PSU amps question

[FLCLFan]

Im thinking about getting a 8800 gtx and it requires a "Minimum of a 450 Watt power supply. (Minimum recommended power supply with +12 Volt current rating of 28 Amp Amps.)".

Does that mean that all the +12v rails must equal at least 28 amps, or that each rail must be 28 amps?

Thanks.

[burebista]

8800GTX alone in full-load at stock speed needs ~12A (http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gf8800gtx-roundup_6.html#sect0) from 12V rail.
Does that mean that all the +12v rails must equal at least 28 amps, or that each rail must be 28 amps?
All rails should be at least 28A, and PCI-E rail should be >12A.
Relax your PowerStream is plenty.

BTW you want to use your A64 3000+ with 8800GTX? If yes, you bottleneck heavy your card.

[freakdiablo]

^^^sounds about right, they add the extra 16a so it leaves a little extra for the rest of the system. And I agree with burebista, that cpu is going to bottleneck the card. After looking at your mobo, unless they changed it with a new bios or something, you may end up having to upgrade your mobo as well as your cpu.

[FLCLFan]

Woops, should have said this but i was thinking of a whole other build. :D

[Sam__]

lol..ok then....what PSU will u use in that one?

[FLCLFan]

Well, i dont really know.

I really dont know whats the best..... I dont know what companys are good... Blah blah blah..

I want one that is modular (keeps it tidy), has good efficiency, will fit in and the wires will reach to everything in a Antec P182, and will power a 8800 gtx and quad core, 800+ watts...

[smokie mcpott]

i dont think you need 800+ watts for something like that..i would look at the corsair 620HX, or a silverstone da750

[FLCLFan]

Hmm.. I have been looking around and I found this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194021

On this one, i love how it shows and warrns you with a buzzer if there is a problem.

Really the only thing i see wrong with this is that it only has 3 pci-e connectors but when to do sli with that gtx you need 4........ nah, screw it, i dont have the money for 2 gtx's.

Is this a good one and does it meet the requirements of the gtx?

[RollingThunder]

Hmm.. I have been looking around and I found this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194021

On this one, i love how it shows and warrns you with a buzzer if there is a problem.

Really the only thing i see wrong with this is that it only has 3 pci-e connectors but when to do sli with that gtx you need 4........ nah, screw it, i dont have the money for 2 gtx's.

Is this a good one and does it meet the requirements of the gtx?

FLC,

My two cents..........that PS is way over what you need to spend. The 8800GTXs have been given a reputation as monsters spitting sparks and wattage out the GPU. They aren't as bad as has been perceived. They need about 12-14 amps, that's a long way from a good single rail 40 amp power supply.

The Corsair 520HX will handle what you want to build with ease with plently left over, it has a good reputation, many of us here have them. You can get them for less than $100. They are Seasonic builds, very quiet and very stable and a single rail 40 amp.

If you still feel intimidated by a single 8800GTX, then the Corsair 620HX (50 amp single rail) or another comparable quality power supply would do fine. Both are modular and First Class. I could drop an 8800GTX in my rig in a heartbeat and never have to ask here.

Here is a good thread to look at as an example:

http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=511180

A lot of us had our doubts when MC started his tests, now we don't. Put the money in your pocket instead of the vendor's.

And some good reviews of many power supplies:

http://jonnyguru.com/reviews.php

[FLCLFan]

Ok, but with the big fan on the top, will that work well in the "box" the psu sits in in the P182? How does it get air?

[smokie mcpott]

the fan isnt on top
they just have the psu pictured upside down

'the box' in the antec is simply a raised platform and air comes from underneath the psu just like normal...it draws most of its air from the 120mm fan sitting in front of it, behind the harddrive cage

trust the advice given to you here...that enermax is WAAAAAAY overpriced
just get a corsair and be done with it, no worries