8800gts and power suply

TabrisDarkPeace

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With PSUs - You only need to ask yourself one question:

Are they on the nVidia SLI Certified:
http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html#certified_powersupplies
; and / or the ATI/AMD Certified:
http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/buildyourown2.html
; PSUs lists ?

Links:
- http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html#certified_powersupplies
- http://ati.amd.com/technology/crossfire/buildyourown2.html
- http://users.on.net/~darkpeace/psu/List_of_Recommended_PSUs_Nov_2006.pdf

Stick to the certified lists above, and you'll make the perfect choice, first time, every time.
If not go one level (+41.43%) higher wattage than you think you need, it'll last you through more upgrades and reduce chances of problems when the PSU is 3+ years old.

Q3 2007: Personal estimates are around 880 watts for high end configurations, and beyond that we'll get more efficient but hopefully not need more than 880 watts per PSU.

(Environmental factors, most outlets only let you use 1600 - 2400 watts max, and you want to share that by 3+ devices, etc)

See Also Thread: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1387918#1387918
 

TabrisDarkPeace

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If it hasn't been certified, how do you know it is really X,XXX watts ?

I know there are heaps of parts being advertised as "SLI Ready", but "SLI Certified" parts reduce risk even more.

... and hey, there are some damn fine PSUs on that list at good price points too.

Possibly including the one the op mentioned, and several others they have been considering but didn't mention.

[I am gradually re-fining the reply btw, minor edits, etc]

For a single GeForce 8800 GTS the Antec Neo HE should be OK.

However for 2 x GeForce 8800 GTS one should really be looking at these PSUs:
AntecTruePower Trio 650W
CoolerMasterReal Power Pro 850W (RS-850-EMBA)
ETASISET-850 850W
ETASISET-750 750W
HEC GroupSigma 650W
FSP GroupBoosterX 3 ** - (Not certified for Dual GeForce
8800 GTS)
OCZ TechnologyOCZ GameXStream 700W
PC Power & CoolingTurbo Cool 1KW-SR 1000W
PC Power & Cooling1KW-Quad SLI (TC1KW4E) 1000W
PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 1KW (TC1KW)
PC Power & Cooling Turbo-Cool 1KW-Quad SLI
(TC1KW4E)
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 EPS12V 750W
Seasonic M12-700 700W
Seasonic S12 Energy Plus 650W
SilverstoneZeus ST85ZF 850W
SilverstoneZeus ST75ZF 750W
TaganTG1100-U96 1100W
TaganTG800-U25 800W
TaganTG-700U 700W
TaganTG900-U95 900W
TaganTG1100 1100W
ThermaltakeToughpower W0131RU 850W
ThermaltakeToughpower 850W (W0131)
ThermaltakePurePower Power Express 250W (W0099) ** -
(Not certified for Dual GeForce 8800 GTS)
ThermaltakeToughPower 700W
ThermaltakeToughPower 750W
Topower/ePowerTOP-1000W
XClioGreatPower X14S4P4 650W
XClioGreatPower X14S4P4 700W
XClioGreatPower X14S4P4 750W
ZippyGaming PSL-6850P(G1)-PCIE4
ZippyGaming PSL-6850P(G1) 850W
As the OP has a SLI capable mainboard, and is looking at "SLI Ready" PSUs I am going to assume they eventually want to SLI 2 x GeForce 8800 GTS - ... in which case they should be after one of the above PSUs.

8) - Tabris:DarkPeace
 

TabrisDarkPeace

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With the way video cards are going, and dual GPU setups becoming ever more common, I'll stick with the certified lists.

But that is my choice. (and it doesn't cost that much extra to do it, it is likely to save money over the course of 15+ months as a new PSU will not be required 'next upgrade'. Also better fot the life of the PC, etc).

Being able to run 2 x GeForce 8800 GTS (or equiv by power consumption, if even with only one card) will be an important factor in gaming soon enough.

880 watts is the most a high-end 'consumer' machine will ever require by end of 2007. But 620 watts is the absolute minimum.

I am yet to hear of a "SLI Certified" PSU fail when used in the correct setup (as documented).

Many of the PSUs you're recommending are actually on the list, However the Enermax 460 watt I know isn't. Enermax and Tagan are listed, but only the models not expected to fail within 18 months with a 'normal' SLI setup (for the PSUs output, eg: Not 2 x 8800 GTS on a 460 watt) get certified.

eg: Both of these are listed:[list]
XClio GreatPower X14S4P3 550W
Tagan TG-500U 500W
[/list]

All it cost me was about 2 hours of my time, and an extra + AU$50 (if that). But it saved me money over the course of 18 months anyway.

It isn't like I am recommending stuff that you're not. I'm just presenting the same concepts a different way. We are both on the same 'side' of the forums after all. :lol:
 

TabrisDarkPeace

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Listed:
ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W Power Supply 90V~265V (Auto Adjusted) UL, cUL, TUV, CB - Retail

XClio GreatPower X14S4P3 550W

Tagan TG-500U 500W
Not listed:
ENERMAX Noisetaker II EG495P-VE ATX12V 485W Power Supply 115/230 V - Retail

I can't recommend a 485 watt PSU for a GeForce 8800 GTS myself though, and chaces are high that it would have stability problems within 18 months anyway....

