the ultimate "do i need a 24pin PSU ?" thread

[batmanuel]

I think Pr0d1gy is just tired of hearing the people suggest the most expensive PSUs out there when something like the Tagan 480 will power a demanding system just fine for under $90 shipped. There are a lot of nice PSUs out there around $70-$80. Even the TruePower 380S that comes with the Sonata is actually pretty decent as far as the amps on the +12 rail goes (24A on the newer models).

 

[hotlips69]

I'm considering getting this NForce4 Ultra board from Foxconn Winfast (late Leadtek).

I'm going to be using a quality 20pin PSU, but if you look at the attached picture, I notice that there is a 4 pin molex connector on the mobo that I don't know what it's for.

Could this be to help power the pci-x card in case you don't have the 24pin ATX cable??

http://www.foxconnchannel.com/redesign/picBig.cfm?picName=m_NF4UK8AA-8EKRS.jpg

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: hotlips69
I'm considering getting this NForce4 Ultra board from Foxconn Winfast (late Leadtek).

I'm going to be using a quality 20pin PSU, but if you look at the attached picture, I notice that there is a 4 pin molex connector on the mobo that I don't know what it's for.

Could this be to help power the pci-x card in case you don't have the 24pin ATX cable??

http://www.foxconnchannel.com/redesign/picBig.cfm?picName=m_NF4UK8AA-8EKRS.jpg

I could be counting wrong, but it looks like that motherboard has the new 24 pin connection on it. That site is not over-flowing with info.

The four pin connection you see towards the CPU bracket, is your 12v line. It powers your CPU.

You must use it and your 20 or 24 power connection at the same time.

 

[batmanuel]

Hotlips69 is talking about the white molex on the left edge of the board near the top. It could very well be to supply extra power to the PCIe graphics slot. I know my Intel 915PBL has a molex on the board that they say should be plugged in if you are using a 20-pin PSU and a graphics card that draws more than 75W. I'd check the Foxconn site and see if they have a manual available for download so you can confirm.

 

[sanrivaldo2]

hi to everyone, im new here....will the 20 pin L&C PSU that comes with the A-Top Xblade case work with a chaintech nforce4 ultra??? it says its 18A on 12V but since its an unknown brand it can be less dont you think?? you say that for the 20 pin working on the nfroce4 boards, the power supply will have to be at least 18 to 20A on the 12V.....im not planning on overclocking anything (amd 64 3000+, leadtek 6600gt, 3 case fans, 1 optical drive, 1 hdd, sound card and tv card)


sorry if i write something wrong...im from Panama (yeah that little country in central america that have a canal)

 

[MrControversial]

You can use the 20 pin, period. Gigabyte motherboards even have a stopper on the last four pins of their NF4 boards so you can't screw it up. If you know where pin 1 is on the motherboard (look at the manual) then you can't screw up. I blew $6 on an adapter just in case.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: batmanuel
I think Pr0d1gy is just tired of hearing the people suggest the most expensive PSUs out there when something like the Tagan 480 will power a demanding system just fine for under $90 shipped. There are a lot of nice PSUs out there around $70-$80. Even the TruePower 380S that comes with the Sonata is actually pretty decent as far as the amps on the +12 rail goes (24A on the newer models).

EXACTLY!!! Thank you voice of reason, aka batmanuel. I already knew what you guys would say when I asked what PSU I should get, I just wanted to see if anyone had anything original to say.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: Pr0d1gy

Originally posted by: batmanuel
I think Pr0d1gy is just tired of hearing the people suggest the most expensive PSUs out there when something like the Tagan 480 will power a demanding system just fine for under $90 shipped. There are a lot of nice PSUs out there around $70-$80. Even the TruePower 380S that comes with the Sonata is actually pretty decent as far as the amps on the +12 rail goes (24A on the newer models).

EXACTLY!!! Thank you voice of reason, aka batmanuel. I already knew what you guys would say when I asked what PSU I should get, I just wanted to see if anyone had anything original to say.

Well, your question was loaded. You want a good quality powers supply, and you said you might upgrade to SLI in the future. You list that you will be using very high end video cards.

Why buy a 6800GT, if a regular 6800 will work just fine for video games now? You see what I mean?

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: FastEddie
I've been using an Athena Power 500W for all NF4 SLI builds---including an FX55/Dual 6800Ultra's---without ANY power related problems whatever. Newegg has these for under $60---> A-GPB 500W

This psu has the hybrid 24-pin connector (20+4=24), including the -5v pin for onboard Creative 24bit sound on the MSI Platinum/Diamond. The Athena Power psu has taken all I could throw at it, in spades. And I, too, am sick of people recommending a $250 psu like it's an absolute "must have" for SLI.

