SLI approved power supply?

[lingding]

Hey guys, which power supply should I get for my gaming rig? FX60, 2 GTX 7800's. I'm guessing around 600 W supply would be good enough?

 

[Bbq]

Not so much the wattage as the amperage and quality.

What is your pricerange? Try these supplies:

PCP&C 510 Deluxe
Silverstone Zeus
Enermax 565 535w Sli-certified
OCZ Powerstream 520
Antec TrueControl 550w
Seasonic S12 600w

 

[Ice Czar]

as was pointed out its the amps not the watts

besides ratings get skewed
the PCP&C 510 works out to a 600 or 650W when its rated at lower temperatures its 510 @ 50C

the Seasonics and OCZ Powerstreams (Topower) are rated at 40C

cheap ass supplies are still rated at 21>25C (the Intel Certification temp from a million years ago very deceptive and prior to the PSU sucking up all the current heatload from a case)
very deceptive

Antec and Enermax havent said what thier test temp is


get the PCP&C 510 or 1KW
they are still the benchmark all other supplies are measured against in power quality

 

[tonyou]

the Seasonics and OCZ Powerstreams (Topower) are rated at 40C

cheap ass supplies are still rated at 21>25C (the Intel Certification temp from a million years ago very deceptive and prior to the PSU sucking up all the current heatload from a case)
very deceptive

Antec and Enermax havent said what thier test temp is

Ice Czar, I don't think you should be spreading info like that without doing proper research.

The OCZ Powerstreams are rated at 50C according to OCZ:
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/PSUSpec.pdf

Same with Antec and its TrueControl 550W with operating temp of 50C:
http://www.antec.com/specs/TPII550_spe.html

I couldn't find the 535W unit on Enermax's website, but they rate their 600W at 40C:
http://www.enermax.com.tw/english/upload/document/M2005122810571413719.pdf

 

[Ice Czar]

1. where does it say its rated at 50C?
I dont see that, I see an operating temperature range.
not the test temperature it was rated at.

2. OCZ has lied before in their PSU specs, and when their feet have been held to the fire declined to clarify the issues
(namely the AC Ripple specs, which didnt match the Topower spec they were rebranding)
which is what happens when spin doctors get a hold of specs,
they are passing off just the 2 leads with REMIC ferrite cores and capacitors as the AC ripple for the whole supply

3. I have that rating temperature from an OCZ rep. They are welcome to correct me if I am wrong.

http://aspireusa.net/product.php?pid=177
Operation temperature:0˚C to 40˚C

http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/DarkSide/
Deceptive label. Does NOT do 600W. More like a 500W.
Failed BOTH crossload tests.

there is the difference between what an operating temperature range is stated as
and reality for test temperatures, it was likely 600W at 25C


most manufacturers dont supply test temperatures or derating curves a few do
PCP&C, Seasonic, FSP

and we have uncovered a few like OCZ\Topower
most simply pawn off an operating temperature range and hope your confused


http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/35815.htm

3 Operating Temperature and De-rating information specified by the vendor specification, NOT verified. Power supplies are tested at ambient room conditions 20ºC to 25ºC, which can be significantly different from real use conditions. The power supply design guides recommend that specified full load be supported up to 50 ºC power supply inlet temperature. Please consult with your preferred power supply vendor to ensure potential output power de-rating with temperature. Evaluation for any individual system power requirement and intended use conditions are considered the responsibility of the integrator and/or system OEM.

and even when given still leaves alot unanswered

Clearing The Fog That Surrounds Derating Curves @ elecdesign.com

A marketing guru once said: "A data sheet isn't only a technical document, but also a marketing tool." Following this mentality, dc-dc converter manufacturers creatively market their products. In the world of high-density dc-dc converters, especially open-frame converters, a commonly misunderstood term is derating.

Derating is the negative slope of the power-versus-temperature graph. Specifically, it shows that as the operating ambient temperature increases, the converter's maximum output power drops to ensure reliable system operation. Derating curves provide a quick way to estimate the maximum output power of a converter at a given temperature. The confusion starts with the definition of operating ambient temperature. Some manufacturers define derating over ambient temperature, while others use case temperature or ambient temperature with an additional airflow of 50 to 100 linear feet per minute (LFM).

The definition of ambient temperature is obscured by the fact that any high-density power device operating in free air convection (no moving air) generates its own ambient temperature by heating the surrounding air. The temperature differential between the environment's ambient and the converter's ambient could be 15°C to 30°C. Some vendors specify only thermal resistance, case-to-ambient, and the maximum operating case temperature. Then the designer must calculate derating based on the given data and the maximum power needs of the system.

this is one subject that hasnt been ignored when it comes to personal exhaustive research
best to get your facts straight first

this is largely the reason Im building an environmental test chamber currently

 

[tonyou]

Thanks for the clarification Ice Czar. My understanding of the term "operating temperature" is that the power supply has to do what their spec says in the listed temperature range. I didn't know it could be interpreted in another way.

 

[Ice Czar]

it "should" work that way, and with some of the better manufacturers it does work that way more or less, but like the first line of that last quote says, a spec sheet is a marketing tool.

There is no "industry" complinace spec per se
there are assorted programs for certification, and guidelines for compliance to a spec, but there is also alot of wriggle room and a huge incentive to spin the results especially to used users, who are more impressed with features than electrical characteristics

Which is why there is such a need to put supplies to the test to verify whats what.


Ive been busting my butt for a half year just trying to cobble together the tools to accomplish that however its not cheap or easy, the OEM's can afford an automated $100.000.00 testing platform, people like jonnyGuru, Mike Chin, Lee Garbutt, Oleg Artamonov and yours truely have to get by with whatever we can scrounge up.