Need powerful PSU

SLHammer

New Member
Hi guys, my first post. I use my system (signature below) mostly for trading stocks, occassional entertainment, etc. I'm not a gamer so it makes no difference that I'm not running SLI/Crossfire. Now that I added my third graphics card, the 4650, I need to upgrade my PSU. I bought a 1000 watt Silverstone ST 1000-P since it seemed like a good deal. I took out my current OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W ATX12V V2.2 and installed the Silverstone and nothing would run. No boot, no case fans, lights, nothing. I took it out and am running on the OCZ again with 2 graphics card since the computer will crash with the 600 watt OCZ and 3 cards. I was going to RMA it but read about the paper clip test here and it worked. The fan did seem to be turning on the slow side and extremely quiet. I checked every connection and reconnected everything so I doubt it's me.

Is there anything I should try or RMA it? If RMA, should I try another SilverStone or something else? I like the one rail idea but don't have much experience. My main concern is reliability and quietness. The SilverStone doesn't have an ON/Off switch which is a little weird. Pls help me with what to do.

Thanks.
 
I have a stupid question then. If you don't game, then why are you using 3 video cards? You aren't running 6 monitors are you? Your new power supply must be bad if it don't power up.

Edit, never mind, it might help if i read your signature.
 
Yes, if you look at my signature it says 6 monitors. I have on board graphics so I can go to 8.

Thx for posting. So the fact that the fan spins with the paper clip test doesn't mean much?

I think it's best to go with one rail? What do you think?

Just saw your edit. LOL

I have a stupid question then. If you don't game, then why are you using 3 video cards? You aren't running 6 monitors are you? Your new power supply must be bad if it don't power up.

Edit, never mind, it might help if i read your signature.
 
Any recommendations? Stick with Silverstone or different?
Thx.

I have a stupid question then. If you don't game, then why are you using 3 video cards? You aren't running 6 monitors are you? Your new power supply must be bad if it don't power up.

Edit, never mind, it might help if i read your signature.
 
silverstone's are good. them and pc power and cooling, corsair, zalman, seasonic, thermaltake, and antec are also good power supply makers.

it sounds like your psu may be DOA, or you might have forgotten to plug something in. just do a quick check to make sure all connectors are snug and you didnt accidently forget something.
 
When I re-connected everything I confirmed everything was right and tight. I re-connected the OCZ exactly the same way and it works fine.

How about single rail vs 2 or 4? Thx for brand recommendations.

silverstone's are good. them and pc power and cooling, corsair, zalman, seasonic, thermaltake, and antec are also good power supply makers.

it sounds like your psu may be DOA, or you might have forgotten to plug something in. just do a quick check to make sure all connectors are snug and you didnt accidently forget something.
 
When I re-connected everything I confirmed everything was right and tight. I re-connected the OCZ exactly the same way and it works fine.

How about single rail vs 2 or 4? Thx for brand recommendations.

single rail would be best

how much was the silverstone power supply?
 
yea, definetly RMA it. i would just get a replacement, that is a good power supply.

It does seem like an excellent value for a modular, 1000 watt unit. Thx again.

If anyone else has any comments on brands, rails or performance. I'd appreciate it.
 
Multi rail vs. Single rail makes no difference at all, and don't let any noob tell you otherwise. The only difference with them is how the OCP is configured.

Not all Thermaltake PSUs are good... for the most part, they're pretty bad, save the Toughpower series, which use CWT as an OEM.
 
Multi rail vs. Single rail makes no difference at all, and don't let any noob tell you otherwise. The only difference with them is how the OCP is configured.[...]

I would image another difference is you would have to worry about drawing too much current from just one rail.
 
I would image another difference is you would have to worry about drawing too much current from just one rail.

exactly, meticapda doesnt know much about power supplies if he thinks there is no difference between multi and single rail power supplies. UNLESS it is eps12v certified
 
A singlerail power supply only provides benefits if you dont take your time and make sure the rails are balanced. Some of the best units on the market are multirail designs.
 
A singlerail power supply only provides benefits if you dont take your time and make sure the rails are balanced. Some of the best units on the market are multirail designs.

Please show me a true mult rail PSU.. Read Multi/Singl Rail PSU link in my sig first.
 
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It's an impossibility to overdraw the amount of current on a rail...

Even on something like a 600W StealthXstream, with 18A per 12V "rail". Each PCI-E 6 pin can give 75W each, and no more. At which point are you in danger of overloading?

As bomberboysk said, some of the best PSUs on the market have multiple rails. Would they be so good if single rails were so much better? No. No they wouldn't.

Take the Antec TruePower New 750W. It's got 4 25A 12V rails, for a total maximum output of 62A/744W. Its closest competitor in price is probably the Corsair TX750, which is based on an older CWT PSH design, and uses a single, 60A/720W 12V rail.

The Antec PSU destroys the Corsair in every aspect of performance, even when put under extremely strenuous situations by JonnyGuru.

Also... care to think of a connector that can draw more than 25A from a single rail at one time...? I can't.

Please show me a true mult rail PSU.. Read Multi/Singl Rail PSU link in my sig first.

The Corsair HX1000 is essentially two 500W units on one PCB... I'd probably say that that counts.
 
Please show me a true mult rail PSU.. Read Multi/Singl Rail PSU link in my sig first.

Multirail is just an easier way to refer to power supplies with power from a single transformer distributed over multiple rails. Ex- HX1000 from corsair, twin primary transformers. Something like the zalman unit i have has twin transformers but output over 6 rails. Many of the higher wattage units out there are dual transformer designs(barring pcp&c's entire line), and there really isnt a true advantage to a single rail over a multirail unit generally.

The argument with "overloading" is generally because of the rail in which the molex connectors are on, because people tend to not know better and run molex->pcie connectors.
 
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