Question about power supplies

[theseeg]

Right now I am looking at getting an Antec Eleven Hundred case with a Sabertooth X79, Intel i7-3820, Diamond Radeon HD 7970, and 4x120mm fans

I am think of getting Antec High Current Pro HCP-1200 1200W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Yes, High Current Hybrid Cable Management ... but I might want to go a little cheaper.

Any Thoughts?

[BarbaricSoul]

you don't need any where near that much wattage for an I7-3820/single7970 set up. I good 650 watt PSU would be more than enough. Look in the 750-850 range if you think you'll go crossfireX in the future(read my system specs and see what I've got running).

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

you don't need any where near that much wattage for an I7-3820/single7970 set up. I good 650 watt PSU would be more than enough. Look in the 750-850 range if you think you'll go crossfireX in the future(read my system specs and see what I've got running).

Yeah thats what I thought... My thought process was go big or go home lol

Now if I want to crossfire in the future and I have 8x4gb DDR3 1600

Do you still think 750-850?

[BarbaricSoul]

32gb of RAM Why so much if I may ask.


I don't think that much RAM will have a major affect on the amount of power your system will use. But if it makes you feel any better, look around 850-900 watts then.

[theseeg]

Thanks, I think I will look at 850-900 PSUs

I still want to stick with ANTEC, are they a should producer of PSUs or would you suggest another manufacturer?

Also how many PCI and SATA connecters would you suggest to have?

P.S. Sorry for the questions im a newb when it comes to building computers. Trying to learn the ropes

[BarbaricSoul]

Antec makes some good PSU's, but there are better. All the Antec PSUs in the 850-900 watt range listed on newegg.com have four 12volt rails. Single 12volt rails are better. If you want 900 watts, I suggest this PSU instead- PC Power and Cooling Silencer 910W High Performanc...

Or for $20 less and 850 watts, this- Seasonic SS-850HT 850W ATX12V v2.31,EPS12V v2.92 8...

Both are very high quality PSUs with single 12volt rails.

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

Antec makes some good PSU's, but there are better. All the Antec PSUs in the 850-900 watt range listed on newegg.com have four 12volt rails. Single 12volt rails are better. If you want 900 watts, I suggest this PSU instead- PC Power and Cooling Silencer 910W High Performanc...

Or for $20 less and 850 watts, this- Seasonic SS-850HT 850W ATX12V v2.31,EPS12V v2.92 8...

Both are very high quality PSUs with single 12volt rails.

I dont mean to sound ignorant but what is the purpose of having 4 12volt rails instead of 1?

[BarbaricSoul]

I'm not exactly sure why some PSU have 4 rails. What I do know though is that with a single 12volt rail, it's easier to balance out you power usage as all power connections are connected to the same rail, meaning all connections have the full amperage/wattage the PSU has to offer available. But when using a four 12volt rail PSU, you need to make sure you have the right connectors connected to the right parts to evenly distribute the power usage among the four rails as not to over load a rail.

Atleast, that's how I understood it when it was explained to me many years ago.

[theseeg]

So if i am understanding this right each rail is like a single line of power and the more you have in parallel you need to make sure u pull the same amps from each one?

[BarbaricSoul]

something like that, but it's more like making sure you don't pull too much from a single rail. The loads don't have to be the same, just don't over-load one.

[theseeg]

hmmm so with all I am doing single rail is the way to go? But those only come with like 4 pci connectors, is that alright?

[lilhasselhoffer]

Originally Posted by theseeg

I dont mean to sound ignorant but what is the purpose of having 4 12volt rails instead of 1?

The question is that of components, though that explanation may be confusing.

A single 12 volt rail, providing 300 watts of power (just an example), requires high current components. These high current components require either high end parts, or more substantial components. In either case, the parts are more expensive.

In contrast, 4 75 watt rails have the same net power available. The components require significantly less substantial parts, and thus are cheaper to purchase. As manufacturing requires minimizing costs, the lower end products use the 4 rail system.

As you're getting a substantial PSU, the single rail is what you're likely to see. It's a good thing, believe it or not.

[theseeg]

Oh wow ha who would of guess less is best... So ill look for a 850-900 single rail psu.

Any suggestions lilhasselhoffer?

[BarbaricSoul]

Originally Posted by theseeg

hmmm so with all I am doing single rail is the way to go? But those only come with like 4 pci connectors, is that alright?

That's all you need to crossfire 7970 cards

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

That's all you need to crossfire 7970 cards

Word, thanks

[BarbaricSoul]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Oh wow ha who would of guess less is best... So ill look for a 850-900 single rail psu.

I already suggested to you two of the best PSUs your going to find for the money

Seasonic SS-850HT 850W ATX12V v2.31,EPS12V v2.92 8...

PC Power and Cooling Silencer 910W High Performanc...

[theseeg]

I found this CORSAIR that looks pretty good

ha forget this post I didnt realize it was 750W i am looking for a little higher

[BarbaricSoul]

the seasonic I suggested is less expensive, 100 more watts, and is actually a better PSU(seasonic makes corsair power supplies)

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by BarbaricSoul

the seasonic I suggested is less expensive, 100 more watts, and is actually a better PSU(seasonic makes corsair power supplies)

How about that seasonic compared to this CORSAIR

[BarbaricSoul]

drop that seasonic. Newegg has it listed wrong. I looked it up on seasonic's website and it has two 12volt rails. I'd definently take that 910 watt PC Power and Cooling for $150 over the 850 watt Corsair for $175. I have an approximatly 5 year old(not exactly sure of it's age as I bought it used 3 years ago) PC Power and Cooling Turbo Cool 860 that is still running strong.

[theseeg]

Thank yall on my help for finding a PSU. Any further suggestions would be great. As of right now I am going with PC Power and Cooling Silencer 910W High Performance 80PLUS Silver SLI CrossFire ready Power Supply

[lilhasselhoffer]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Oh wow ha who would of guess less is best... So ill look for a 850-900 single rail psu.

Any suggestions lilhasselhoffer?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341044

A little on the expensive side, but you've got:
80+ Gold certification
Fully modular design
Active PFC
140 mm fan


For a much smaller price, but only 100 watts less: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...17171053-L012A ( with promo code even less, though it ends 6/13/12).

- Less wattage
- Lower peak efficiency (~5% to 7%)
- Not modular
+ Way lower price



You'll have to decide what you want, but newegg looks like slim pickings right now. I managed to snag a 1050 watt Thermaltake PSU for $185 a little over three weeks ago...

[theseeg]

Originally Posted by lilhasselhoffer

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341044

A little on the expensive side, but you've got:
80+ Gold certification
Fully modular design
Active PFC
140 mm fan


For a much smaller price, but only 100 watts less: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...17171053-L012A ( with promo code even less, though it ends 6/13/12).

- Less wattage
- Lower peak efficiency (~5% to 7%)
- Not modular
+ Way lower price



You'll have to decide what you want, but newegg looks like slim pickings right now. I managed to snag a 1050 watt Thermaltake PSU for $185 a little over three weeks ago...

Wow those OCZ PSUs are sick, I think you have changed my mind to OCZ PSU

[brandonwh64]

Originally Posted by theseeg

Wow those OCZ PSUs are sick, I think you have changed my mind to OCZ PSU

I don't know how OCZ's quality has changed but they have been know to be hit or miss and when they go it could take the rest of your PC with it.

[theseeg]

What is the difference between 80+ bronze,silver, and gold?

What does the 80+ mean?