How much would it be saving vs a [affordable] certified one [you choice, with price difference quoted please] ? - Looking at those prices around US$25 dollars for longevity and peace of mind. I would class that as an investment in the long term stability of my PC - as I don't want my PSU to fail taking [other] expensive hardware with it, just 2-6 months past warranty [for example].

Also, what are you recommending for 2 x GeForce 8800 GTS setups ?
 

purplerat

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I agree that it's kind of lazy to tell somebody asking a question to just buy off a list because they're all 'certified'. A little bit of knowledge and research (which a forum like this is suposed to by about) can go a long way towards finding a cheaper alternitive and not having to pay a company for paying Nvidia to get a 'SLi Certified' sticker.
 

grant8844

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I agree with the comments that the SLI rating system leaves out good PSUs that would work fine.

For example, the approved PSUs for 8800gts SLI includes the Antec TruePower Trio 650. However, this category does not include the Cosair HX620W.

These two PSU have almost indentical specifications and according to several PSU reviews the Cosair is a better 'industrial quality' PSU.

Yes, I know that they are both built by Seasonic
 

mit78

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i dont need sli in this moment,its good for now,for all games,maximum details and resolution.
this comments is booring without a real subject,i dont need a sli configuration,just that.
antec neohe500w,its good psu
 

Sugarcane

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I have a similar question. My power supply is a 2 year old Thermaltake W0014 480w model.

Specs link

It says max load on 12v rail is 18amps. I notice also that it doesn't have a 6 pin pci-e connector, but those are only $3 or so locally. Think I'd be ok with this PS if I do decide to go w/ the 8800gts? Thanks.
 

Sugarcane

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Guess I'll have to factor in a new P.S. if I want an 8800 then:)

That power supply was pretty good though. I had 5 hard drives, 2 dvd-roms, and an X800xl video card running off that thing for 2 years w/ no problems. It will be missed :cry:
 

hardcoregamer

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hi all i have just built a new sytem and here are my specs

Intel Core 2 DUO E6600
MSI 975X Platinum PowerUP Edition
Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2-5400C4 TwinX (2x1GB)
XFX geforce 8800 gts
Western Digital 250gb hard drive sata 2
Pioneer DVR-111D 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter

and i got this case with a power supply in it i dont no if it will handle my system i was wondring could you help me out here are the specs for the case and power supply

http://www.pixmania-pro.co.uk/uk/uk/antec/tx-1088amg-pc-case/133492/fiche.html
 

levicki

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I see that there is a lot of confusion going on here.

1. SLI certified doesn't mean the PSU is good, just that the vendor has paid for certification. Certification itself only checks for the total amperage available at 12V as declared by vendor. Even the number of 6-pin connectors is not checked. For example CoolerMaster RealPower 550W is SLI certified but it has only one 6-pin PCI-E power connector and what is even worse it has additional 6-pin workstation connector which looks exactly the same and can be plugged instead of the real one but it carries totally different voltages (reversed + and - and 3.3V instead of 12V).

2. On the box of my EVGA 8800GTX it says that you need PSU capable of 30A on 12V to run the system with 8800GTX card. So 30A is not the power required solely for the card. nVidia is swimming in muddy waters together with PSU vendors when power requirements are concerned -- they are letting them sell needlessly powerfull and outrageously expensive power supplies.

3. There are certain PSUs which have just a bit more (or even less!) output power wattage than the older models but significantly different power distribution amongst voltages. For example compare Seasonic S12 600W and their newer model which has 650W. You could think that 650W is inadequate because it is only 50W more but when you check 12V amperage you realize that 600W model has 36A, while 650W model has 52A distributed over its four 12V rails. Even if you think that 550W cannot possibly be better than 600W you get surprised because 550W PSU is capable of delivering 41A at 12V as oposed to 36A on 600W model.

Anyway, from my signature you can see that I have Seasonic 600W PSU and it runs 8800GTX without breaking a sweat.

I also had a chance to test Quad SLI using 7950GX2 and it worked perfectly stable even though my PSU is not certified for it.

I also tested Quad SLI using CoolerMaster RealPower 550W PSU and its built-in watt-meter showed only 310W load under maximum stress (3D Mark 2006 tests).

Bottom line:
Certifications are not something you should blindly trust and you can't get away from doing your homework.
 

hardcoregamer

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kk thanx will have to get a new 1 tho when i decided to go sli.hope i can run all latest games on high settings on ma new system what you think cant wait till crysis wb
 

sirheck

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kk thanx will have to get a new 1 tho when i decided to go sli.hope i can run all latest games on high settings on ma new system what you think cant wait till crysis wb

you should be totally happy with your gts for a while :lol:

happy gaming.