Wolf, I need dual PSU advice!

[RAA]

I've been redirected here and advised to ask Wolf what he thinks I need to do to get my two PSUs running together properly.

Currently I run the two PSU completely independently. The Enermax has it's power on line shorted so it starts when the power is plugged in. I've got the Enermax powering my X1800XT only. It seems to work fine but I've had a mini electric shock from my case and one totally random reboot which may be a number of things. But my system is prime stable and I know my RAM like the back of my hand. So I'd like to rule out the possible dual PSUs compatibility issue.

I've read about this before and can't remember why I thought it was OK to do it the way I have. Obviously not all the rails are going to be exactly the same, could that cause problems? Would soldering a black wire from either PSus to one another make them work better together?

This is the topic where OCH advised me to ask here ..

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?p=4990831#post4990831

[inkfx]

Not sure if you have seen this but it's probably worth a read-through.

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=88976

[Oklahoma Wolf]

Sorry - I don't run dual PSU's so I probably can't help much there. What I can tell you is that you're running a CWT built Antec unit, which are notorious for cooking their own capacitors. Random restarts are just the sort of thing that results.

If you've had the Antec for more than a year, odds are pretty good you'll find swollen or leaking caps in there. You can often get a glimpse of them through the exhaust grille or fan. If your PSU does have bad caps, my suggestion would be to replace both units with a single good PSU - your system isn't really demanding enough to stress a properly working 500W unit.

Edit - the cap thing can happen to Enermax too... just thought I should mention that.

[RAA]

Yea the simplest and safest answer is to buy a new PSU, in the mean time I just hope it doesn't fry any of my hardware!? I looked at the OCZ range a while back, they looked OK.

[RAA]

Think I might go for this one .. http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-004-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=823

I could get the 520W one but I might fancy building a crossfire setup at some point which would require more power. I wonder if that 620W version would be enough for two 8800s and a 3GHz CPU?

[inkfx]

Yeah that 620w should work just fine.

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I wonder if that 620W version would be enough for two 8800s and a 3GHz CPU?

Piece of cake... it's already been done :D

FWIW I have the same Asrock board you do - my system has a less powerful video card (X1650 Pro), but I'm making up for it somewhat by running an Ultra ChillTEC CPU cooler. Doesn't even strain my ST56ZF or the Ultra in my sig.

[RAA]

Have been looking about and think I'll get the 520W instead. In a few years I'll be upgrading to Vista, DX10 and AM2 and I'd prefer to go dual GPU then I think.

So for now all I need is a PSU capable of powering my sig but perhaps a top of the range ATI X1950XTX card instead of my X1800XT. The 520W would be more than adequete for this I'd have though?

If yes, I'll have to order it ASAP before my Antec destroys itself. I had a SATA2 drive die a few weeks back! The Antec has the 12V sense wire mod on it and was running at 12.22V for a good few months - not sure why I ran it that high but I'm sure it hasn't helped. That may also have been what killed my SATA2 drive, if the regulators on the drive weren't too good!

[Oklahoma Wolf]

The 520W would be more than adequete for this I'd have though?

Easily enough :)