PSU for SLI Questions.

[Milt]

Is it possible to use a non SLI PSU to power your SLI system? I've seen on the SLI site that you shouldn't use connection adapters to power your second video card. Of course since "SLI certified" is a marketing scheme I wanted to ask you guys what the deal is.

Should I just buy an SLI psu? Will the added connection addapters fry my second card and/or rig? Also can you recommend a psu?

I'm running two 8800gt in SLI mode and according to board's the documention i need at least 600watt to run sli.


Thanks!

[Leclerc]

Could you give us the complete specs of your system?
Do you overclock your system?
What's your budget?

You don't need a SLI Certified PSU to run SLI and most mid-high range PSU's offer at least 2 pcie power connectors so you won't need an adapter.

[Milt]

Well, im on a budget so I'd like to spend about $100 to $125 on the psu. Basically I've got $200 to work with and I need a PSU and case.

Q6600, MSI p7n SLI, XfX 8800gt x2, 2gig Mushkin Ram

I don't plan on overclocking this pc at all in the immediate future. Maybe down the road but its really not my thing.

I thought each video card required 2 pcie connecters so the PSU would need to have 4, right?

[3.0charlie]

The 8800GT needs 1 6-pin connector per card.

Never, ever skimp on the quality of a PSU. A cheap model can kill your whole system just like that. So I suggest the Corsair 620HX. Modular, great stable power. http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...acture=CORSAIR. This will be plenty to power your Quad, and dual GPUs.

[Leclerc]

Is it a all new built or an upgrade?

For your budget you could get this one http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...acture=CORSAIR. If you get it price matched with direct canada, you will save another 17$. It's a real good PSU for the price, you will have the opportunity to overclock if you want and it gor 4 pcie connectors for your graphic cards.

But if it is a new built and you don't already have the video cards and the motherboard in hand, I would recommend you to look to something else.

Edit : if the 8800gt have only 1 connector per card, the 650W model could also be enough and the 620w proposed by 3.0Charlie is a great choice to if you would like to go with modular PSU.

[Milt]

Unfortunately the corsair Corsair CMPSU-620HX is way out of budget for me but the Corsair TX750W looks very very nice. I was thinking about going with the Antec Truepower Trio 650W http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=24126 but I think the TX750 is pretty sweet.

Yep its a new build, the video cards are in hand but im still waiting for the rest. It might not be the best build out there but I was trying to get it all for $800.

And ill be going to that pc from this one (my old system):
p4 1.6, via p4pu, 1 gig pc 2100 sdram, radeon 9500 @ 9700.

[Leclerc]

Antec had reliability problems in the past. I don't know if they had resolved the problem. For the corsair PSU's, both the TX650W and TX750W are great and will run your system without issues. Here's a great review of the TX750W Corsair TX750W Power Supply Review | Hardware Secrets.

[Milt]

I've decided to grab the TX650W. Its the right price and seems to be a grerat psu. Thanks for your help, Leclerc! You too charlie!

[crazyazn]

If you want modular but can't quite afford the HX620, then have a look at the Antec Neopower 650. I believe it is made by Seasonic, like the Corsair.

[Cptn Vortex]

Yah, the Antec is a good PSU. It was their SmartPower line that had lots of problems. Their TruePower and NeoPower are great PSU's.