Power Supply Info

[JPMiller]

Here is the start of what I would like to become a definitive guide to Power Supply information.
Please feel free to suggest links or reviews that I do not already have....
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P.S.U.---- Power Supply Unit
ATX ---- being the most common... used for standard size, current generation, desktop configurations...
There are now several versions of the standard ATX design that include dual and even quadruple +12V rails, as well as a new SLI certification...
Only a few manufacturers have TRUE separate rails, most have 2-4 rails all coming from the same place...
Basically the SLI certification means little, as they have really only certified the "paper" specs and not the units ACTUAL performance...
What matters most is Quality and true performance under typical conditions instead of ideal...
Micro-ATX ---- used in slim, micro, flex, and small form factor cases, commonly lower wattage due to the all-inclusive nature of smaller builds...
And the proprietary style PSU's --- specifically built for pre-built commercial names like Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and H.P....
B.T.X. ----- Intel has now introduced a new form factor to replace ATX's supposedly haphazard layout... LINK...( this form factor has not caught on due to temperatures going down and Intel not pursuing the design)

An alternative to using an SLI certified PSU wich can cost a great deal... if you have a decent PSU that just isnt up to an SLI setup, you can add an SLI certified "add-on" unit instead...
http://www.directron.com/w0099ru.html

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My first suggestion is to download EverestHome2.2personal and install it. This utility not only gives more info than you could possibly want to know about your system, but also gives you real-time measurements of power levels and CPU temps. These can be found under the "Sensor" tab, under "Computer".... The right-hand measurements listed under "Voltage Values" should be VERY close to the first row of values....
+ or - .5 on the positive rails is acceptable, much more than that either way is considered unstable.
If not, you may have either an underpowered supply or a simply poor quality unit.
(One word of caution.... the temp and voltage values are only as good as your motherboards sensor readings... commonly a bios flash may be needed to correctly report temps...)
The ONLY positive way to get accurate psu readings is to use a multimeter as outlined in the following link...
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.co...d.php?t=137886
Addendum...
After further exhaustive research, Ive found that even going to this length is virtually useless...
The precision and complexity of monitoring voltages is really far beyond that of the laymen...
The equipment needed is costly and uncommon... Better to simply buy good brands and read trusted reviews of people having used it under more strenuos circumstances than you...
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Most of us consider the power supply to be an option we simply check off when ordering a case, the higher the supposed Wattage the better.
The truth of the matter is, that it is at the heart of our systems stability, and the one component that can literally destroy all other components in our systems....
It can be at the root of problems ranging from random reboots, to poor performance in general...
Most people are surprised at just how much a PSU can make or break a system...
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First thing to do is find out what power usage you will be working with....
The best way is to use This website to calculate the maximum wattage your system could conceivably use at full load.
Remember that this is ALL components, at peak, all at once... not something that will ever happen in real world conditions.
Then add a little to allow for future power consumption needs, upgrades, mods, etc.
If you want something more specific, and don't mind the extra work... or need more in depth totals for each specific rail, then THIS , THIS, or THIS may be a better calculator...
Total Wattage is not the most important concern by any means, however... Reliable brands, clean power, and Amp amounts on the main rails is much more important...
Your +12V rail is usually of the most concern for power users. It is what powers most CPU's and fans as well as drives...
lower end PSU's usually have high +5V and +3V rails and underpowered +12V rails...
The issue of weight, when referring to quality, involves the manufacturer's use of heavier heatsinks, heavier gauge wires, more/better components to regulate power, etc.
A basic list of Good/Bad brands...
Good:
Akasa PaxPower.... Antec... Astec... AOpen..... Channel Well..... Coolermaster.... Corsair.... Enermax..... Enlight.... Fortron Source (Sparkle)... Gigabyte.... HEC...... Hi-Power.... Hiper... Jeantech...... NSpire..... OCZ Technology..... PC Power & Cooling.... PowerMan...... Seasonic..... SilenX.... SilverStone..... Tagan (ABS).... Thermaltake.... TTGI/SuperFlower..... Vantec........ Zion... Zippy / Emacs Verax.... Xclio.... Zalman

Bad:
A GBP Athena.... Allied.... Aspire/Apevia... CoolMax.... DEER.... EYE-T.... Inwin....
MGE.... KingStar.... L&C.... Linkworld... Logisys.... PowerMagic... PowerUp.... Powmax.... Q-Tec..... Raidmax.... Skyhawk.... Star.... Turbolink... Ultra
It is not ALL inclusive but does give you some general direction in ruling out the worst options...
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The following links will allow you to do more research and help you to comprehend Power Supplies and the role they play in your system....
Reviews...
http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/articl...50aHVzaWFzdA==
http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/a...y_Guide_1.html
http://www.motherboards.org/articles/guides/1487_1.html
http://www.techimo.com/articles/i58.html

