2 +12v rails powering 1 video card

[cruzer]

im going to get
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130400
i have
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153042

My question is, it has dual +12v rails, im not sure what they are, how they work, all i know is my video card needs 36 amps, and my psu provides 38amps.

Is there something i do physically to balance, split, the load of the 12v rails so that i give my video card the require and my system everything else?
does it do that on its own?

if my video card requires 36amps and my psu provides 38 amps, what does my cpu, fans, hardrive, dvd drive use? will i have enough?

i dont want to upgrade my psu but i dont want any fried parts, or parts not working fully (graphics card).

sorry im such a noob, but i need to know before i risk anything

 

[Kari]

gtx 260 doesn't 'need' 36amps, that would be the recommended amperage for the whole system... 12V x 36A = 432W
gtx260 uses like 140W http://archive.atomicmpc.com.au/forums.asp?s=2&c=7&t=9354&p=0
gtx260 216 with oc maybe 150W, thats 12.5Amps@12V

You don't really need to do anything special about it, just plug one of those PCIe power connectors in it and you're good to go...

 

[Kari]

I checked the psus manual and it didn't say how those PCIe power cables are connected to the rails, (nor the website). It could be that the rails are connected together just before the connection point for all the cables, so the load is automatically distributed evenly between the rails.

 

[chookman]

Besides which even if they are split, it will designed as such so that 12v1 will goto mainboard and 12v2 will take care of other devices. Since PCI-e slot will supply ~75w thats only another ~75w required through the PCI-e power connector. Youll be fine

 

[cruzer]

thx for the replies, the gtx 260 has two pcie power connectors, the 6 pins, do i plug the 2 my psu has, or just 1?

 

[Kari]

both