2 +12v rails and 1 graphics card

[Guest]

Hi, I have this Power Supply: Cooler master 500w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031

it has 2 +12v rails each 18amps and only 1 pcie 6 pin connector

I know that this psu isnt exactly the best but if a video card requires 24amps and I only have 18 amps X2 can I safely run the card??? does it mean that I have up to 36amps? I read online that 1 12 rail is better but the one I have has 2 weak ones.

Thanks.

 

[delluser1]

The card doesn't require 24 amps, it is reccomended that the psu in the system you intend to put the card in, provide at least 24 amps ( doesn't matter if it's single or multi rail ).
Look at the label of your psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=17-171-031-07.jpg&Image=17-171-031-03.jpg%2c17-171-031-04.jpg%2c17-171-031-05.jpg%2c17-171-031-06.jpg%2c17-171-031-07.jpg%2c17-171-031-08.jpg%2c17-171-031-09.jpg%2c17-171-031-10.jpg%2c17-171-031-11.jpg%2c17-171-031-02.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&WaterMark=1&Item=N82E16817171031&Depa=1&Description=COOLER%20MASTER%20eXtreme%20Power%20Plus%20RS-500-PCAR-A3%20500W%20Power%20Supply
The combined 12v ouput is 360 watts or 30 amps.

 

[Guest]

so what is the advantage of having a huge single rail? also, sorry if this is a stupid question but how did you get 30amps, I cant find it on the label, it only shows 2 12v rails 18a each and 360w combined.

 

[daedalus685]

so what is the advantage of having a huge single rail? also, sorry if this is a stupid question but how did you get 30amps, I cant find it on the label, it only shows 2 12v rails 18a each and 360w combined.

well, 360/12 = 30.. high school physics

Anyway.. A single large rail does not really add much over a well built multi rail system. Though the first few multi rail systems were not set up very well and did not always both send multiple leads to a particular line, sometimes you would only get 18A (or whatever a single rail would be) at the PCIe connection.

PSU companies will go on about how single rail is more compatible blah blah blah, but so long as you are getting a quality unit it doesn't matter.

 

[Guest]

thanks, i remember now, i just though that combined output of 2 rails is found by adding them, but 30amps is more then enough for my setup anyways