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Fortron Blue Storm SLI

E

Enigma422

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 10, 2005
Messages
162
I am considering going SLI for my next upgrade, but having to buy a new PSU might just break the bank. Right now I am running a Fortron Blue Storm 500W PSU and was wondering if I would have any problems running the following setup.

Overclocked AMD Athlon 64 3200+
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum SLI
1GB (512MB x 2) Geil PC4000 memory
2x OCed 6800GTs (Might flash to 1.4V Ultra BIOS)
2x 74GB Raptors in RAID 0
1x DVDRW
1x CDRW
4x 12" CC UV lights
2x 80mm fans
5x 120mm fans
iPod on charging through firewire (could charge through power plug if too much for PSU)

I initially was going to upgrade to a P4 640 CPU so I wasn't to concerned about my PSU handling that, but SLI is just so tempting so I may splurge and get this setup instead. I eventually plan on upgrading to a PC&C 510 SLI, but that will be a while down the road.

So do you guys think that a 500W Blue Storm can handle this setup? If not what do you guys think of this Enermax PSU? Thanks.

I am also doing building a file server from some left over parts after this upgrade, but if you guys really think it is worth getting a new PSU I guess I could hold off on the extra hard drives I need to make my file server complete. However I would like to get this done with my current upgrade since this is my last quarter in college and I will soon be saying good bye to my beautiful OC3 connections. :(
 
Yep, had this same dilemna....on the MSI board you have picked out it states in the manual that it REQUIRES the -5V pin on the ATX connector to make the onboard sound of the motherboard to work. The Fortron Blue Storm PSU does not have the -5V rail.

So I chose a different PSU. Or you can choose a different mobo that doesn't have that requirement on it.

For verification of this you can download the PDF manual from MSI's website.

Good Luck.

oh, btw I recommend this PSU which does have the -5V rail

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-918&depa=1

or

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-924&depa=1
 
Bad Goat said:
Yep, had this same dilemna....on the MSI board you have picked out it states in the manual that it REQUIRES the -5V pin on the ATX connector to make the onboard sound of the motherboard to work. The Fortron Blue Storm PSU does not have the -5V rail.

So I chose a different PSU. Or you can choose a different mobo that doesn't have that requirement on it.

For verification of this you can download the PDF manual from MSI's website.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...

I got the sound to work fine. I am using 5.1 though.

i play CS:S, Far Cry, watch TV and stuff on it fine...
 
I've read a little bit on the -5V problem, but if there is a problem with running the onboard sound, I can always just use my PCI SB Live! card instead. My main concern is, can this put out enough power. I love my Blue Storm, but if I have to upgrade my PSU for SLI, I might just have to. I just don't have enough money for a good PC&C PSU right now.
 
Bad Goat said:
or

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-924&depa=1
Click to expand...

there is no -5V rail on that Neopower

and while the BlueStorm is a strong ATX12V v2.0 supply
its just basic spec complinace and wouldnt be my first choice for overclocking
its an entry level supply, a reliable one, but no more than that and could well impact your overclock aspirations

http://takaman.jp/D/?M=PbQCQbdHhSCgHRiH3kG5I2rO5HDZAZavXHMZ&english

will it power it?
likely yes through this interation of the PCI-E spec (75W per card)
but certainly not through the next gen where its been bumped to 150W per card
and probably not with the level of rail stability youd like for overclocking
or the dedicated SLi leads youd get on a supply designed for SLi
(and there is the rub)

my personal opinion is given your stated goals of overclocking everything and loading that system for bear
spend the money and get the PCP&C 510 SLi

your already spending a small fortune
and thus you have met all three of my criteria for recommending a Turbo Cool
1. overclocking
2. the need for the amps
3. expense of the rig
 
Ice Czar said:
there is no -5V rail on that Neopower

and while the BlueStorm is a strong ATX12V v2.0 supply
its just basic spec complinace and wouldnt be my first choice for overclocking
its an entry level supply, a reliable one, but no more than that and could well impact your overclock aspirations

http://takaman.jp/D/?M=PbQCQbdHhSCgHRiH3kG5I2rO5HDZAZavXHMZ&english

will it power it?
likely yes through this interation of the PCI-E spec (75W per card)
but certainly not through the next gen where its been bumped to 150W per card
and probably not with the level of rail stability youd like for overclocking
or the dedicated SLi leads youd get on a supply designed for SLi
(and there is the rub)

my personal opinion is given your stated goals of overclocking everything and loading that system for bear
spend the money and get the PCP&C 510 SLi

your already spending a small fortune
and thus you have met all three of my criteria for recommending a Turbo Cool
1. overclocking
2. the need for the amps
3. expense of the rig
Click to expand...


