Amps and rails

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kbozz71

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Feb 13, 2008
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Hi guys,
I just got a new Asus 9600GSO vid card and it recommends that the psu support at least 26 amps on the 12v rail. Is this per 12v rail? or combined? My Antec tru-power 2 380watt says it has 18amps on rail 1 and 17amps on rail 2. The reason I'm asking is after installing the new vid card, I can't overclock my system without it locking up. I have an e8400 that was purring at 3.6(400x9), after the new card, I can't even oc it to 3.2. Asus recommends a 400 watt psu, but I know the one I have is better than most cheap 450's. I put my 2600xt back in, and it oc'd without any problems. So I guess if I want to oc, I need a new psu. So, what am I looking for? Dual 12v combined amperage, or single rail high amperage? Thanks for any help.
 
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einstein4pres

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Oct 11, 2007
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They are suggesting that you have a PSU that has 26 total amps. What is the total wattage for the 12V line?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=17-103-942-04.jpg&Image=17-103-942-10.jpg%2c17-103-942-02.jpg%2c17-103-942-03.jpg%2c17-103-942-05.jpg%2c17-103-942-04.jpg%2c17-103-942-06.jpg%2c17-103-942-07.jpg%2c17-103-942-08.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16817103942&Depa=0&Description=Antec+True+Power+Trio+TP3-430+430W+Power+Supply+with+Three+12V+Rails
Looks like 32A on the 12V line, which should be fine. Err, apparently, I confused 430 with 380. Nevermind.

If you're looking for a new PSU, then I suggest a single rail PSU. Of course, a lot of "dual/triple" rail PSUs don't actually have multiple rails, but use this point for advertising.

Corsair, PC P&C, Antec, Thermaltake offer good PSUs.

BTW, I'm running a 8800GT with E2180@2.7 on an Antec Earthwatts 380.
 
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kbozz71

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Feb 13, 2008
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einstein4pres,
I can run everything fine, I just can't overclock..at all. (processor)Possibly a motherboard issue? What confuses me is that with my 2600xt, I could overclock the crap out of it. What's even more strange, is that I can oc the video card with riva tuner and it still runs fine. But the minute I bump the cpu, it locks up when stressed.
 
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PGHammer

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Feb 15, 2007
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Agreed on the PCP&C, especially since you no longer have to pay through the nose.

I was in the local MC (Fairfax, VA, to be precise) picking up RAM for an upgrade (not my PC) and scouting out possible upgrades (for my PC), when I saw some new-design PCP&C Silencer 500 ATX/EPS PSUs (both on the shelf and on a stack opposite the shelf). The welcome surprise: the price was lower ($64.99), which actually undercut both Antec's Basiq 500W and EA500 (EarthWatts 500), both of which are dual-rail designs. (The Basiq is $89.99, and the EarthWatts is $10 more. None of the three is on sale.)

I don't know about you, but multi-rail power supplies make me nervous.

Normally I have nothing against Antec (I have a SmartPower 400, and have recommended the TruePower 400 and TruePower 450, both of which are single-rail; however, none of which are currently available); however, I am used to PCP&C being at a pricing disadvantage compared to Antec, and I had long thought that it was design choices that figured into this.

Oddly enough, it took a review (elsewhere), along with the aforementioned trip to MC, to disabuse me of that sort of thinking.

The PCP&C, and both Antec models, are all OEMed from the same company (Seasonic) and use strikingly-similar parts selections. The big differences lie in that the Antec's are all dual-12V-rail designs (18A each for the Basiq, and 17A each for the EarthWatts) while the Silencer has a single 12V rail (that supports up to a 35A draw). Naturally, given that none are on sale, the Antec would be cheaper, right?

No. Incorrect. That train of thought has been Officially Derailed.

Who would have expected that?
 
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