Help me choose between two psu's

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Apr 3, 2006
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ok how does the cool max
+3.3V@30A, +5V@50A, +12V@35A, -5V@0.5A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2.5A

have more amps than the enermax
+3.3V@28A, +5V@32A, +12V1@22A, +12V2@22A, -12V@0.6A, +5VSB@3A

the enermax has 2x12v rails 22 amps each for a total of 44 amps
where as the coolmax has a single 12v rail with 35 amps
 
First, we have the CoolMax "EZ Wire" CU-600T 600W Power Supply.
Specs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681715904

Second, there is the ENERMAX Liberty ELT620AWT 620W Power Supply.
Specs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194004

I'm leaning towards the Coolmax because it has WAY more amps than the Enermax does. I dont mind if Coolmax has only one 12v connection because i have an adapter.

Please give me your opinions and comments.
Click to expand...

I think you're really talking apples and oranges here. The Liberty 620 has 22 + 22 amps of +12V, but realize that one of the Liberty's 12V rails just powers the CPU. Still, it has 7 more amps than the Coolmax.

Check out johnnyguru.com. He's really down on the Coolmax line and gives a great review to the Liberty 620. I've seen other, similar conclusions elsewhere. I have a Liberty 620 and have mixed emotions. I'm using it in a PC that has loads of HD storage (4 SATA), 2 opticals and quite a few fans (3: 12cm, 2: 9cm plus the PS fan). Initially, I had an eVGA 6800GS and it seemed no challenge for the Liberty. Then I went and tried a 7900GTX and it flattened the Liberty. I tried anXClio 750 four-rail PS and it couldn't handle the 7900GTX and neither could a friend's 800 watt PS. So I thought the VGA was dead until I went and plugged it into my son's rig, which has an OCZ Modstream 520 watt PS with a single 28 amp +12V rail.

My bottom line is this: I'm buying the OCZ 700 watt GameExtreme PS. I spent some time on the phone with an OCZ tech guy (and also tech folks from PCP&C, Enermax, XClio, etc., etc) talking all this over. The OCZ tech's attitude and approach, coupled with the fact that my son's 520 watt OCZ could do what a 620 watt Enermax couldn't do helped shape my decision. Also, the 7900GTX has been returned. I'm running an X1900XT and am enjoying life on the Dark Side. I got that puppy to OC way up and am loving it!
 
What do you need a 600+ watt psu for.... just asking.... I would recommend a 500W psu, Seasonic, FSP, or Antec..... they will do anything you need them to, and cost less at the same time.
 
For one, the Enermax Liberty is seen by many to be a top-notch PSU, while Coolmax seems to be yet another "me-too" brand. It also appears that the Enermax has dual 12v rails, and the Coolmax only has one, which might explain the amperage difference if it is being split with a second rail. Although 22A is PLENTY of power for any peripheral being powered on that rail, so don't assume that because Coolmax has 30+ amps, you actually need it.

Finally, I agree with the other posters, 600+ watts is a mighty beefy PSU for anything other than a server or extremely high-end system. You would look into other brands such as Seasonic in the 500w range and get a lower price, plus a top-notch brand.

If you really like spending money, look at the PC Power & Cooling PSU's, they are the "gold" standard of power, and you'll need a pocketful of the yellow stuff to afford one, but it would be...like....nerd paradise.
 
First, we have the CoolMax "EZ Wire" CU-600T 600W Power Supply.
Specs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681715904

Second, there is the ENERMAX Liberty ELT620AWT 620W Power Supply.
Specs: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194004

I'm leaning towards the Coolmax because it has WAY more amps than the Enermax does. I dont mind if Coolmax has only one 12v connection because i have an adapter.

Please give me your opinions and comments.
Click to expand...

What are you running that makes you think you need a 600w PSU?
 
bweir, even a high end system would do fine with 500W. I have 2 7800GTX's 475/1300 165 Opteron@ 2.65 5 hard drives, and the other normal stuff. I am running all of that on a 480W neo power with no issues. My system draws a max of 330 from the outlet, so it is safe to assume that the system is using below 300watts, probably around 260watts. But like Bwier said, if you are some how going more highend than that, or putting some kind of multi cpu server together with many hard drives and somehow plan on getting sli on it, then you would need that much power.... otherwise.... save money and go with something better, less expensive, and lower wattage.
 
bweir, even a high end system would do fine with 500W. I have 2 7800GTX's 475/1300 165 Opteron@ 2.65 5 hard drives, and the other normal stuff. I am running all of that on a 480W neo power with no issues. My system draws a max of 330 from the outlet, so it is safe to assume that the system is using below 300watts, probably around 260watts. But like Bwier said, if you are some how going more highend than that, or putting some kind of multi cpu server together with many hard drives and somehow plan on getting sli on it, then you would need that much power.... otherwise.... save money and go with something better, less expensive, and lower wattage.
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The problem regarding "high end systems" is that they often now include X1900XTs and 7900GTXs, both of which draw significantly more current than VGAs like your 7800GTXs. Did you notice that the quad SLI nVidia systems are running the PCP&C 1000 watt PS? I think Anandtch said each of the four QSLI boards draw 150 watts.
 
Go here, its another one of my psu topics.
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1058863#1058863
People there are telling me that 550 watts isnt enough for me.

these are my specs.

AMD athlon 2.2ghz 64bit 4200+
Vapochill Micro
eVGA 7900gt x2 sli @ 550mhz (Only pieces oc'd)
Antec Truecontrol 2.0 550w psu
Asus A8n SLI premium
74gb WD raptor
300gb Maxtor Diamond
Corsair x2 1gb XMS ddr400
Air cooled: x3 80mm, x2 120mm
Click to expand...