I agree when someone has a basic system and somone states that they "need" a 400w power supply.

I just find it funny, when people here will have a system with:

$400.00 video card
$300.00 low cas overclocking ram
$400.00 CPU overclocked
A Raptor hard drive

Then they say I don't want to spend more than $40.00 on a power supply. I agree that you don't need a great power supply, but a good power supply backed by a good warranty is a good idea.

The point is that you don't need to spend $140.00 on a power supply, but just make sure you are getting one that is good enough for what you want to do. The power supply is IMO the most important and overlooked component of your system.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Edited for fellow Pink Floyd fan.

 

[REMF]

great thread, sticky it please.

quick question: i was lucky enough to acquire a 400W Silverstone PSU with 18A on the 12v rail.

i am also junking my old PC and building a new.......... hooray, i just saved myself £45.00 on the price of a new PSU!

then i realise that most nforce4 boards have 24pin ATX power sockets, so i check my PSU............ and find it only has 20 pins.

if i want to build an:
A64 XP3200+
2x 512MB PC3200
nForce4 ultra
6600GT silentpipe GPU
300GB HD
one optical drive.

which i do not intend to O/C (htpc), will the PSU be fine for the purpose?

and would this situation change if i put a 6800GT and second 300GB HD in the case instead?

cheers

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: FastEddie
I'm just plain tired of people recommending a psu because the manufacturer slapped an "SLI" label on it, charge more than double what it should cost, and try to make everyone believe that they absolutely need this psu if they are going to run SLI. That's complete and utter rubbish.

That makes 2 of us.

 

[UsandThem]

Edited to end dispute

 

[Pr0d1gy]

For those who want to read something useful, Tom's Hardware just posted this recently:

PSU Shootout UNDER $100!!

Plenty of those could power an SLI with great stability & overclocking ability. Yet the funny thing is the $80-100 Enermax & Fortron have nearly the same efficiency at full load as their $220-250 counterparts. While that means you are getting 100w extra from those $200+ PSU's it is utterly pointless to pay that much since you don't actually need it. The real stars of that test are the Fortron Blue Storm & Enermax 485. Both over 70% at full load and both at or under $100.

Edited for Mother!

 

[UsandThem]

Edited to end dispute

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Edited for Lunatic.

 

[UsandThem]

Edited to end dispute

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Edited for Division Bell.

 

[UsandThem]

Edited to end dispute

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: Pr0d1gy

Originally posted by: UsandThem
You come out firing at me with childish comments, you will get plenty back.

You need to learn how to debate ideas and thoughts without insulting people. I never attacked you until your "posting nonsense" comment.

Yeah, that's what really happened. Hey if you believe it, it must be true...lol

Are you done or would you like to continue?

I could care less, reverse psychology is the fool's paradise.

 

[UsandThem]

Edited to end dispute

 

[REMF]

Originally posted by: REMF
great thread, sticky it please.

quick question: i was lucky enough to acquire a 400W Silverstone PSU with 18A on the 12v rail.

i am also junking my old PC and building a new.......... hooray, i just saved myself £45.00 on the price of a new PSU!

then i realise that most nforce4 boards have 24pin ATX power sockets, so i check my PSU............ and find it only has 20 pins.

if i want to build an:
A64 XP3200+
2x 512MB PC3200
nForce4 ultra
6600GT silentpipe GPU
300GB HD
one optical drive.

which i do not intend to O/C (htpc), will the PSU be fine for the purpose?

and would this situation change if i put a 6800GT and second 300GB HD in the case instead?

cheers

bumping this question to the far side of the argument.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: REMF

Originally posted by: REMF
great thread, sticky it please.

quick question: i was lucky enough to acquire a 400W Silverstone PSU with 18A on the 12v rail.

i am also junking my old PC and building a new.......... hooray, i just saved myself £45.00 on the price of a new PSU!

then i realise that most nforce4 boards have 24pin ATX power sockets, so i check my PSU............ and find it only has 20 pins.

if i want to build an:
A64 XP3200+
2x 512MB PC3200
nForce4 ultra
6600GT silentpipe GPU
300GB HD
one optical drive.

which i do not intend to O/C (htpc), will the PSU be fine for the purpose?

and would this situation change if i put a 6800GT and second 300GB HD in the case instead?

cheers

bumping this question to the far side of the argument.

I'm done with the argument now

That power supply should be fine, however I have never heard of that company and don't know much about them. I would personally would go with the Tagan Series for $79.00, as it has 28a on the 12v, but hey, what do I know according to some

The one that I am talking about is this. It got really good reviews:

Link

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Edited for Comfortably Numb.

 

[UsandThem]

Edited to end dispute