Power Supply talk

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:51 pm

I decided to use my spare (new) Asus PKE-5 motherboard as a new build with Win7 x64. It will have 8 gigs of ram and my NIVIDA 660 video card. Since my existing power supply is 6+ years old, I think I should get a new one. I just bought a new Crucial M500 240GB SSD which will be my boot drive, and I already have a new 1TB drive. I'll be using my Q6600 cpu.

Questions:
1. Is it advantages in having multiple 12v rails? My current power supply, a Thermatake TP 750W, as a 60a 12v rail. I've seen some power supplies that may have multiple 12v rails.

2. Do power supplies lose power over time?

3. What about efficiency rating?

Finally, what power supply would you recommend? I want something that is reliable like my Thermatake I have now.

Also - not power supply related, but I'm looking for a decent USB3 card. PCI or PCI express. Recommendations?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:26 pm

1) Multiple 12v Rails were really popular a few years ago, the idea being that they isolate power fluctuations between the mobo and the video card(s). However many modern PSU designs now have single rails, and no power fluctuation problems. So bottom line, as long as it's a modern PSU (no more than 3 or 4 years old) a single rail is fine. Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with multiple rails, just a different design.

I'm sure even that old Thermaltake PSU was probably rock stable with a single rail, but yeah, it's a little long in the tooth and they've made a lot of improvements in stability and efficiency in PSUs since that one came out.

2) PSUs don't really lose power over time BUT if a component is getting old, it could become less stable. It's not lack of power that can kill your mobo, it's lack of power regulation.

3) Efficiency rating just means how power efficient the PSU is - ie: how much power loss there is to heat in the conversion of voltage. Modern PSUs are all very efficient.

4) Thermaltake is good. I also like Corsair (except for the model I have with the jittery fan). There's lots of good PSUs other there. Do a search on Newegg in the PSU section and sort by "most reviews", then look hard at anything with 65% or better 5 egg reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Power-Supplies/Su ... er=REVIEWS

USB 3.0 CARD:
I'm using this USB 3.0 PCI-E x1 card on my workstation that doesn't have native USB 3.0: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6815166026

I'm also using this this USB 3.0 drive bay hub to bring a couple of USB 3.0 jacks to the front panel of my workstation: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... Y-HUB50044

I have issues with the card reader (it's stuck in read-only mode) but it doesn't matter since I have a much better card reader installed that I use instead. Just wanted some way of bringing the USB 3.0 jacks to the front of the PC.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 10:42 pm

I've been single rail for a while and have been fine. In fact, it's the best power supply I've had.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Mon Mar 24, 2014 11:28 pm

I think I'll get this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182068

Normalilcy - what brand are you using?

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:37 am

Bob - that USB3 drive bay hub has horrible reviews.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:45 am

My only problem with it was the card reader - it's worthless - but that's not why I bought it. I didn't want to have to plug into the USB 3.0 card in the back, or run an extension.

The USB 3.0 hub portion of it works fine for me. At the time that was the only viable solution. There's probably others by now.

I am definitely getting USB 3.0 speeds out of mine. That was the whole reason for it - to sync my USB 3.0 keychain flash drive daily. It was taking too long on a USB 2.0 port.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:40 am

FlyingPenguin wrote:My only problem with it was the card reader - it's worthless - but that's not why I bought it. I didn't want to have to plug into the USB 3.0 card in the back, or run an extension.

The USB 3.0 hub portion of it works fine for me. At the time that was the only viable solution. There's probably others by now.

I am definitely getting USB 3.0 speeds out of mine. That was the whole reason for it - to sync my USB 3.0 keychain flash drive daily. It was taking too long on a USB 2.0 port.

I can't tell from the pics, but like you, I want to be able to attach an internal connector to the card inside the case. I did order the same USB3 card you have a link to. If that hub can do it, then I'll get it. Don't really care about the card reader option. Just want USB3 ports in the front.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 1:03 pm

That card does not have an internal header - I'm not aware of any card that does, but maybe there is one out there.

The hub has two USB 3.0 cables: one lets you connect to an internal mobo USB 3.0 header, and the other lets you connect to a standard USB 3.0 jack.

I did it the ugly way and just ran the standard cable out an empty slot hole in the back panel, and just plugged it into one of the two USB 3.0 jacks on the card, which left one free free on the card.

That was my issue at the time: there are a lot of front panel USB jack kits, but nearly all of them require an internal USB 3.0 header.

Be aware that the card needs to be plugged into a hard drive molex power connector. USB 3.0 allows much higher current draw than a PCI-E slot will provide.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:27 am

Executioner wrote:I think I'll get this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817182068

Normalilcy - what brand are you using?

PC Power & Cooling. They've been around since about the beginning of computers.