Modular PSU advice.

[sswilson]

Multi-Rail vrs Single rail:

Basically a single rail unit has only one 12V line which is drawn by all 12V output lines. A multi-rail unit has more than one 12V line which generally would be accessed individually by each output line.

The benefits of single rail vrs multi-rail were originally that a single output line would be able to draw up to the rated max current, while multi-rail units would be limited to the individual line (single rail typically 40A while a multi-rail might be 4 X 12A).

I'm still a diehard single rail fan, but I believe higher-end multi-rail units these days have the ability to automatically switch to single rail operation if one rail tries to draw more than the normal rating.

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by Soultribunal

Hmmm I must be mixing two OEMs up here. But I could have sworn up and down they used Enhance for something.
Bahhh happens when I got 100% things in my head.

ST

Perhaps you're thinking of Silverstone? They use Enhance for a lot of their PSUs.

Originally Posted by sswilson

I believe higher-end multi-rail units these days have the ability to automatically switch to single rail operation if one rail tries to draw more than the normal rating.

No, not really. Some multi-rail PSUs can supply more than their rated current on a rail, but that can be for a number of reasons, including:
-The PSU is really a single-rail unit that is labeled as a multi-rail and doesn't have OCP (like the Corsair HX520/HX620).
-The PSU rails are actually just a split-up single rail with individual OCP limits (most multi-rail PSUs these days are like this).
-The PSU is a true multi-rail unit, but it's OCP is set higher than the actual rated value so you can pull more current from each rail without causing the PSU to shut itself off.

[sswilson]

Originally Posted by Zero82z

Perhaps you're thinking of Silverstone? They use Enhance for a lot of their PSUs.

No, not really. Some multi-rail PSUs can supply more than their rated current on a rail, but that can be for a number of reasons, including:
-The PSU is really a single-rail unit that is labeled as a multi-rail and doesn't have OCP (like the Corsair HX520/HX620).
-The PSU rails are actually just a split-up single rail with individual OCP limits (most multi-rail PSUs these days are like this).
-The PSU is a true multi-rail unit, but it's OCP is set higher than the actual rated value so you can pull more current from each rail without causing the PSU to shut itself off.

Heh.... Hence why I'm still a die-hard single rail fanboi..... ;)

[Canzara]

Nice, thanks for the explanation guys!
I wish I had found this board ages ago..

[snoosebum]

Originally Posted by Soultribunal

Hmmm I must be mixing two OEMs up here. But I could have sworn up and down they used Enhance for something.
Bahhh happens when I got 100% things in my head.

ST

The Antec Quattro is an Enhance.

[Soultribunal]

Yeah its gotta be one of those two either SS or the Quattro series.
Usually I'm pretty good but sometimes I mix things up a little lol

ST

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by sswilson

Heh.... Hence why I'm still a die-hard single rail fanboi..... ;)

That's just silly. There is no real advantage to having a single-rail PSU nowadays, and there are some truly excellent multi-rail PSUs out there such as the Seasonic M12/S12 line, the Enermax Revolution85+/Galaxy EVO series, Corsair HX1000/any other CWT PUC, Antec Signature series, etc.

[Soultribunal]

Originally Posted by Zero82z

That's just silly. There is no real advantage to having a single-rail PSU nowadays, and there are some truly excellent multi-rail PSUs out there such as the Seasonic M12/S12 line, the Enermax Revolution85+/Galaxy EVO series, Corsair HX1000/any other CWT PUC, Antec Signature series, etc.

Yeah but Multi-Rail is a waste of capacity too in a sense.
Espically if certain parts of your rig are a lot more power Hungry than others.
To be honest, I too would prefer single rail Tech over Multi on the sole basis of the K.I.S.S. theory.
The argument can go both ways really for either, and that is why we have both kinds available.

ST

[chrisk]

Corsair have been putting out PSUs for a while and have great service in my experience. That 850HX (just bought one for myself tonight) also has a 7 year warranty.

[Zero82z]

Originally Posted by Soultribunal

Yeah but Multi-Rail is a waste of capacity too in a sense.

Not if the rails are balanced properly, which is the case for all truly good multi-rail PSUs. Again, these are things that haven't been real issues for years already.

I'm not saying that multiple rails are better than a single rail. What I am saying is that they aren't worse, and that it is a total non-issue in nearly all situations nowadays. A good PSU shouldn't be ignored simply because it is a multi-rail and not a single-rail unit, and unfortunately I've seen that happen too often.