Thanks for the advice. I already decided that a new PSU will be needed. I want to be able to eventually move to a PC&P 510 SLI, but since and SLI upgrade is about $300 more than I originally budgeted with the P4 upgrade I won't be able to do it until probably the summer. As a long term temporary solution (until I can get enough to get a PC&P PSU), would this Enermax 535W PSU suffice? I'll probably hold of on doing a 1.4V BIOS flash of the cards until I can get the PC&C PSU. I will be content if I can get the cards running at Ultra speeds.

My budget is already at its absolute limit with this SLI setup and the Enermax PSU, but for reasons that I can't completely explain, I just want it :D. Plus I see myself sticking with this setup a little longer than I typically do with other setups. If I do end up upgrading to the 150W PCIe specs I would definately change to a PC&C PSU then, but that is another time another upgrade.Thanks again for your input.
 
you could also hold off on one of the 6800GT's, get the PCP&C, and have about ~$150 left over. Im sure that the GT @ ultra speeds can run any game you play at a high enough res for your liking. With the money left over it should be easier to save up the ~$250 or so that you would need in order to get the 2nd GT (which may be less since there should be a refresh of cards from nvidia to counter the R520 and such, which should bring the price of the GT down) while never sacrificing the need for a quality psu for that setup. just my 2 cents
 
Enigma422 said:
. As a long term temporary solution (until I can get enough to get a PC&P PSU), would this Enermax 535W PSU suffice?.
Click to expand...

sure, possibly as a permenant solution, but like the Blue Storm, its basic spec compliance
nytrackstar brought up a few interesting points though, while the second graphics card is sure to drop, the PSU is likely to remain stable in price, that and spending the $100 odd dollars on the Enermax (w\ shipping)
 
nytrackstar said:
you could also hold off on one of the 6800GT's, get the PCP&C, and have about ~$150 left over. Im sure that the GT @ ultra speeds can run any game you play at a high enough res for your liking. With the money left over it should be easier to save up the ~$250 or so that you would need in order to get the 2nd GT (which may be less since there should be a refresh of cards from nvidia to counter the R520 and such, which should bring the price of the GT down) while never sacrificing the need for a quality psu for that setup. just my 2 cents
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. While getting a second GT later on is an option, it is something that I am not considering. My main reason is that my system will be water cooled, putting a second video card in there later on won't be as simple as dropping the card in and push the power button. I also feel that if I choose the SLI route, I want SLI right away, I'm not a patient person :). In order to get SLI though I am taking cutting back on stuff for a file server that I will also be building with this upgrade.

Well looks like I have a decision to make. I know that if I will go SLI route I am getting the PC&C PSU, but at the expense of having a lesser file server, or I can go with my original plans of building a 4GHz P4. Anyway, thanks for all of your advice.
 
well the offers are on the table, GL with whatever you decide and I'm sure your system will be kickass either way :)
 
Renegade87 said:
Well, either way you will have a kick ass system, but why not scrap the whole SLI idea, and get the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset and slap on a Athlon 64 3800+ and power it with... you guessed it the PC Power and Cooling Turbo-Cool® 510 PCI Express (510W) instead ? Hell, you may even come out a few bucks ahead and you'll have a rig you could OC the Hell out of.

What brand of 6800GT were you looking at ? BFG I hope. Good luck in whatever you decide.
Click to expand...

Well, I guess you could say that I'm a fan boy (just not a hardcore one), but if I scap the SLI system I want a P4 system. This is what I originally planned, but I am getting a little more money than expected from taxes, I priced out an SLI system to configure.

As for the graphics card, I was looking at the eVGA cards. I currently have an AGP eVGA 6800GT and am happy with it, plus the eVGA cards are the cheapest 6800GTs I could find.
 
Ya, I used to be an Intel guy too. Then they decided their profit margins weren't grandiose enough and had to implement 3 new technologies at once in their new 915 and 925 platforms.

Anyways, the Athlon64 kicks ass for less!

As far as the 6800GT goes, I have yet to hear anything bad about eVGA's cards. And the pricing is very competitive. I personally have a BFG (like you didn't guess that) and it rocks.

You know, an NForce3 system (MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum) with your eVGA 6800GT would really rock with an A64 FX55 in it too!! :D
 
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