OCZ GameXStream 850W

[Gary Key]

We received the OCZ GameXStream 850W - OCZ-850W PIC - a few days ago. Even though it does not have native Quad PCI-E connectors we have not had any issues running the following configuration 24/7 yet.

X6800 - overclocked to 3.93GHz
Asus Striker Extreme 680i MB
2 x Video Cards - MSI GeForce 8800GTX cards - overclocked to 714/1080
2 x Optical Drives - Sony 18x DVD/RW - Plextor Blu-Ray
1 x Hard Drive - WD1500 Raptor - Boot Drive
3 x Hard Drive - Seagate 750GB 7200.10 RAID 5
4 x 1GB Memory - OCZ PC2-8000VX2
6 x 120mm Fans - Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evolution
1 x Liquid Cooling System - Cooler Master Aquagate
1 x SB X-FI

Unlike a couple of 650W and 700W power supplies we have on hand this particular unit has not had any trouble powering our test bed to date. One of the apps we used during stress testing was Flight Simulator X that took everything our 8800GTX tandem could throw at it and laughed. :evil:

We still need to complete some technical testing on this unit (other 850W supplies are scheduled to arrive shortly) but so far we give the OCZ unit a thumbs up at this time. Our only two quibbles at this time is that the noise level is louder than the 700W unit (not so much the volume as it is the tone during load) and the lack of Quad PCI-E connectors. We no longer have worries about the power requirements for our R600 cards or AMD's 4x4 system when they arrive.

 

[Ayah]

:shocked: WATER COOL IT!!
(The Aquagate doesn't count as watercooling)

 

[PhoenixOrion]

nice.....

[drooling at that test bed]

 

[nib95]

Holey moley....you have the badest rig ever.....

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Are you testing PSUs at full load? If so, how? Will AnandTech show o'scope readings of ripple and noise? What tab are SMPS reviews under?

Thanks for any answers.

 

[Noema]

2x8800GTX?
4GB of RAM?
2+TB of Storage...

Holy Moley! :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:

Makes my own rig look like a pocket calculator. :laugh:

 

[Lagatta]

Kinda makes me wish I'd waited for the 850W instead of jumping on the 700W

 

[yosuke188]

Now I understand why manufacturers make PSUs this big.... for beastly rigs like this.

 

[Aikouka]

And I thought I was the only crazy one to use multiple 750's like that . Currently I have 2 and I'll be expanding to 4 in the coming weeks... expensive, but when it comes down to it, space matters and I need massive amounts of storage.

I'm a bit curious in the ripples and noise like Mr. Yankee asked about. Especially since the 700W showed serious issues with such under heavy load in Jonny's test.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The new 600W EvoStream is being built by 3Y Power...NOT FSP.
Reviewed just posted at http://www.jonnyguru.com/
3Y is a respected builder of server grade SMPSs.
Maybe this 850 is OEMed by 3Y also.

Gary? Can you post the UL number?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
We received the OCZ GameXStream 850W - OCZ-850W PIC - a few days ago. Even though it does not have native Quad PCI-E connectors we have not had any issues running the following configuration 24/7 yet.

I wnat to make sure I understand this right..... (you're getting blogged for this, BTW. )

You have two 8800GTX's, each with two PCI-e connectors on them.

Are you only running one PCI-e connector to each card, leaving the other connection vacant, or are you using an adapter to adapt Molexes to PCI-e for the second connector.

Thanks!

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU

Originally posted by: Gary Key
We received the OCZ GameXStream 850W - OCZ-850W PIC - a few days ago. Even though it does not have native Quad PCI-E connectors we have not had any issues running the following configuration 24/7 yet.

I wnat to make sure I understand this right..... (you're getting blogged for this, BTW. )

You have two 8800GTX's, each with two PCI-e connectors on them.

Are you only running one PCI-e connector to each card, leaving the other connection vacant, or are you using an adapter to adapt Molexes to PCI-e for the second connector.

Thanks!

I'd assume he's using adapters, because the G80's will only boot in low-power mode if they detect a single connector (in the first slot). Low-power mode being fairly useless for anything but 2D.

 

[crydee]

I always thought the need for 2 pci-e connectors was pretty dumb especially since psu makers are switching to 1 huge 12v rail now. imagine the cabling you'd have to do on something like that, uck. hopefully ati dosn't follow that with their new stuff.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Gary Key
X6800 - overclocked to 3.93GHz
Asus Striker Extreme 680i MB
2 x Video Cards - MSI GeForce 8800GTX cards - overclocked to 714/1080
2 x Optical Drives - Sony 18x DVD/RW - Plextor Blu-Ray
1 x Hard Drive - WD1500 Raptor - Boot Drive
3 x Hard Drive - Seagate 750GB 7200.10 RAID 5
4 x 1GB Memory - OCZ PC2-8000VX2
6 x 120mm Fans - Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evolution
1 x Liquid Cooling System - Cooler Master Aquagate
1 x SB X-FI

So how much power did all of that draw?

Thought that's a very power hungry system I would think a good 650-700 watt PSU would be enough. That is unless the 12v rails were setup in a way to cause problems with the dual 8800GTX cards.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: crydee
I always thought the need for 2 pci-e connectors was pretty dumb especially since psu makers are switching to 1 huge 12v rail now. imagine the cabling you'd have to do on something like that, uck. hopefully ati dosn't follow that with their new stuff.

I believe the reason is that the PCI-E spec requires only a certain amount of power to be drawn through each connector. That's why nVidia put two.

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: Gary Key
X6800 - overclocked to 3.93GHz
Asus Striker Extreme 680i MB
2 x Video Cards - MSI GeForce 8800GTX cards - overclocked to 714/1080
2 x Optical Drives - Sony 18x DVD/RW - Plextor Blu-Ray
1 x Hard Drive - WD1500 Raptor - Boot Drive
3 x Hard Drive - Seagate 750GB 7200.10 RAID 5
4 x 1GB Memory - OCZ PC2-8000VX2
6 x 120mm Fans - Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evolution
1 x Liquid Cooling System - Cooler Master Aquagate
1 x SB X-FI

So how much power did all of that draw?

Thought that's a very power hungry system I would think a good 650-700 watt PSU would be enough. That is unless the 12v rails were setup in a way to cause problems with the dual 8800GTX cards.

Yes, what are the idle and full load power draws for this setup and psu?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

I'd assume he's using adapters, because the G80's will only boot in low-power mode if they detect a single connector (in the first slot). Low-power mode being fairly useless for anything but 2D.

Cool. Good to know. The only 8800GTX I've had access to had both connectors installed and wasn't tried with only one hooked up. Wasn't in the mood to go experimenting with someone else's $600 video card.

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: crydee
I always thought the need for 2 pci-e connectors was pretty dumb especially since psu makers are switching to 1 huge 12v rail now. imagine the cabling you'd have to do on something like that, uck. hopefully ati dosn't follow that with their new stuff.

I believe the reason is that the PCI-E spec requires only a certain amount of power to be drawn through each connector. That's why nVidia put two.

Exactly. You can only put so much juice through so few wires and pins and not see a drop in voltage. Having redundancy in connectors is only going to ensure that the voltage at the end of the connector is closer to the actual voltage output of the PSU. Nothing dumb about that.