PSU V-Ratings for MP / Tyan system

[Socal]

Hi guys :)

I was reading over at Biff's thread (http://xtremepccentral.com/vbforums/showthread.php?threadid=2087) - (btw, Congrats, Biff on joining the duallie club! :D ) - and would like to get more info / opinion on this statement by NDC:

Never buy a PSU from reading its label that boasts WATT XXX! Look carefully at the combined rating for the 3.3V and 5V rail. It is usually 150Watt for a good 250Watt PSU and 170~180Watt for a 300 Watt one. This rating is the most important for the stability of your high power CPU or video card, as they both draw power on these two rails.

So, with my 1.2G MPs and Tyan S2466N-4M board, I will be using a new Antec 350W PSU. Is this ok? What ratings/output / combined ratings/output should I be looking for?

This is about the first I've heard about the V ratings output on PSU rails.. Mike asked me the same thing when my KT7A died.

Thanks! :)

[NDC]

Look on the side of the PSU with the specs and it will tell you... Mine is...

384W combining +3.3v, +5V, and +12V. This PSU (http://www.exhardware.com/reviews.php?Id=13) will output 384W on all of these rails SIMUTANEOUSLY....

[Socal]

Yes, I know how to read the output lol but what NUMBERS am I looking for? Acceptable rating output.. is there a range or certain value I must have? :)

thanks

[NDC]

Just look at the max output for those three rails...

[Socal]

What we have here....... is a failure to communicate. ROF

[Socal]

Ok, my DC Output..

+5V = Min: 1.5A, Max: 35A

+3.3V = Min: 0.5A, Max: 28A

[Mntsnow]

The Antec 350w will run it just fine. As long as you dont have too many hd's and fans

I quote from Antec's site (SL Model)
* +5V and +3.3V combined output: 230Watts max.
* +5V, +3.3V and +12V combined output: 330Watts max
http://www.antec-inc.com/product/powers/sl350_spe.html

if you have the "PP" model
* +5V and 3.3V combined output: 180Watts max.
* +5V, +3.3V and +12V combined output: 323Watts max
http://www.antec-inc.com/p_pp352x.html

And if you have the "330 true power" model
* +5V, +3.3V & +12V maximum output 310 Watts max.
http://www.antec-inc.com/p_true330.html

[Mntsnow]

But then of course you can use what I currently have in my Gigabyte system (becuase of all the drives and Fans :p)

Antec True Power 550 (http://www.antec-inc.com/p_true550.html)
* +5V, +3.3V & +12V maximum output 530 Watts max.

[Socal]

doh. Ok, I see! I have the SL350 model, so my max. output for the 5v + 3.3v is 230W.

lol :) Dang!

Thanks! :bunny:

[Mntsnow]

See I told you the Antec would be fine ;)

[Centurion]

My solution to some of this problem was to use a full tower - not a smallish one and since I had a bunch of old power supplies - I just found one that would power up without any pluggins - and ran all of the fans off it. The second and main CPU power came from the second ATX supply. And has so far worked well -

But

Now if someone could point out how to trick the " good power pin on the AT power supplies - I would have that beat too. Since I have another 4 old power supplies - that could be used in future.

Regards - C

[Stan]

Some time ago I found a guide on how to use 2 ATX PSU in the same case.
You can get it here (http://freespace.virgin.net/stany.clare/Dual%20ATX%20PSU%20how%20to.pdf)

Stan

[Mntsnow]

Thanks Stan

[Centurion]

Thank you - I had been lookin - but figured that someone else would stumble over it before me - I just needed to ask in the right place!

regards C:)