rails on that PSU is good for 29A. It'll work, but you're not leaving much head room.

You can pull as much as 18 amps from either rail, but not more than 29 amps from both at the same time.

If it were me, I'd spend a few extra bucks for a 500.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817256027

Reply to CannedTurkey
gwolfman   10-30-2007 at 03:20:36 PM
- 0 +

As of yesterday, you should only consider the new 8800GT that was just released. It uses less power than the GTS, GTX, and all higher-end ATi cards. It should do alright.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to gwolfman
Bronze CPUs badge jsc   10-30-2007 at 03:37:25 PM
- 0 +

I also think that the 400 w Silverstone PSU is marginal. Specs say that the operating temperature is 0 to 50 deg. C. From the mtbf figures, rated output is at 25 deg. C. (room temperature). Based on data that I have seen from various PSU manufacturers (at least those who do publish data), you need to derate the output by about 1% per deg. C. over the rated operating temperature. That basically means that at 40 deg. C (a more likely operating temp.), your 400 watt PSU turns into a 340 - 350 watt PSU.

A lot of the "better" PSU's specify full rated output at 50 deg. C.

Reply to jsc
Bronze CPUs badge Delluser1   10-30-2007 at 04:12:21 PM
- 0 +

gwolfman wrote :

As of yesterday, you should only consider the new 8800GT that was just released. It uses less power than the GTS, GTX, and all higher-end ATi cards. It should do alright.



Good point.

------------------------------ q9650 @ 4.050 | Asus Rampage Formula | 2x2 & 2x1 Corsair Dominators | WD Black 640 x2
EVGA GTX260 Core216 @ 686/1479/1103 | Antec TPN 750

 

Reply to Delluser1

lunyone   10-30-2007 at 04:36:51 PM
- 0 +

Here's your cheapest deal and still get a quality PSU. You can get the 380w version, but is only about $3 cheaper. This one has a little more upgrade path than the 380w EW one, so I'd recommend this one on a tight budget. $60 shipped - $30 MIR = $30!!!
Antec earthwatts EA430 ATX12V v2.0 430W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371006


Message edited by lunyone on 10-30-2007 at 04:37:23 PM
Reply to lunyone
bimbim18   10-30-2007 at 05:06:29 PM
- 0 +

Funny, I asked the same question a few days ago, but about a 500W PSU being able to support 2x 8800 640 mb GTS'

Heres the link to the forum discussion:
http://www.sharkyforums.com/showth [...] ost2513366

and heres the link to the PSU wattage calculator I found:
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Reply to bimbim18
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