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Ampere vs. Wattage

J

JCNiest5

Supreme [H]ardness
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Apr 25, 2005
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Which one is more important? For example: One PSU has 550W, but only supplies a total of 28A (12V1@15A and 12V2@13A) and the other PSU only has 500W but supplies 34A (12V1 and 12V2@17A each).

For a mid range PC, which PSU rating is better suited for it?
 
28A x 12V = 336w (claimed to be 550 max)
34A x 12V = 408w (claimed to be 500 max)

you can see someone is trying to lie. granted, you need some headroom for the 5v rail, but it looks like the 500w one is a little more honest, just going by the numbers.

that said, the most important factor in buying a psu is coming to hardforums and asking people that know, what good ones are out there to buy. never trust spec numbers on most psu's, theyre misleading at best
 
Wow...I didn't know that Amp X 12V = the total usable wattage (minus the 5V and 3.3V's side of it)...I guess I'm still a noob!
 
JCNiest5 said:
Wow...I didn't know that Amp X 12V = the total usable wattage (minus the 5V and 3.3V's side of it)...I guess I'm still a noob!
Click to expand...

Then I highly recommend reading this PSU FAQ:
http://www.jonnyguru.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1036

Oh and spacetrader is right: Just because the PSU says it has 34A on the +12V rail doesn't mean that it can actually provide 34A on the +12V rail. You have to factor in quality, whether or not it's capable of providing its rated power, who the actual manufacturer is, etc.
 
JCNiest5 said:
Which one is more important? For example: One PSU has 550W, but only supplies a total of 28A (12V1@15A and 12V2@13A) and the other PSU only has 500W but supplies 34A (12V1 and 12V2@17A each).

For a mid range PC, which PSU rating is better suited for it?
Click to expand...

12v rails are not necessarily additive.

spacetrader said:
28A x 12V = 336w (claimed to be 550 max)
34A x 12V = 408w (claimed to be 500 max)

you can see someone is trying to lie. granted, you need some headroom for the 5v rail, but it looks like the 500w one is a little more honest, just going by the numbers.

that said, the most important factor in buying a psu is coming to hardforums and asking people that know, what good ones are out there to buy. never trust spec numbers on most psu's, theyre misleading at best
Click to expand...

Without knowing the power supplies in question there is no way to see someone is trying to lie about anything in those numbers.
 
Well, the problem is I already bought the 550W PSU, so that means I have to return it and exchange for something a little better.
 
The second one is the better out of the two. However, both of them are pretty bad....

There is just too much wrong with the first one like..
NO PCI-E power connector.
Just one SATA power connector.
 
Last edited:
evilmedic said:
The first one is the better out of the two. However, both of them are pretty bad....

There is just too much wrong with the Second one like..
NO PCI-E power connector.
Just one SATA power connector.
Click to expand...

The main thing wrong with the first one is that it's 29.99 at a retail store. There is no way it can be of any quality at that price point.

OP, buy a Corsair CX400 or an Antec Earthwatts.
 
I think you should look at some of the lower end antec if you want to stay cheap, but still want quality.
 
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