My PSU and x1950xt

[evgriley]

here is my current psu can anyone tell me if i can run the 1950xt adequately
at least until i get the cash to upgrade my psu?


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817193017

 

[nukemaster]

I would not recommend it 16.6 amps on the 12 volt rail and a wattage of 400 on its own sticker.

3.3 + 5 = 170 watts
12 = 200 watts
-12 = 18 watts
+5(Standby) = 12.5
TOTAL =400.5 watts

Peak 530 - 560 - Where the hell do they get this?

Will it work? maybe. I ran an X1900XT on a 380watt Antec, but it had more 12 volt power and was a solid unit. How can you trust something that is called 500 and has 400.

What else is in the system?

12 volt rating

23AMPs - Antec Basiq 350
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371013

22AMPS - FSP 300Watt
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104951

Antec - Basiq 500 - on sale - 30amps+ (no exact number given)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371019

 

[4745454b]

LOL, thats funny. If you add up their own figures, thats a ~400W PSU, not a 500+ 200W / 12W = 16.67A for the 12V rail. The x1900/1950 series officially calls for 30A on the 12V rail. You have just over half that.

If you already have the x1950, you can try it, but I don't suggest you do. You really need a better PSU. I'd get one that has at least 25A, 30A is better.

 

[evgriley]

Here are my specs roughly, i'm at work so bare with me:

2.8ghz P4 Prescott
2gig pc3200
120gig IDE
160gig SATA
320gig SATA
current vga:
GeForce 6600

the 1950xt is in the mail

 

[evgriley]

And as far as the calculations go are you sure its only 400 with dual rails?

 

[evgriley]

also according to the manufacter's site the only requirements they list are 450watt nothing about ampage, meaning i could get a refund if need be right, but the card is the best agp card i here i can get from ATI so i wanna keep my mobo and proc for the time being.

 

[nukemaster]

Ohh yeah, i am sure

You can not just add all the rails. Since the dual rails actually get there power from one single rail. The dual rails are for ATX compliance.

If you allow lets say 25 amps through a cable, it runs the risk of getting too hot(the flow of electrons on a smaller cable generate more heat) and actually melting the wires protective skin(the black yellow orange green and red stuff that covers each wire). This would be bad. To prevent this they(Who ever makes the ATX rules) stated that NO cable should carry more then 20amps. Most PSU makers use 18amps with a 2 amp margin or error.

Even though my GameXtreme 700 has 4 x 18 amp rails they can only draw a total of 50amps accross all of them, not 72

Think of it
72 x 12 = 864 watts. too much for a 700 watt psu.

In the case of that PSU there is honestly no reason for rails as there is less then 18 amps of 12 volt power.

You can clearly see that the psu states it 12 volt output at 200 watts.
200/12=16.666666666666666666666666666667amps(Wattage divided by voltage = amperage). Not even enough to require rails.

Do you want to risk it when for 15$ more you can get something with a bit more power.

I want to make this clear, I DID run a X1900XT and E6600 system with a psu that has 18 amps, but it was more a proof of concept then anything(it ran fine during its time that way). That system now runs on a newer psu.

For more info on dual rails read the yellow box here(bottom of the pace)

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article260-page1.html

 

[evgriley]

so i guess all in all what am i risking by seating the card and pushing the button?

 

[nukemaster]

The risk is that the power supplies over current/voltage protection does not work and you kill the whole system.

If the system is working, the psu should shut it self off without damage. Even when it dies it "Should" just shut off.

I DID overload the 380 watt psu(8800GTX was pushing it) and it just turned it self off.

what is the current psu?

 

[evgriley]

Well i mean u already looked at my current PSU or are u asking a different question, i was thinking untill getting a new power supply which wouldnt be for another 3 days for newegg, i would just room of C:/ and unplug the other sata's, i just wanna use the PC my 6600 is about shot my fps in cs 1.6 now sits at 60fps , i just wanna run the card for a bit

 

[nukemaster]

Sorry, misread. I thought you where looking to get that psu as well.

the choice of what to do is yours. I would be a bit worried because of how they list 500 when it has as much 12 volt power as my old 250 watt unit.

 

[evgriley]

Well i don't think it would be able to run what i have in there if it wasn't putting out a decent ammount of Amps, 3 HD's 6600 plus my cpu + Baracuda AC-1 sound card and a wireless pci adapter -

if i unplug 2 hd's will it power the card ok for a week?

 

[evgriley]

if you would like i can link you every item in my computer and you can tell me whether or not this will work till i get paid again so i can buy a new psu

 

[nukemaster]

The biggest problem is I have no clue if that psu will take an overload. For instance, some old antec 350 watt psus would actually put out 400 watts because they are overbuilt.

A hard drive takes about 30-35(max and its part 12 and part 5 volt load) watts to start/spin up, but only needs about 5-10 when reading and writing. So even 2 hard drives will only give you limited extra power.

Its the lack of info on that psu and the fact that there are many user reviews saying it has failed that makes me think you should just stick to your current setup until you can get a new psu. Since your getting new, get something for the future too.

 

[evgriley]

It's killed the power before when i ran a pci vid card and 2 other hard drives immediatly after start up. I've had the supply for 2 years now.