Will this be enough power for my system?

[kozzmozmo1]

I'm trying to decide between a 520watt ocz powerstream or the 600watt ocz powerstream which is about +$80 to power my system. Below will be my new system, sli and overclocked. Or maybe there is another brand of PSU I should go with, I just want to make sure I have enough power for the overclocking and SLI... I appreciate any response as this is still a system in the making. I also had this XG Vortec PSVO-600 600W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817167012) in mind but it looks abit gimmiky and cheap but has great review so far.


AMD Opteron 170 @ 2.6ghz
DFI Lanparty NF4 SLI Expert
Thermalright XP-90
2x1Gb G. Skill PC 4400
250Gb Samsung Harddrive
2x 7900 GT PCIe (or buy one now and upgrade to the second at a later time)
OCZ Powerstream 520W???? or 600W????

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Welcome to the forums!

The OCZ 520W is the one I'd go with of the three.

[kozzmozmo1]

Thanks alot, this is my first real build in years so im trying to read up here as much as possible before I go just buying stuff. You think I will have ample power for both the OC and the SLI 7900's.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

You'll be fine :)

[thegreek]

stay with the 520W

[rseven]

Oklahoma Wolf is the PSU expert around here, but I just want to note something he didn't mention. The reason the 52w is better than the 600w is because the 520 is single rail and the 600 is dual rail. Both would work on that system, buit a single rail PSU is better for overclocking. Good luck with your new rig!

[Know Nuttin]

Oklahoma Wolf is the PSU expert around here, but I just want to note something he didn't mention. The reason the 52w is better than the 600w is because the 520 is single rail and the 600 is dual rail. Both would work on that system, buit a single rail PSU is better for overclocking. Good luck with your new rig!

That's not really the only reason. The 520w just uses a superior design by Topower compared to the one used for the 600w. From what I can tell, the 600w uses the P4 design, whereas the 520w uses the better P6 design.

[rseven]

That's not really the only reason. The 520w just uses a superior design by Topower compared to the one used for the 600w. From what I can tell, the 600w uses the P4 design, whereas the 520w uses the better P6 design.
I never heard that P4.:D (I couldn't resist:)) Seriously though, I was unaware of that.

[LordDarik]

The OCZ Powerstream should be great! Another option though would be the Silverstone ST56ZF, more powerful and the same price but also louder.

[synthetic_fenix]

I have pretty close to the same setup as you and I have the OCZ 520 and I havent had one problem. In fact I have even borrowed my friends 7800GT which is identical to mine to run my system in SLI and the powersupply didnt flinch :D OCZ 520 ftw!

[Oklahoma Wolf]

The Powerstream 600W is still a P6, though with only a combined 2A@12v advantage on the 520W.

For those interested, the P6 seems to have been superceded by the new P7 triple 12v units and P9 quad 12v units. Top of the line for them now is a 1100W monster with a combined 80A 12v rating on its four 20A 12v rails.

http://www.topower.com.tw/product/power_supply/iframe_p7.htm
http://www.topower.com.tw/product/power_supply/iframe_p9.htm

Both the P7 and P9 lines have independant regulation.

[-aDaM^]

The Powerstream 600W is still a P6, though with only a combined 2A@12v advantage on the 520W.

For those interested, the P6 seems to have been superceded by the new P7 triple 12v units and P9 quad 12v units. Top of the line for them now is a 1100W monster with a combined 80A 12v rating on its four 20A 12v rails.

http://www.topower.com.tw/product/power_supply/iframe_p7.htm
http://www.topower.com.tw/product/power_supply/iframe_p9.htm

Both the P7 and P9 lines have independant regulation.

Hey wolf, where can I get the TOP-700P7 :shrug:

[Oklahoma Wolf]

No idea I'm afraid.

[-aDaM^]

No idea I'm afraid.

Darn, looks like one solid psu :bang head

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Looks that way, yes... however, after seeing two Powerstream 600W units die in a row at Tom's, I'd like to see them well tested before I start recommending them.

One point to mention - Topower has apparently fixed the regulation issues on the Powerstream 520W. The newer SLI models should be safe for high 3.3v/5v systems now. I still wouldn't buy one for such a rig, but it should be ok now.

[-aDaM^]

Looks that way, yes... however, after seeing two Powerstream 600W units die in a row at Tom's, I'd like to see them well tested before I start recommending them.

How did they die? and Tom's you mean tomshardware right?

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Yep, the infamous Tom's Hardware. They ran them (or tried to) up to full power according to the labels for a few hours. The first one shut down several times before getting to full power, and the second one blew the lab breaker after a couple hours at full load.

Meanwhile, the Aopen 700W (aka Fortron Epsilon) to name one, passed easily. While Tom's methodology was flawed, the OCZ 600's not being able to handle full load at room temp did not impress me. The 520W has proven itself over and over to be the superior model, so I've never seen a reason to recommend the 600W.

[-aDaM^]

Yep, the infamous Tom's Hardware. They ran them (or tried to) up to full power according to the labels for a few hours. The first one shut down several times before getting to full power, and the second one blew the lab breaker after a couple hours at full load.

Meanwhile, the Aopen 700W (aka Fortron Epsilon) to name one, passed easily. While Tom's methodology was flawed, the OCZ 600's not being able to handle full load at room temp did not impress me. The 520W has proven itself over and over to be the superior model, so I've never seen a reason to recommend the 600W.

Can I please have a link to this Aopen 700w, its sounds promising!

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I don't know where to find the Aopen in Canada, but NCIX carries the Fortron Epsilon 700W for a good price. Only difference is the Aopen is black with a multi color LED fan.

[-aDaM^]

I don't know where to find the Aopen in Canada, but NCIX carries the Fortron Epsilon 700W for a good price. Only difference is the Aopen is black with a multi color LED fan.

ty :) we have ncix.ca

[Know Nuttin]

The Powerstream 600W is still a P6, though with only a combined 2A@12v advantage on the 520W.

Both the P7 and P9 lines have independant regulation.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Does the P6 line not have independent voltage regulation? I thought it did.

[-aDaM^]

Thanks for clearing that up.

Does the P6 line not have independent voltage regulation? I thought it did.

Why would OCZ put out a PSU like that :confused:

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Thanks for clearing that up.

Does the P6 line not have independent voltage regulation? I thought it did.

It does - Topower just doesn't list the P6 anymore.

Why would OCZ put out a PSU like that

With or without independant regulation? The Modstreams don't have it, the Powerstreams do. The advantages are tighter regulation of all 3 main rails, usually better than 3%.

[-aDaM^]

It does - Topower just doesn't list the P6 anymore.



With or without independant regulation? The Modstreams don't have it, the Powerstreams do. The advantages are tighter regulation of all 3 main rails, usually better than 3%.

Just seems like the 600w Powerstream is total crap compared to the 520w :-/

[Oklahoma Wolf]

It's not quite that bad, but it's definitely not the PSU the 520W is.