General info...
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/410
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=1359
http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/a...y_Guide_2.html
http://www.firingsquad.com/guides/power_supply/
http://www.howstuffworks.com/power-supply.htm
http://www.greatoffers4u.com/articles/2546
http://www.woodsbas.demon.co.uk/calcs/ohmslaw.htm
http://www.datadepo.com/powerproblems.htm
http://www.leesspace.com/quiet_psu.htm
http://www.speedy3d.com/articles/case_mod_p3/01.shtml
http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1
http://www.directron.com/psu.html
http://www.trustedreviews.com/articl...d=64&page=2279


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Concerning Ultra X-connects PSU's....
Now that some time has passed and more people have actually used and abused them, the consensus is that The Ultra X-Connects are not exactly the greatest... They are slightly better than a similarly speced generic PSU... but I wouldn't trust them in a overclocking rig or in a power hungry setup, or SLI at all...
If you want a Very bling looking unit and your power requirements are in the mid to high 300's, then these are fine... they are coming down in price due to its lesser popularity and its competition... use at your own risk...!!

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DEALS
Newegg carries the Fortron Source/Sparkle line of PSU's...ATX400-PA...The average price is under or around $50 which is an excellent budget choice...
No-One but those running heavily laden SLI rigs will need more power
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Deals...
Don't know how long this will last, but NewEgg has an insane deal on a dual +12V Forton,...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104951
These have OVER 30 Amps on the +12V rail...
these are perfect for smaller cases and simple systems that don't have a dozen HD's and extra drives...
specs here for verification...
http://www.fsp-group.com.tw/english/...d=52&proid=182

[JPMiller]

Bump for day people... would love some feedback, so as to add to this and improve it.

[John Prophet]

maybe a little info on different form factors especially the micro atx sized supplies as found in gateways, HP's etc

maybe also a link about the Dell non-standard "atx" stuff....I have read they started the non-standard stuff in sept 98...but that now they are back to standard.....I have found a link before that told which machines where which but I cant find it now....though it could be somewhere on the same site I link below

for example

http://www.endpcnoise.com/cgi-bin/e/dellconverter.html

[JPMiller]

Thanks JP, that is a good suggestion....
I will start doing some research on the other form factors now and add it in later...
I was concentrating on the ATX F.F. because that is what is most commonly asked about.
There seem to be alot of PSU questions as of late and I felt it was easier to write one comprehensive post to link to, than having to re-state the same thing more than once...

[tgxiii]

Don't forget to talk about EPS, as that's what the industry is heading towards.

[JPMiller]

well what little I found on EPS suggest it is mainly or only for server boards...
Do you have any links to more info?
why is it you think this form is what the industry is headed towards?
Am I wrong, or is an adaptor all thats needed to turn a standard ATX into EPS ready?...

[TechKnickle]

Have to add too for reference to people that + or - 5% on any of the positive rails on the PSU is within tolerance.. I know you can get this from the guides... but in case the links die or someone is just reading this over, now they know :P.

[sr71000]

just currious....does the program you recommended, that tells you the voltage for u'r psu...does it always work, cus it dosen't tell me anything...it just dosen't give me info. gives me info on my hd, but nothing on my psu....oh well..... that's what i get for buying hp (lol)

[tgxiii]

Originally Posted by JPMiller

well what little I found on EPS suggest it is mainly or only for server boards...
Do you have any links to more info?
why is it you think this form is what the industry is headed towards?
Am I wrong, or is an adaptor all thats needed to turn a standard ATX into EPS ready?...

I got my info mainly from posts over at [H]ardforum and OC Forums. A quick look through my Outlook Express mailbox:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....6&page=1&pp=20
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1026564210
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....6&page=1&pp=20
And one from here:
AMD 64 vs PCI Express

I also got this information from various articles, but I can't find them except for these:
http://www.techimo.com/articles/i147.html
http://www.bytesector.com/data/bs-ar...?ID=301&page=1

And yes, all you need is an adaptor. But EPS power supplies tend to be beefier, so the ATX power supply you're adapting into a 24-pin connector might not be strong enough for whatever you're trying to power.

[tgxiii]

Originally Posted by sr71000

just currious....does the program you recommended, that tells you the voltage for u'r psu...does it always work, cus it dosen't tell me anything...it just dosen't give me info. gives me info on my hd, but nothing on my psu....oh well..... that's what i get for buying hp (lol)

EVEREST will only report what it can, so if your motherboard doesn't come with voltage sensors it can't report it. Same is true for temperature sensors, fan speed, etc.