JonnyGuru talks about power supplies

[Bill_Bright]

It may sound like it is worth it, but not likely - even at 9 hours per day, 365 days a year - and how realistic is that really?

And don't forget, it is very rare for both the CPU and GPU (not to mention RAM, motherboard, fans and drives) to demand maximum power at the same time for any length of time. It would still take many years to make up the difference. It's 4% difference, BTW from Gold to Titanium at 50% load. At a steady 200 watt load, that would be just 8 watts, barely more than a night light.

Using this calculator, that's less than $60 over 5 years at $.44 per kWh and 9 hours per day.

Just using Corsair as an example, the AX850 Titanium cost $229 and the RMx850x Gold cost $129 as seen here. That would take 8-9 years to make up the difference - that is, just to break even.

But of course, there are always exceptions and you might very be that one. But exceptions don't make the rule.

 

[killster1]

For you people over there in the magic wonderland of free energy it is not cost effective, but over here we march straight towards 0,40€ per kWh (~0,44$). If this trend continues the additional cost might pay off in a couple of years
Running my PC currently costs me 325€ per year (9 hours average per day), due to regular rendering workloads. A 5% efficiency increase (Gold to Titanium) would save me ~15€ per year. I typically use my PSUs for 5 years+ that adds up to 75€+ difference. Okay Gold - Titanium is not a straight 5% benefit, but still I´m already dead even when it comes to cost effectiveness of Gold vs Titanium.

yes i pay a similar rate for electricity depending on the month of the year, also you pay more for cooling your house as well. we all pay different amounts i pay more than .44$ per kwh pretty sure it was .47 depending on my usage. My opinion is yes very excited

 

[R-T-B]

My PSU is overkill. Don't care, when you get it for free from your bro as payment for helping part out his computer, the cost to benefit ratio automatically approaches infinity.

As for PSU efficiency ratings: I buy up above what I need in all cases not for economy reasons, but to minimize heat.

For wattage, opposite. I buy very conservatively, usually.

 

[Dinnercore]

It may sound like it is worth it, but not likely - even at 9 hours per day, 365 days a year - and how realistic is that really?

And don't forget, it is very rare for both the CPU and GPU (not to mention RAM, motherboard, fans and drives) to demand maximum power at the same time for any length of time. It would still take many years to make up the difference. It's 4% difference, BTW from Gold to Titanium at 50% load. At a steady 200 watt load, that would be just 8 watts, barely more than a night light.

For me that is reality, I build my system in July 2018 and by now it has 4396 hours on the clock. My 1950x on CPU rendering and the Vega for GPU rendering eat a lot of power.

You are right it´s just about to break even. I was more projecting into the future. And if we talk about cost efficiency, my enthusiast oriented build is absolutly horrible. My case might be the exception where a proper sized PSU would profit from a rating above Gold but I went overkill and thus never reach peak efficiency.

 

[Mr.Scott]

While I am sure he is doing good for Corsair, and certainly he is doing good for his financial future, if he continued doing reviews, they would always have "the appearance" of being tainted and biased. So he had no choice but to stop doing them. And frankly, I would be surprised if that was not a condition of his employment.

You speculate on all of this. You really have no idea what his situation was/is.

 

[Bill_Bright]

For me that is reality, I build my system in July 2018 and by now it has 4396 hours on the clock. My 1950x on CPU rendering and the Vega for GPU rendering eat a lot of power.

If me, I would keep that system on the floor by my feet to keep my toes warm this winter!

but I went overkill and thus never reach peak efficiency.

Well, that's another argument for properly sizing a PSU rather than going with an overkill size. It is easy to look at the 80-PLUS website and see where that 50% load is the most efficient for every certification level. If you buy bigger than you need and go with an overkill size, you can lose up to 4% as you approach 20% loads.

So not only does the 1000W cost more to begin with, it costs more to run compared to properly sized PSU.

You speculate on all of this. You really have no idea what his situation was/is.

Wow. You made two posts in this thread and both are just to criticize another poster. Do you have anything to contribute for the OP? You criticized me in your first post but have yet to tell us what new things you learned from that video.

