Going nuts - which PSU?

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Slartibartfast

Supreme [H]ardness
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Sep 25, 2004
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Ok, so I've got a thread going over here and it's planted a lot of doubt in my mind as to which psu I should purchase. First, the rig I plan on building:

Mobo: Supermicro H8DCE
CPUs: 2x Opteron 246
RAM: 4x 1gig
Video: 7600gt, adding a second one when they're cheap (~$80; don'y play a lot of PC games)
HD: 1x wd raptor, 2x sata seagate in raid 1
Optical: 1x NEC 3550A dvd burner, 1x dvd-rom

as well as a floppy and a few case fans.

So I'm getting a lot of mixed messages as to what would be appropriate. Obviously the PC P+C 850 and 1kw are excellent supplies, but that's a lot of money, not to mention what it will do to my electric bill. I'm also worried about using something that big because I live in an older apartment that only has two outlets in the living room, both of which I am abusing badly already. The last thing I need is an electrical fire. So besides those monsters, I've been looking at
this Silverstone and this Enermax Liberty. What do you guys think? Obviously I want something stable and future-proof, so that I can add another HD or two if need be. If anybody has any specific recommendations please send them my way - this is driving me nuts.

I'm looking to spend ~$200.

Thanks in advance!
 
I'd go wit hthe 850. It doesn't draw that much power, no more than most other power supplies. Not to mention the added efficiency is definatly a plus.
 
Slartibartfast said:
Obviously the PC P+C 850 and 1kw are excellent supplies, but that's a lot of money, not to mention what it will do to my electric bill.
Click to expand...

1. you have no need for that much power

2. power is converted from AC to DC as is required, thus a given config drawing 200Watts will draw the same 200Watts from a 350Watt or a 2000Watt supply, the only difference at that point is the effciency of the supply and generally speaking you'd be very hard pressed to see it on your electric bill either way

3. RAM doesnt impact the +12V rail, and opticals are generally spinning, but fans are
thus they are more important to list than either of the other components ;)

4. get a UPS

5. either supply will suffice, but a PCP&C 510 has a far higher power quality and considering the difference in price between a base unit and what your considering $25 is cheap insurnace (and it would kick the hell out of either of those supplies)
Seasonic S12's are nice have an 80% or better efficency and in some respects exceed spec, Powerstreams still exceed spec, just make sure to get EPS12V compliant connectrors (24 main + 8 aux)

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T51ASL (w\ dual SLi 6 pins) $230
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T51XE without (base EPS12V compatible) $199
(you can always use 2 x 4pin molex to power a single 6 pin PCIe adapter)
you could even buy a http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=T51AG $199 (EPS12V compatible w\ AGP Pro connector)
510 AG which has a single 6 pin connector (I have this supply)
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/assets/T51AG/mb_T51AG.gif
and rewire it to
three +12V yellow wires and three grounds by employing a single extra 4 pin molex connection (one yellow one black wire)
http://www.spodesabode.com/content/article/pciepower
(note that guide is a little old and calls for two +12V (yellow) and three ground (black) whereas you generally see three and three these days)

for
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=272&products_id=1816
$13 or zero if you can file down a few thin peices of metal
you would also need two of these http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=174&products_id=1414
(two pins not two trees of 4 pins) and have it crimped
if you can find a helpful local electronics shop\supplier, something that could likely be accomplished for a few dollars in parts and labor

of course thats alot of running around to save $28 and gets you only one PCIe connector
 
Thanks for all the info. I had looked into the pcp+c 510, but I thought it only had a single 12v rail..? Is that ok because the amperage is so high (34a)? Also, it doesn't seem to have the 4 pin mobo connector that the supermicro h8dce needs. If I order direct from them, can they customize it for me? Also, I apologize for my newbness but what are the SLi 6 pins used for? Last time I bought a psu, SLi wasn't really available.

I'm getting mixed info on that seasonic S12 - some people say it's good, some say it will be insufficient :confused:
 
The OCZ Powerstream 520W has the 8-pin EPS12V connection you need, and is well liked in the community.
 
_Korruption_ said:
The OCZ Powerstream 520W has the 8-pin EPS12V connection you need, and is well liked in the community.
Click to expand...

The supermicro also needs a 4 pin connector, though. That's the hard part, finding a good psu with all three mobo connectors.
 
The Seasonic S12-600W should have the needed connectors since it's one of the rare PSU compatible with ATX/BTX/EPS12V ;)
 
Read, folks... he needs all three connections: 24-pin, ATX12V, and EPS12V. Most PSUs out there that boast EPS12V compatability just double up the ATX12V connection and call it done.
 
_Korruption_ said:
Read, folks... he needs all three connections: 24-pin, ATX12V, and EPS12V. Most PSUs out there that boast EPS12V compatability just double up the ATX12V connection and call it done.
Click to expand...

I know that and mine has the 4-pin ATX12V *and* the 8-pin EPS12V, hence why i gave a suggestion about the S12-600W.

You are right, I saw many powersupplies claiming full EPS12V and use a dual ATX12V merged together then be done.
 
Xilikon said:
I know that and mine has the 4-pin ATX12V *and* the 8-pin EPS12V, hence why i gave a suggestion about the S12-600W.

You are right, I saw many powersupplies claiming full EPS12V and use a dual ATX12V merged together then be done.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the seasonic s12 has all of the proper connections, so it's in the running. I've been told I can get pcp+c to add a 4-pin to their 510 watt model if I order direct from them, so if that's true, that's the unit I'm going to go with.
 
Slartibartfast said:
Yeah, the seasonic s12 has all of the proper connections, so it's in the running. I've been told I can get pcp+c to add a 4-pin to their 510 watt model if I order direct from them, so if that's true, that's the unit I'm going to go with.
Click to expand...

If you can afford a PCP&C, go ahead since it's better than the seasonic, especially for the SLI. You are right about the Seasonic not always well recommended by guys and that's because it's a dual-rail setup and I heard that sometime, you reach the limit on 1 rail and causing issues. With a heavy setup, it's best to be single-rail or 3-4 rails.
 
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