Counsel for an SMPS · DIGIT-ARC

I run my system on an xtech 350Watt smps. Now I want to change my graphics card from 6600gt to 7900gt. This smps I have supplies only 12A on the 12V rail, it seems. The nvidia site asks me to get a 500-600W smps with 30A on the 12V rail, while a review site (anandtech or pcstats?) says 20A on the 12V rail is enough. So I guess any smps with either 20A or 30A should be ok.

Now, I don't want to spend >8k for an smps, nor do I want to totally skimp on it. I heard zebronics smps is better than the other skanks. Are there any other less-dear-than-antec-but-still-better kind of smpses around?

And, I guess that nvidia says 500-600W on an Antec-level smps. How does it translate to the other compaies we will be talking about?

Also, according to my apc UPS, I use only about 214W at idle and about 260-280W on load. My ups has an upper limit of 300W (at least, that's how far the power progress bar extends). Probably, I will need a new UPS as well?

C

There's a vantec ion2 460W with 30A on 12V and pci-e connectors.

How much is that? My budget on smps is not defined yet. But it's approx 2k.

T

siriusb said:
How much is that? My budget on smps is not defined yet. But it's approx 2k.

4000.Rs

J

thunderbird.117 said:
4000.Rs

But he was asking for a good but cheaper PSU. Also, I think Antec SP 350 will cost (if locally available) much less than that. It has 25A on its two 12V rails.
I think higher end models from Powersafe or Zebronics will be available for much less. But better give a margin of allowance for the claimed wattage and ampereage in such cases.

yesterday i got another colorsit 450W SMPS for 1300 here in kolkata.

I dont know what's the deal, but cheap colorsit SMPS' are also available in market, dunno if they are fake....

but this is a great SMPS i must say, i am using it in 2 machines, and my machine literally has a high power consumption..... 2HDD's, 2 DVD drives, 9 fans, a graphics card, and a few USB devices, see my config in sig, and it's running smooth......

ok, this one is a golden color SMPS with 2 fans inside it, it comes in a very nice box packing, just to keep you away from those cheap ones....

@Kniwor
which cabinet do u use (9 fans)? Pls tell me I am in search for a good cabby.

J

Kniwor said:
yesterday i got another colorsit 450W SMPS for 1300 here in kolkata.

I dont know what's the deal, but cheap colorsit SMPS' are also available in market, dunno if they are fake....

but this is a great SMPS i must say, i am using it in 2 machines, and my machine literally has a high power consumption..... 2HDD's, 2 DVD drives, 9 fans, a graphics card, and a few USB devices, see my config in sig, and it's running smooth......

ok, this one is a golden color SMPS with 2 fans inside it, it comes in a very nice box packing, just to keep you away from those cheap ones....

Zebronics is said to be relatively good, but when I enquired at a local shop, they had lots of 400W units for a price of Rs.400/- only. When inspected, it was feather weight. In short, what I understand is that there are lots of fakes.

I personally use a Priya 400W PSU for my A64 3000, A8N-E et. The voltages are near perfect even on load. But it cost me Rs.1600/- 8 months back. It is very heavy compared to ordinary PSUs. (An easy criteria for good PSU)

Colorsit looks like a good bet. But I don't know about its availablity here in chennai. 1.3K sounds like a good deal too, but what about higher models in colorsit?

Try to get the Antec 350W PSU if u can .... much better .. 25amps across 12V .. dual rail .. etc. etc.

C

siriusb said:
Colorsit looks like a good bet. But I don't know about its availablity here in chennai. 1.3K sounds like a good deal too, but what about higher models in colorsit?

Colorsit is a POS. IF you are spending 20K on a video card, better spend 3K on a psu unless you want it fried. You can get the vantec ion for as low as 3.2-3.3 at Apex in Lamington Road. Also let me warn you at the outset... 7900GT is a bugged card. Half of them are dying after a few days of continuous use, especially the overclocked out of the box ones.

Yup ... thats the only reason i don't wanna risk my money on a 7900GT ... coz if it gets a bit too hot , then u'll have to RMA it for sure (stupid reference design).. ...

well i got a 450W, 20 accross 10 zebaronics smps for 1100 with cabinet(2 side fans n 4 usb's)

Yea, I've read about that on pc perspective and other forums. It's mostly OCed gtx than gt that seem to have the problem. But your warning is heard. Let me hope I am the majority that don't get a skanky card.

I don't care about the brand of smps as long it has 20-30A on the 12V rail and can supply around 500W. Colosit seems too cheap now. That Vantec ion sounds better.
BTW, anyone know of any 7900gt/gtx owners here? I just want to know how their xperience has been with the card (and their psu) as in our country.