And no I did not speculate on all of that. He works for Corsair. Therefore there would be "the appearance" of any review being tainted and biased. That does not mean they would be tainted and biased. As for any condition of his employment, that clearly was me expressing an opinion, not a statement of fact.

 

[thesmokingman]

Since both the GPU and CPU get their power (or at least some of it for some GPUs) through the motherboard, it is not possible to power them with a 2nd PSU. But I have used 2 PSUs before, the second to power drives and fans. But this is not recommended because no two PSUs provide the exact same output voltages and avoiding any "differences in potentials" and differences in grounds, and grounding to Earth ground is essential and challenging.

A lotta WRONG in this post. I and a score of others have run multi psus in the past benching and doing who knows what with our quad gpus for years. And YES, you can run gpus off secondary psu, otherwise how the heck would one supply enough power for 4 gpus each drawing in excess of 300w!

Back in the day 7970s could draw more than 300w each, lol.

Off one psu.

 

[Bill_Bright]

And YES, you can run gpus off secondary psu, otherwise how the heck would one supply enough power for 4 gpus each drawing in excess of 300w!

Ummm, through the supplementary power cables. And note the question was about running the CPU through a 2nd PSU too.

 

[thesmokingman]

Ummm, through the supplementary power cables. And note the OP was asking about running the CPU through a 2nd PSU too.

When yer wrong... do you just keep digging?

 

[Bill_Bright]

Not when shown to be wrong. The question was indeed about the CPU too. Keeping the posters question in mind, are you seriously going to say you powered your CPU with a 2nd PSU?

But for the benefit of the doubt with graphics cards, maybe I don't understand what you mean. I am saying the PCIe slot still provides 75W from the primary PSU even if you connect the card's aux power connectors to a secondary PSU. Are you saying that is not true?

 

[Deleted member 185158]

QUESTION: Has anyone powered their GPU or CPU on a separate PSU from motherboard?

For those reading, This was the original question.
It was a yes or no question. = Yes.

I strike through the BS at the end. The PCI-E power connectors come from a PSU, not the board.

See simple. Now it doesn't matter a GPU can use 75w from a board. That would only matter if your gaming GPU doesn't have PCI-E power connectors.

Bill_Bright, you can leave a honk though. That 550w gold is way overkill for i5 6600 and 1050ti listed in your specs.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I strike through the BS at the end. The PCI-E power connectors come from a PSU, not the board.

This is true. But the PCIe slots still provide 75W and that is fed through the board to the slot from the primary PSU.

See simple. Now it doesn't matter a GPU can use 75w from a board.

Sure it matters. You can't simply turn that 75W feed off.

That would only matter if your gaming GPU doesn't have PCI-E power connectors.

Not true. Those power connectors provide additional power to the card. They do not replace the power from the slot.

 

[killster1]

This is true. But the PCIe slots still provide 75W and that is fed through the board to the slot from the primary PSU.
Sure it matters. You can't simply turn that 75W feed off.

Not true. Those power connectors provide additional power to the card. They do not replace the power from the slot.

the question doesn't say ONLY from the additional psu, of course the sockets draw some power, you just sound so silly to me, you cant stop even tho we all know you can power it from secondary psu you are trying to argue some technicality that it doesn't only power from second psu. So what if they said cpu also you are definitely wrong giving out misleading info and of course wont admit it. So its not turned into some weird thread of arguments.

 

[phill]

I'll honk a little... Some PSUs I have/had....

That's a few I have laying about at home the moment, I've got some hiding away I'm sure or in systems.. Most where bought in sales and I don't regret buying any of them really

That said, I did wish to try and grab a 2000w model just because really... Sadly, just too expensive and the 1600w I have will more than likely be put to good use of powering a 3950X or even an overclocked Threadripper or even a 10980XE.. I'd like too much hardware, that's my problem.....

 

[Bill_Bright]

of course the sockets draw some power

you are trying to argue some technicality

YES! I am trying to make sure the information provided is technically correct. You have not done that - until just now when you FINALLY admit, "of course the sockets draw some power". So thank you for FINALLY coming around to the facts.

