question about a power supply

Hello PC Hardware forum!

I've been lurking around for awhile now as I get ready to build myself a new rig, and I've learned a ton already. This will be my first build from scratch, and while I don't think I'll have any problems, I'm finding one part of the whole equation to be more confusing than the rest - the PSU. Now I'm not looking to cut corners here, although obviously keeping the price down is always a good thing.

All of that being said, I've been looking at this power supply:

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817148005

I won't lie to you, I picked it because i like the look of it, and since the case I've picked has a window, I don't think that's such a bad thing. But I'm wondering how Apevia rates in the power supply department. Anyone had any experience with them? I'm kind of skeptical, but on paper it looks like this should be sufficient... Anyway, this build will include ... well, here, see for yourself:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=6867508&WishListTitle=Working+list

Finally, a general question. I've seen many posts saying that the amperage on the +12V rail is most important for graphics card powering, and that 34a is what I should be looking for to power a 8800gtx. But in looking at PSU specs, I often see something like this: 12V1 - 14a, 12V2 - 16a. Can anyone explain this to me?

If you've gotten this far, thank you. And I'd appreciate any help you can give.

You add up the amount of amps on the 12V rail... so that power supply you're using as an example has 30 amps on the 12V rail.

I can't recommend APEVIA power supplies, as they are honestly one of the worst PSU manufacturers out there. Their higher end power supplies may be decent, but the low end is just terrible.

By the way, for your build.. I'd suggest getting 2GBs of RAM with low timings, bumping up to an E6600 and getting this hard drive for $5 more.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

This RAM.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565

Power supply recommendation..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010

Thanks for the responses! I'm a little sad to hear the Apevia PSU is poor quality, but oh well. There's more important things than looks, right? I'll definitely swap that out with one of the recommendations.

I've been going back and forth on the ram between 2gig and 4gig... Sounds like 2 is the way to go for now. Good news, I like saving $. The E6420 is actually on there just as a placeholder (for budgeting purposes)for the (I think) E6750, whichever chipwill be around the same price point after july 22. Oh and good call on the HD Hiryuu. I actually hadn't shopped around much on those, so I appreciate the heads up.

You better get 2 gb of ram because is more than enough right now and a better PSU like Corsair 520Wdayaccus007

[QUOTE="dayaccus007"]You better get 2 gb of ram because is more than enough right now and a better PSU like Corsair 520Wmig_killer2

That is a good solution too, even Corsair is better

[QUOTE="mig_killer2"][QUOTE="dayaccus007"]You better get 2 gb of ram because is more than enough right now and a better PSU like Corsair 520Wdayaccus007

That is a good solution too, even Corsair is better

The Corsair is better because it can output 520Ws continuously, and has a higher max output than the OCZ.

The StealthXStream may have 72 amps but in reality can only use around 45 amps at once.

The Corsair is better because it can output 520Ws continuously, and has a higher max output than the OCZ.

The StealthXStream may have 72 amps but in reality can only use around 45 amps at once.

Hiryuu_

You mean less then 35amps...

The four rails in the StealthXStream share 580Ws, so that's more than 35 amps.Hiryuu_

But yet it cannot stably output more then ~400w, meaning less then 35amps.

Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask where you got that information from.

I think I saw that on some review as well. -_-

Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask where you got that information from.

I think I saw that on some review as well. -_-

Hiryuu_

From the Guru himself... Remember this is the 700w unit.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/review_details.php?id=35

Take a look at the O-scope and you notice on test 4 the ripple is OK but once test 5 it is over 100mv, ATX spec is 120mv I believe, so that is a almost out of spec. Test 4 is barely 30amps on the +12v rail and test 5 is 38amps.

I would have to assume that the 600w is going to have the same unit, if not worse. The ripple is the main reason I grabbed a Corsair HX620w when it was cheap, still looking to offload my GameXstream 600w.

It isn't a bad unit or anything, just if you are going to be stressing your system with overclocks and highend components, you need a bit more power and stability.

It wasn't too horrible until Test 6... in which the test pushed the power supply to the limits.

It wasn't too horrible until Test 6... in which the test pushed the power supply to the limits.

