Radeon x1950xtx and Enermax Liberty 400

[flyboy1985]

Hi everyone

My current system consists of:

Inte E6400
OCZ 2Gb 6400
Western Digital 250Gb 2500KS
Sapphire Radeon x850xt
DFI Infinity 975X/G
Enermax Liberty 400W

I've been offered a used x1950xtx for 300$. First of all is it considered a good price?

The second question is whether my PSU will be enough?

By the way, The eXtreme Power Supply Calculated 344W.

Thanks

 

[MarcVenice]

300$ for a used 1950xtx ? When a 8800gts 320mb outperforms a 1950xtx, for less money, 300$ for a used card can NEVER be a good price. A good price would probably be 175-200$, depending wether it still has warranty on it.

And yes, your PSU can handle it.

 

[flyboy1985]

Sorry. I forgot to mention that I dont live in the US. Our prices are a bit different. 8800GTS starts with 450$, much like a used x1950xtx.

 

[flyboy1985]

much like a new x1950xtx

oops

 

[MarcVenice]

hmz 8800gts 320mb isn't a 50% improvement over a 1950xtx, so yeah then it doesn't sound THAT bad. No way to import something though ? I mean, shipping something like a videocard from the US to Holland would cost like 50$, which would still be worth it for you. Better yet is it when you go to the US and can bring it back home yourself.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The Enermax Liberty PSUs have developed a reputation of flash-banging when driven to max output with high ambient temps. You might want to do your own Google on this known fact. Generally they don't take other hardware during their exit.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
The Enermax Liberty PSUs have developed a reputation of flash-banging when driven to max output with high ambient temps. You might want to do your own Google on this known fact. Generally they don't take other hardware during their exit.

Not only that, but my Enermax Liberty 500 watt couldn't handle an X1900XT (not XTX), so I can guarantee the OP that his 400 watt version doesn't stand a chance.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Member Rubycon had a 600W Liberty flash/bang aboard ship. They wanted a piece of her hide for that mishap because it activated the ship's ground fault system in that area. jonnyGURU has removed the Libertys from his recommended list because of this issue.
They sure are pretty units when the hood is up, golden anodized sinks an all. There are plenty of ugly PSUs that will run circles around these Enermax beauties.

 

[John]

GY, have you heard any bad reports on the Infiniti psu?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The Infinities sure have reviewed/tested well. They are independently regulated. That offers more stable voltage from lite to heavy loads and cross loading issues are very rare if they happen at all. The secondary caps are an unknown over at Badcaps because they are a recent entry to this market..CEC-United Electronics Ltd. (Chinese)
What? There is the 720W and a 650W. I have heard nothing. No problems...Yet.

jon might prolly know because he is in contact with many of the respected reviewers. I can think of 6 off the top of my head.

On the Liberty: I have not seen or heard of one being opened up after the POP. The ones I heard of were in warranty and RMAed. Although, iirc, Enermax uses no warranty sticker, just as Enhance and the Enhance provided Silverstone units have no sticker.

Member Minerva also had a 600W Liberty explode. PM her or Rubycon for details. Rubycon is a very sharp hobbiest(total girl geek) and Minerva builds and maintains mission critical servers...to include the diesel operated generators and the banks of UPSs. All her SuperMicro servers run AbleCon PSUs built by Lite-On.

 

[MarcVenice]

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2821&p=13

The system they are using is nearly identical to what he has, x6800 @ 2.93ghz, 1 HD, 2gb ram. There could be a difference in mobo, but that wouldn't cause his rig to use another 100W extra under load. So I doubt a 1950xtx will be pushing his PSU to the max.

As for it being a bad PSU that might blow up, I'm no PSU expert, so perhaps you should buy a different 400/500w PSU, with at least 30a on the combined rails, that doesn't blow up. But I honestly think his PSU can handle the 1950xtx.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Member Rubycon had a 600W Liberty flash/bang aboard ship. They wanted a piece of her hide for that mishap because it activated the ship's ground fault system in that area. jonnyGURU has removed the Libertys from his recommended list because of this issue.
They sure are pretty units when the hood is up, golden anodized sinks an all. There are plenty of ugly PSUs that will run circles around these Enermax beauties.