>I read in some forum that most of the antecs that says 15A or 18A on the 12V rail in their website spec chart, read 25 or 26A on the 12V rail in the side-sticker on the actual unit these days. So I think I need to check out the low rated antecs as well (though I don't know if the shop has antec units with it). Maybe recent owners of antec maybe able to answer this.

Anywho, I have to wonder, how my 12A on the 12V smps survived my OCed 6600gt (supposedly requiring >17A on the 12V rail), 4 hdds, 1 DL DVD-RW, 3 case fans, and OCed 3200+ and a sound card 24/7... To sum up, do I really need a >500W smps with 20-30A on the 12V rail?

A

Get Cooler Master 450 or around 3800.

If u can then go with Antec...It is usually the best..With u r getting such a high-end card get a high end SMPS also!!

A

Antec is one of the best if not the best in India, but not globally.
Antec 450 will be around 3800 as well I think, check specs of both.

T

janitha said:
But he was asking for a good but cheaper PSU. Also, I think Antec SP 350 will cost (if locally available) much less than that. It has 25A on its two 12V rails.
I think higher end models from Powersafe or Zebronics will be available for much less. But better give a margin of allowance for the claimed wattage and ampereage in such cases.

He asked how much it was. So i answered.

C

Well in case of dual rail PSUs, you can't simply add the amps on both rails. its 10A+15A but if you look carefully, the max combined load on 12V is 210W which means a max sustained of 17.5A. Also all the Smart power and truepower psus are rated at 25 degrees. So in a country like india, the output you'll get is lower than what its rated for cos of higher temperatures. In the antec PSU range, only the NeoHE is rated at 50 degrees and hence can supply exactly what its rated at and at most times, maybe even more.

J

Ch@0s said:
Well in case of dual rail PSUs, you can't simply add the amps on both rails. its 10A+15A but if you look carefully, the max combined load on 12V is 210W which means a max sustained of 17.5A. Also all the Smart power and truepower psus are rated at 25 degrees. So in a country like india, the output you'll get is lower than what its rated for cos of higher temperatures. In the antec PSU range, only the NeoHE is rated at 50 degrees and hence can supply exactly what its rated at and at most times, maybe even more.

Further, in case of SP 350, the 12V1 ie10A, is meant for Mobo and peripherals while the 12V2 ie., 15A is for the processor. I think it should have been the other way around, since which common processor as of now will need 15A? Pl corrct me if I am wrong.

BTW, are both rails supplied through the same 24 pin Mobo connector?

C

Not sure which one is what cos I've never used the PSU. There'll only be a single 24pin connector. Generally the 4pin ATX/8pin EPS supplies power to CPU and the 24pin supplies to the peripherals. Both these connectors are on different rails on all dual rail or higher psus.

G

Well

In fact I use a Powersafe 600w that cost me 5000 bucks. but then my gfx card wanted one. It came with all that you could ask for.

Sleeved cables,1x24 pin connector, 12v@ 22A ( Not much tolerance though I checked out), 8x12v connectors, 2x4pin mobo connectors, 2xSata connectors, 1x6 pin PCI-E connector......

The thing is tad heavy, comes with nickel plated xteriors(like mirror), 2 80 mmled fans(1 back, below).

Now the other option is the 500W SMPS from Powersafe that might fetch for 2600 bucks(Not sure though), but that comes for 12v @ 18 A ( I'd checked out).

See ya
Ganesh

A

Antec SP500 which costs 5-5.5k or so gives 25A on +12va line.

hey gan12320021 ,its mentioned that ur 7900 gt is vcooled.. what's that ...

also antec smart power 2.0 500 w is at 5000rs .. dual 12v rails ..

12v1 - 17A -- for mobo and peripherals

12v2 -19A - for proci ...

check it here

*www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/cases/Antec_TX1050B_6.html

G

Hey Yogi(nice name),

Antec V'cool.

Check this out..

*www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=75060

See ya

hey gan12320021 , that's exactly what i expected .. me too interesed in vcool .. is it that effective .. i have xfx 6600gt 256 mb agp card ..

how much temp drop u got with it ? and price .. here in mumbai its 1250rs

G

Frankly speakin,

About 5'c; deathvirus_me said its kinda more cooler. I dunno how. But that thing sucks cool air frm outside n blows onto the gpu sink.

Hmm.. OK since it'll light up ur cabinet.

Here's a list of SMPSes I enquired.

Vantec ion2 460W - Rs.4,200
Antec TP II 480W - Rs.5,100
Antec NeoHE 500 - Rs.6,250

The NeoHE is a bit dearer but I will consider it if my old card can sell for more. With the neo out of the picture, which of the other two is the better?