Fortron AX500 and x1900xt??

[tranceaddict]

Guys, here is my dilemma. I already purchased a Fortron Bluestorm 500W PSU (really only 460 Watts), and I'm wondering if it will be enough to run the new x1900xt video card? My parts are the following:

Opteron 146 (hope to OC close to 3GHz)
2 GB Mushkin xp pc4000
74G Raptor
Big Typhoon HSF
Lexa case with 3 120mm fans and 1 80mm fan
1 dvd burner and 1 floppy drive
DFI Ultra-d mobo

Will the Fortron unit be enough for this?? Moreover, I read on other forums that even though the Fortron unit has two 12V rails with 15A on each, the combined on both 12V rails is only 24A, is this true? Please help me out, as NCIX (the vendor) advised me that if I buy the OCZ Powerstream 520 W SLI they will give me a full refund on the Fortron unit. However, the Powerstream costs more than 1.5X as much as the Fortron so I will resort to that only if it is absolutely necessary. Thanks

 

[RangerXLT8]

FSP def makes some quality units. The kit you're running is nothing but the latest\greatest and that means it's going to draw ALOT of power. A dual 12v rail is NOT the optimal way to go for your system. I'd say the unit will limit your OC, again that's my OP. See what others like larva and OKWolf have to say.

 

[R4z0r4mu5 Pr|m3]

Your system doesn't draw that much power, I'm sure it'll be fine. The only problem I see that may happen is your overclock being limited if your CPU and video card share the same 12v.

 

[Rattle]

just for informational purposes

I built a rig for a friend not long ago and I tried to get him a decent gaming rig for his dollar.

DFI Ultra-d
3700 san diego
1 gig TCCD kit
6600gt eVGA
1 rom
1 HDD
fan controller
120mm fan
four 80mm fan
400watt fortron

I informed him a beefier PSU would be needed for future upgrades, but he assured me that he wouldnt be gaming much.... LOL

the 400 watt fortron was rocksolid

I just put in a x1900 and I informed he may need a new PSU, he said just try and if i need to i will.

Much to my surprise the 400 fortron with dual 12v rails of 14a and 15a took it without breaking a sweat !!

I ran rthdribl which loads out cpu 100% on a single core and set the card to 3d clocks of 650/775 and oc of 250X10 on the cpu and mem.
Idle the 12 v rail was 12.10 and under full load 11.92 !! I ran it for 60 minutes straight and the PSU didnt even get warm !!

Regardless I am having him upgrade the PSU just in case, because its borderline silly and i dont like split rails personally.

 

[tranceaddict]

Your system doesn't draw that much power, I'm sure it'll be fine. The only problem I see that may happen is your overclock being limited if your CPU and video card share the same 12v.

How can you tell if they share the same 12V rail? BTW, the Opteron 146 is the CAYBE 0540 FPMW stepping, so you know that I'm going to try to OC it to the max. Moreover, I also plan to heavily overclock the videocard. I'm still feeling around the boards on aftermarket cooling for the x1900xt, but I have the V1 Ultra in mind with an additional Zalman 92mm bracket fan.

 

[Spion]

i'm fairly certian that one 12v line is for the mobo and one is for all your molex's and other connectors. thats why when high-end intel users OC they need a PSU with a single beefy 12v rail becuase the mobo will draw alot of power for the processor and will top out the 12v line being used for the mobo. i think an AX500 should be fine for that system but i could be wrong.

 

[tranceaddict]

One more question while on topic, what are the differences between the "blue" and "green" 520 powerstream models other than colours and official SLI designation?

 

[dominick32]

Another PSU pointer. Although my unit was an Aspire 550watt, not a Fortron Source, OCZ, ect.etc.

With dual rails @ 14 amps each ran great with an overclocked 7800GTX. I switched over to a X1900 XT and the card ran great at stock speeds but wouldnt allow me to overclock at all. System restarts, random hangs, frozen benchmarks.

I replaced the PSU with a single rail 38AMP unit from Silverstone. All is well.

Dom

 

[Oklahoma Wolf]

I already purchased a Fortron Bluestorm 500W PSU (really only 460 Watts), and I'm wondering if it will be enough to run the new x1900xt video card?

One, easily. Two in crossfire, not likely.

 

[tranceaddict]

Man, now I am even more confused. I really appreciate all of your input, but it seems that I'm getting very conflicting opinions.

 

[kerozen]

yeah, fortron psus are reliable and well built... if you do not intend on upgrading your rig, it will be alright... be careful though, the OC powerstream 520w is out of stock since at least 2 weeks at NCIX, and the OCZ warehouse has it on backorder...

 

[LordDarik]

The Bluestorm will definitely power your system, just don't plan on too much overclocking.