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New GPUs - External Power?

D

Deadlierchair

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 12, 2003
Messages
1,400
Maximum PC brought up this point in their head to head of the new ATI and nVidia products. (though I am aware that the nVidia side needs it more) Since the power requirements for these new cards is so huge and draining to the power supply and possibly motherboard, why not just have one little external power brick like you'd have for a CD player or set of speakers? One little $10 power brick could save hundreds in power supply spending dollars.

NO arguing about the power consumption issue, we know how it is as it stands, so why didn't at least nVidia use a power brick?
 
cause that would be goofy. 3dFX tried that too, if you remember.
 
I think it is a good idea, if they need more power than the average user is going to have then why not? The power brick for the V5 6000 wasn't a big hassle at all.
 
Yeah, I wasn't into hardcore hardware back when the VooDoo series were in their prime, but, sounds like a great idea to me at least as a short term thing for the 6800 series.
 
If anything, they should make it an OPTION. If you don't have a PS with the nuts to handle that type of card, then a small plug on the back of the card to plug in the ac adapter would be the choice to go with.

This way the user's on a budget that have been saving months for a good card won't be left out in the cold if they don't already have a PS that can handle it. They can still buy the card & adapter and use it until they have the cash to get a better PS.

Both ATI and NVIDIA should think about something like that. Could get them more profits (and at the same time drop the sales of PS makers... :eek: ) :p
 
I don't think a $10 power brick would cut it, you would probably need a more powerful and stable converter like those sold for laptops, and if you're spending that much, you might as well get a new PSU and save the hassle of external power
 
Merlin45 said:
I don't think a $10 power brick would cut it, you would probably need a more powerful and stable converter like those sold for laptops, and if you're spending that much, you might as well get a new PSU and save the hassle of external power
Click to expand...


agreed
 
Screw external power. I hate power bricks. Always have. That's why I liked Compaq Armada's and Toshiba Tecra's. They had internal power so all you needed was just a cord. Much nicer I think.

Besides they fall out of power sockets, take up space, and take 2 outlets up on a surge protector unless you've got the kind that has the recepticles spaced out. All in all a pain in the ass. I'd rather by a 550Watt PSU and be done with it.
 
I don't think a $10 power brick would cut it
Click to expand...

Exactly, a card would not be able to run on the cheap powerbricks (2 to 3 watts) that come with things like portable CD players and PocketPCs. It would require an expensive (probably 40+watt) laptop type powerbrick, which can easily run over $40.

That and there is precious real estate at the back of the card anyways without having to waste space on an external connector.

There is also the electrical issue of voltage mismatches. The powerbrick may be precisely at 12V, but the computer may be higher or lower than that which can create voltage tolerance and grounding problems.
 
nst6563 said:
well...it was an interesting idea to toss around... :p
Click to expand...

Yeah, I guess if it was really _the_ best solution some company would have thought of it already. Anyways, yeah, fun to think about.
 
Deadlierchair said:
Maximum PC brought up this point in their head to head of the new ATI and nVidia products. (though I am aware that the nVidia side needs it more) Since the power requirements for these new cards is so huge and draining to the power supply and possibly motherboard, why not just have one little external power brick like you'd have for a CD player or set of speakers? One little $10 power brick could save hundreds in power supply spending dollars.

NO arguing about the power consumption issue, we know how it is as it stands, so why didn't at least nVidia use a power brick?
Click to expand...
I always shake my head at people who blow $500 for latest video card, $200 for the newest motherboard, $1000 for fastest CPU, $400 or more for dual memory, $500 on water cooling and then spend another $300 on a case, lights, fans, bells and whistles, but then want to become a miser and complain about price when it comes to power supplies. :rolleyes:

The truth of the matter is the PS is one of the most ignored, yet 3 most criitcal components of any system. The other two being motherboard and memory. You can save on a CPU, drives, video card, case and accessories, but if you don't have a solid base to build on, you've got nothing.

How many times have you read post from people complaing they can't get a decent OC out of their system event with first rate components, but then you ask they what PS they have and they say "I don't know what it is, it came with the case." :mad:

The most expensive PS out there, the "Rolls Royce" of PS, the PC Power and Cooling Turbo Cool 510 Deluxe is only about about $250 shipped. And there are plently of excellent alternative PS like the Antec Truepowers or Enermax that are 90% as good for less money.

If you afford $500 or more for the latest and best, you can afford $250 or so for a first rate power supply, it's just that simple. If you're stupid or cheap enough to scrimp in this area, then you get what you deserve.
 
^^^^^^^^^^

Very well put. When you think about it a great power supply is only about $100, not that much when you consider the amount of expensive hardware it powers.
 
I think the race is so close now between nvidia and ati that if one of these companys had this as an OPTION, they would clearly be the winner by the public
 
You can get name brand 400-500w PSU's for less then $100 and they will run just about any system you can put togethor. Generics are worthless though so dont think you can buy a 800w Generic and it run a high-end system because most likely it will crash the system. Especially if you have a 6800 ultra in there :p.
 
I doubt we'll see it with the 6800/x800, it would probably require a signficant re-engineering effort that at this point i dont think is needed. Although eventually, they will require (even the low end cards) an external power source unless one of the 2 companies does something.

Juice apparently is going to play a more and more important role. Esp when it comes to video cards. A good idea may be to add a dedicated standard to power video cards to the ATX/BTX standard.
 
This whole power supply issue is way overblown. I run the "Y" connector for my 6800 Ultra, and I can overclock to 450 no problem. I tried the same in my Son's computer with a 400W power supply, and I was able to do 450MHz there as well.

I agree, if your going to spend $500 on a card, it means you want performace at all cost. All these reviewer's who whine about the Ultra's double connector just need something to complain about. With the high cost, why would you run an unpowered, cheap power supply, regardless of which card you choose. Kinda a silly argument if you ask me.
 
I see all of the required 3dfx responses, but where's the mandatory photochop crossing the V5-6k with some newer video card?
 
dandragonrage said:
where's the mandatory photochop crossing the V5-6k with some newer video card?
Click to expand...

If I wasn't about to hit the hay, I would be all over that. :D
 
Wixard said:
I doubt we'll see it with the 6800/x800, it would probably require a signficant re-engineering effort that at this point i dont think is needed. Although eventually, they will require (even the low end cards) an external power source unless one of the 2 companies does something.

Juice apparently is going to play a more and more important role. Esp when it comes to video cards. A good idea may be to add a dedicated standard to power video cards to the ATX/BTX standard.
Click to expand...


Actualy PCI EXpress resolves the power issue.
 
Excuse me , I forgot everyone was so anal today. It resolves it for the foreseable future when you think of it in conjuction with other technologies like low K manufacturing processes.
 
jacuzz1 said:
Excuse me , I forgot everyone was so anal today. It resolves it for the foreseable future when you think of it in conjuction with other technologies like low K manufacturing processes.
Click to expand...

lol :p

you didn't get that memo? hmmm....we'll see if we can't get you another copy of that memo. mmm-kay? Greeaaat.
 
jacuzz1 said:
Actualy PCI EXpress resolves the power issue.
Click to expand...

Right, for the near term it does. Im not talking about the near term. Thats why i used a lot of "eventuallys" and "play a more and more important role"
 
I dont know, I suspect that manufacturing processies will continue to improve and that less and less power will be required not more. I believe we are nearing a plateau for power requirements and that by say 2020 you will be using hydrogen cubes (fuel cells) for power and wont even be plugged into the wall. :p
 
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