6 pin

[mayakindaguy]

I'll be upgrading to Conroe and PCI-E. I was reading in the Video Card sticky that the PCI-E cards use a 6 pin connector.

Does that mean I need a completely new psu to power my new build?

I'm on a 420W ATX 1.3 (Raidmax psu). Do I need to be on ATX 2.01? And why would you need multiple 12V Power Rails?

Thanks

 

[jonnyGURU]

PCI-e video cards that require a 6-pin connector often come with an adapter that converts two four-pin Molexes to a 6-pin PCI-e connector.

You don't need something dual rail. In fact many would suggest against it. But if that Raidmax is one of the ones that come in a case and not one of the Topower built aftermarket units, I'd say you may be taxing it a bit much with any PCI-e card powerful enough to require it's own power connector.

 

[mayakindaguy]

thanks for the response jonny. I'm kinda kickin' myself in the butt for not jumping on the 600 watt OCZ powerstream deal at Monarch for $60AR.

I was hoping to weasel my way through another rig with this generic psu that came with my case.

I haven't read through all the stickies, but is there a way to figure whether a particular psu is adequate enough to supply power to X parts?

I had always assumed that 420watts would be fine, and my voltage doesn't really droop that much.

 

[Ubyr]

...
I haven't read through all the stickies, but is there a way to figure whether a particular psu is adequate enough to supply power to X parts?

I had always assumed that 420watts would be fine, and my voltage doesn't really droop that much.

Looking into some of the same stuff, came across this:
http://journeysystems.com/power_supply_calculator.php
hth

 

[Bbq]

Looking into some of the same stuff, came across this:
http://journeysystems.com/power_supply_calculator.php
hth

Not really suitable, since it only does watts. You want Takeman or the Zippy, posted in the sticky.

@ OP: It's not so much the voltage, as the regulation, amperage, and quality. A RaidMax 420w only puts out 13 amps on the +12v rail. That, combined with below average quality and poor regulation, makes many other supplies a better choice.

Try the Masscool Nextherm 460. It appears as "only" 460 w, but it'll power your rig with plenty left over.

 

[Ubyr]

Not really suitable, since it only does watts. You want Takeman or the Zippy, posted in the sticky.

@ OP: It's not so much the voltage, as the regulation, amperage, and quality. A RaidMax 420w only puts out 13 amps on the +12v rail. That, combined with below average quality and poor regulation, makes many other supplies a better choice.

Try the Masscool Nextherm 460. It appears as "only" 460 w, but it'll power your rig with plenty left over.

thx, was just about to correct myself & point to the sticky, instead. Better to leave it now as an object lesson.