 

[Jetster]

All I will say is, it's a good intro to power supply's video. And I don't have a degree in electrical engineering. I'm just a systems builder that reads reviews. I've always like Corsair and Jonnyguru

 

[phanbuey]

the question doesn't say ONLY from the additional psu, of course the sockets draw some power, you just sound so silly to me, you cant stop even tho we all know you can power it from secondary psu you are trying to argue some technicality that it doesn't only power from second psu. So what if they said cpu also you are definitely wrong giving out misleading info and of course wont admit it. So its not turned into some weird thread of arguments.

I'm pretty sure here's how this works: Whenever an question is so broad and general that the correct answer is 75% yes and 25% no; such as this, the correct answer is:
"You CAN use separate PSUs for the Video Card and the 8 pin for the CPU where those PSUs will supply the majority of the power to those components, but the motherboard is also a conduit that supplies a small % of power to these components so the original PSU is always involved."

Bill, who actually knows what he's talking about (and I mean that as a compliment), will generally say NO and then spend the rest of the time defending that 25% No answer with a technicality while multiple forum members argue with him. Then the new user that asked the original question wanders back into the open world thinking you cannot possibly run components on different PSUs as a general rule.

 

[delshay]

This is true. But the PCIe slots still provide 75W and that is fed through the board to the slot from the primary PSU.
Sure it matters. You can't simply turn that 75W feed off.

Not true. Those power connectors provide additional power to the card. They do not replace the power from the slot.

Like I said, If you want to disconnect 12v PCI-e you can do it in two ways on the card itself.

1. Most cards will have a fuse, just remove this.

2. If you can't find the fuse, look for the inductor.

You don't need PDF Doc on the card to find any of the above, just a meter & disconnect one of the leg/contact & feed in your own 12v supply.

 

[Bill_Bright]

1. Most cards will have a fuse, just remove this.

Not even. A few do, but most? Not even close. And a fuse is going to open the circuit and stop the current flow from the slot only? Yeah right.

2. If you can't find the fuse, look for the inductor.

LOL That's funny.

I really think it is time to get back to the topic, and that is the video.

 

[thesmokingman]

Bill, who actually knows what he's talking about (and I mean that as a compliment), will generally say NO and then spend the rest of the time defending that 25% No answer with a technicality while multiple forum members argue with him. Then the new user that asked the original question wanders back into the open world thinking you cannot possibly run components on different PSUs as a general rule.

But he's dead wrong on all counts. Anybody could have googled for this info.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

This is true. But the PCIe slots still provide 75W and that is fed through the board to the slot from the primary PSU.
Sure it matters. You can't simply turn that 75W feed off.

Not true. Those power connectors provide additional power to the card. They do not replace the power from the slot.

No that slot is not primary power on VGA cards that utilize PCI-E power connectors. The slot cannot carry the current for large gaming GPUs.

The slot will likely power the VRAM and switching signal to turn the card on and off.

I agree both need to be there to run the GPU.
Do not agree that it was actually part of the question which also included CPU power off a second PSU, but everyone failed to touch base on that which the answer is still yes. Obviously the socket supplies some power to the CPU, but the 4/8 pin cpu power connector is also the primary source unless the connector isn't needed or exist on that board.

Either way, don't forget to Honk Bill. You over-kill PSU user you

 

[Mr.Scott]

This is true. But the PCIe slots still provide 75W and that is fed through the board to the slot from the primary PSU.
Sure it matters. You can't simply turn that 75W feed off.

Not completely true. There are motherboards with the capability to completely turn off PCIe slots.

 

[delshay]

But he's dead wrong on all counts. Anybody could have googled for this info.

I have seen these device on Ebay, now why did I not buy one. I think I will now get one now.

 

[R-T-B]

Not completely true. There are motherboards with the capability to completely turn off PCIe slots.

Also, since we love semantics so much, the wattage was way less with PCI-E 1.0.

Lets just talk about psus and drop this. It's getting old to me, we're really splitting hairs and if you insist on doing that, I can find exceptions for every vague claim and drive you all mad. Don't test me, masterjedi!

 

[Space Lynx]

I love my new PSU, EVGA 700 GD, new model that is 80 gold. was only $45 after rebate. it's handling my 1080 ti and ryzen 3600 easily enough with oc's on both. 0 issues so far and the fan is quiet even though it runs 24.7 I prefer a fan that runs 24.7 personally, just to be on safe side.