I forget - does the vapochill have it's own AC?
 
from what I have read the 7900GTX run of of about 90watts of power, of course if you have a dual gpu card sli'ed then maybe.... even if you have 2 7900gtx's sli'ed max draw would be 180watts. Then the next most power hungry componet, the cpu, you would have a hard time getting over 150watts. That being said that would be around 330 under max power consumption for those componets.... a good 500W psu would do that easily.

http://sg.vr-zone.com/?i=3335&s=8
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_4.html

Those might help, the 1900xtx is high power, more than I though.... I guess it's kinda like intel 😛 ..... even with the 2 xtx's a good 550W psu would do it easily. Keep in mind, I am not talking about el cheapo brands....
 
Go here, its another one of my psu topics.
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=1058863#1058863
People there are telling me that 550 watts isnt enough for me.

these are my specs.

AMD athlon 2.2ghz 64bit 4200+
Vapochill Micro
eVGA 7900gt x2 sli @ 550mhz (Only pieces oc'd)
Antec Truecontrol 2.0 550w psu
Asus A8n SLI premium
74gb WD raptor
300gb Maxtor Diamond
Corsair x2 1gb XMS ddr400
Air cooled: x3 80mm, x2 120mm
Click to expand...

From looking at your specs in the other thread, your PSU is definitley the problem. Both the 3.3V and 5V rails are falling out of spec. I tend to agree with everyone that you should have enough power with 550W but if you're going to replace it anyway it won't hurt to get a little more W.

In any case the Enermax Liberty is highly rated. The Seasonic S12 series is arguably the best. PC P&C has rock solid rails but they are loud and expensive. Can't tell you anything about the Coolmax. Good luck.
 
from what I have read the 7900GTX run of of about 90watts of power, of course if you have a dual gpu card sli'ed then maybe.... even if you have 2 7900gtx's sli'ed max draw would be 180watts. Then the next most power hungry componet, the cpu, you would have a hard time getting over 150watts. That being said that would be around 330 under max power consumption for those componets.... a good 500W psu would do that easily.

http://sg.vr-zone.com/?i=3335&s=8
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/gpu-consumption2006_4.html

Those might help, the 1900xtx is high power, more than I though.... I guess it's kinda like intel 😛 ..... even with the 2 xtx's a good 550W psu would do it easily. Keep in mind, I am not talking about el cheapo brands....
Click to expand...

I've heard numbers as high as 150 watts for an OC'ed 7900GTX and have heard ~250 for an SLI pair. I'd assume those are peak numbers and that low load is less. My Liberty 620 would not run a single 7900GTX - but the OCZ Modstream 520 would.

In doing your numbers above, don't forget to add in HDs, opticals, other peripherals and fans. They don't load a PS nearly as hard as a GPU, but it all adds up!
 
Yeah, if all of those come into below 10watts a piece.... so if you had five harddrive spinning that would be no more than 50W, 2 optical 20W, 3 fans say 30W, and I am not sure about a sound card, but it can't be much. So say total around 400W. I am not saying any PSU could push it, but a good 550 would. But in all honesty, how many average users would have that much stuff....
 
Yeah, if all of those come into below 10watts a piece.... so if you had five harddrive spinning that would be no more than 50W, 2 optical 20W, 3 fans say 30W, and I am not sure about a sound card, but it can't be much. So say total around 400W. I am not saying any PSU could push it, but a good 550 would. But in all honesty, how many average users would have that much stuff....
Click to expand...

More than I originally realized have about that much stuff. I've never been that much into reading rigs on sigs until my Liberty 620 couldn't drive the 7900GTX. I popped the extra bucks for the 620 because I knew that I'd need over 400 (SLI was planned from the beginning) and wanted plenty of headroom. I was kinda shocked to have PS problems. And there are still a couple more HDs planned for the system, and a TV tuner card! Anyway, since having problems, I've opened my eyes up to what people are running and there are quite a few monster rigs outh there.
 
I see no UL number for that model. Another Coolmax model, 550W, has registration number E186010, indicating indicating manufacture by ATNG, a maker of adequate but not outstanding products.

Between Coolmax and Enermax, I would definitely prefer Enermax. But a 350W system like yours definitely does not need anything close to 600W, and an Antec Truepower is far more than adequate, unless it's developed bad output capacitors (very simple and inexpensive repair).
 
Here's a power calculator that you might like playing with. Remember it estimates. :wink: http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

Fortron is a good brand but I hope you aren't adding up those four 12V rails and thinking you're getting 60A. It's probably more like 43A. The Enermax Liberty 620 didn't have 44A combined on the 12V rail either. It is 36A combined. You just can't simply add the 22A on each 12V rail and come up with 44A. Look at the specs label. Divide available wattage from the 12V rails by 12 to get available amps from the 12V rails.

Take a look at the Antec NeoHE 550. It has three 12V rails with 18A each and a combined total of 42A. This is more than most PSU's with 600W-650W.
 
My Fortron FX700-GLN arrived today. Here are my new voltages at idle:
Vcore 1.36
3.3: 3.26
5.0: 4.89
12.0: 12.16

i think these are pretty decent voltages but i am still pretty ignorant.
 
I am assuming that with a vapochill that you are doing a tad of overclocking? I didnt see that mentioned but an oc could nearly double the wattage required by the cpu alone. my Understading is that in terms of your 12v rail they reccomend 26amps for a single 7800/7900gt/gts or a x1800/1900xt/xtx and 35 amps for a sli or crossfire setup. Search for a psu wattage calculator. I used one and it reccomended a psu a lot stronger than I thought I would need.
 
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