Hiryuu_

Test 6 is out of spec, Test 5 is very close, ~110mv isn't exactly great.

Things were satisfactory until test 3. During test 3, I started to see ripple on 12V1 and 12V2 that was nearly 100mV. By test 5, the ripple was 100mV on 12V3 and 12V4 and had exceeded 100mV on 12V1 and 12V2. By test 6, the ripple on 12V1 and 12V2 had exceeded 150mV.

ATX specification has an "allowance" for 120mV. Mind you, test 6 was very stressful, pushing the power supply to it's limits, but it doesn't change the fact that the ripple exceeded spec and this is the first power supply to date I have had do this.

Still under the specifications allowance. :)

I agree not skimping on the PSU...I'd recommend a 1kW...haha

Get the Antec TruePower Trio 550w.Manly-manly-man

What a waste of money that has been, Wizo. royvanderhoorn

haha...maybe for you squirt....

[QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"]What a waste of money that has been, Wizo. wizoforb

haha...maybe for you squirt....

Maybe.. but do you really need 1Kw :shock:.. I would have bought a bigger HD..

[QUOTE="wizoforb"]

[QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"]What a waste of money that has been, Wizo. royvanderhoorn

haha...maybe for you squirt....

Maybe.. but do you really need 1Kw :shock:.. I would have bought a bigger HD..

a 750Watt PSU will power anything.

[QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"][QUOTE="wizoforb"]

[QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"]What a waste of money that has been, Wizo. mig_killer2

haha...maybe for you squirt....

Maybe.. but do you really need 1Kw :shock:.. I would have bought a bigger HD..

a 750Watt PSU will power anything.

Nah...

CF 2900XT OC'ed = ~41a
OC'ed QX6800 = ~17a
We are already at 58amps, when most 750w PSUs only have 60amps on the +12v rail.

While most people won't have a system like this or be able to pump this many volts into the QX6800, that doesn't mean a few people don't... There are needs for 1kw and 1.2kw PSUs such as SLI/CF highend + phase/dice/LN2 cooled oc'ed quads + watercooling and then the rest of the system.

[QUOTE="mig_killer2"][QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"][QUOTE="wizoforb"]

[QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"]What a waste of money that has been, Wizo. LordEC911

haha...maybe for you squirt....

Maybe.. but do you really need 1Kw :shock:.. I would have bought a bigger HD..

a 750Watt PSU will power anything.

Nah...

CF 2900XT OC'ed = ~41a
OC'ed QX6800 = ~17a
We are already at 58amps, when most 750w PSUs only have 60amps on the +12v rail.

While most people won't have a system like this or be able to pump this many volts into the QX6800, that doesn't mean a few people don't... There are needs for 1kw and 1.2kw PSUs such as SLI/CF highend + phase/dice/LN2 cooled oc'ed quads + watercooling and then the rest of the system.

I agree...as I upgrade I don't have to worry about power issues whatsoever.

[QUOTE="wizoforb"]

[QUOTE="royvanderhoorn"]What a waste of money that has been, Wizo. royvanderhoorn

haha...maybe for you squirt....

Maybe.. but do you really need 1Kw :shock:.. I would have bought a bigger HD..

I plan on getting the typical dual raptor setup (150GB/10k)

That PSU will be a short and guaranteed death to your PC. Apevia make the WORST PSUs on the market.

**** the looks and forget about cutting corners off of your PSU. If there's one part where shouldn't skimp on money, it's the PSU.

For a rig with the 8800GTX and a Core 2, you won't have to go any higher than a good quality 500w PSU. Something like this (if you're still trying to be on budget):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104034

[QUOTE="Wesker776"]

That PSU will be a short and guaranteed death to your PC. Apevia make the WORST PSUs on the market.

**** the looks and forget about cutting corners off of your PSU. If there's one part where shouldn't skimp on money, it's the PSU.

For a rig with the 8800GTX and a Core 2, you won't have to go any higher than a good quality 500w PSU. Something like this (if you're still trying to be on budget):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104034

roulettethedog

I spent more on my Corsair 620 watt P.S.U. then on any other part besides video card and at the time C.P.U.

Good choice too.

That PSU is a tank.