Actually that was a 620W. (or did they derate them now?

Funny thing is that occurred with the system under minimal load and it was cool (~70F) in the area. It was not expected at ALL! The power monitor tripped the circuit and logged an "anomaly" and that's all I'm basically told. It was like the system was turned off (power cord yanked) - it just stopped and honestly I would've never thought anything was wrong if there was no smell. It definitely let out the magic smoke. :Q

So I took just the power supply and connected it to a long extension cord and plugged it into a standard outlet with no monitoring and YIKES! It buzzed and shot sparks like a roman candle and there was a nice spark on the extension cord when it was yanked. All I can say is if this was running on a standard circuit that one may find in their house it would've banged good and *possibly* sacrificed expensive hardware connected to it.

BTW the Seasonic 700W has been flawless since installed last October. System is running with 12HDD, QX6700 at 3.2GHz (default voltage) and a 8800GTX. No problems with anything so far. System runs at 240VAC here. The Seasonic is an ugly duckling as far as aesthetics go but ugly doesn't raise cane on the 11th deck - all is well.

Sorry, I hit EDIT instead of QUOTE. Hungry I guess.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2821&p=13

The system they are using is nearly identical to what he has, x6800 @ 2.93ghz, 1 HD, 2gb ram. There could be a difference in mobo, but that wouldn't cause his rig to use another 100W extra under load. So I doubt a 1950xtx will be pushing his PSU to the max.

As for it being a bad PSU that might blow up, I'm no PSU expert, so perhaps you should buy a different 400/500w PSU, with at least 30a on the combined rails, that doesn't blow up. But I honestly think his PSU can handle the 1950xtx.

Well, Marc, it isn't the "size" of the psu that's in question, just the quality. Honestly, a 380 watt Seasonic S12 would be more than enough power, in this instance.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Thanks for the detailed explaination Rubycon (Ms Dawn). Yes it is 620W. starfury1 over at Badcaps is concerned about the general health of his lightly loaded 620 Liberty.
Minerva had one flash-bang under load and it took nothing with it.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Minerva had one flash-bang under load and it took nothing with it.

You sure about that?

She hasn't been around for a while. :Q

 

[MarcVenice]

Question: if your PSU blows up, and you can more or less prove that you haven't been putting it under max load for extended periods of time, is the PSU manufacturerer, or the e-tailer you bought it from supposed to pay for any damage done? Or is the PSU some kind of use at your own risk thingy? Would normal insurence of your house cover it ?

PSU's don't blow up that often, but it could basicaly happen to anyone, with any kind of PSU.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Question: if your PSU blows up, and you can more or less prove that you haven't been putting it under max load for extended periods of time, is the PSU manufacturerer, or the e-tailer you bought it from supposed to pay for any damage done? Or is the PSU some kind of use at your own risk thingy? Would normal insurence of your house cover it ?

PSU's don't blow up that often, but it could basicaly happen to anyone, with any kind of PSU.

A PSU that is built with the protection circuitry inplace will not take out other hardware on the way out. I have read of one instance where a Seasonic unit killed other hardware. Seasonic replaced the system but not the contents of the HDDs.

Generally only the PSU gets replaced via RMA. Just because I care little for Antec PSUs does not effect the fact they are fantastic about RMAing bad units.

Most PSU problems cause systems to shut down or hang because of voltage dips. Voltage spikes in the 5V rail at BOOT can and do kill HDDs. Dirty current will shorten the service life of capacitors down stream, be they on the mainboard or cards. HDDs have no filtering caps.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Minerva had one flash-bang under load and it took nothing with it.

You sure about that?

She hasn't been around for a while. :Q

She told me about it via PM, t'was 12~18 months ago. PM her. You cruise by her island home often enough to be putting messages in bottles.