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Install two PSU's or buy a new single 1000watt PSU for running SLI GTX 580

chaparral

chaparral

chaparral

Caporegime
Joined
27 Nov 2005
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Am looking to upgrade to SLI GTX 580's but i only have a 720watt PSU..

Do you think i be better off buying a second low cost PSU to run with my 720watt psu..Or am i going have to fork out a small fortune and buy a new 1000watt psu ??


(P.S Don't think am going want all the wires from having two PSU's installed in my case :( )
 
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Ask youself, is the cost saving worth the potential risk of something going wrong? If a PSU goes wrong it can take out other components (motherboard, CPU, GPU, HDD, etc) - although not likely, this is possible. I'd say don't risk it and just get a single good PSU.
 
Do the right thing, although tbh I've not heard of anyone using two psu's to power their rigs. Is there anyone out there that's done it?
 
sk3lph said:
Do the right thing, although tbh I've not heard of anyone using two psu's to power their rigs. Is there anyone out there that's done it?
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Some years ago i have seen posts on forums from a few people that have used two PSU's to power there rigs..But i not seen any lately,
Most likely because psu are much more powerful and cheaper now then they were a few years ago..
 
Saying "do the right thing" to getting a new PSU doesn't really make sense, it's not the "right thing" as such, and since you've got a perfectly good PSU already, I see no issue with you using a second, my case the TJ07 is designed to allow you to use 2 PSUs and even comes with the required adapter to get two working together.
 
If you are using 2 psu you should really use two of the same type and output. 2 different psus could easily damage hardware.

I used two in my build but the difference was that they were used for separate hardware (one for all the cooling etc and one for hardware). In your case I presume you will have one running your motherboard and another running your gpu's. In this case you are asking for trouble as the gpu's also take power from the motherboard. I'm not an electrician but you could start running into difficulties and I certainly wouldn't advise doing it this way.

As others have said, get a decent single psu.
 
w3bbo said:
In your case I presume you will have one running your motherboard and another running your gpu's. In this case you are asking for trouble as the gpu's also take power from the motherboard. I'm not an electrician but you could start running into difficulties and I certainly wouldn't advise doing it this way.

As others have said, get a decent single psu.
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Yes i was thinking of connecting the four 8 & 6pin PCI express plugs from my 720watt PSU to the GPU cards and adding a cheap Corsair 500watt psu to connect to the motherboard..
 
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Bit off topic, but are there many cases that can accomodate two psu's, obviously the mountain mods series will, and some of the larger lian li full towers, such as the a70f i have, cant see there being to many mid tower cases that would fit two though.
 
setter said:
Bit off topic, but are there many cases that can accomodate two psu's, obviously the mountain mods series will, and some of the larger lian li full towers, such as the a70f i have, cant see there being to many mid tower cases that would fit two though.
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My TJ07 can accomodate two psu's..

Don't know which other cases can..
 
chaparral said:
Wasn't going be an unheard of PSU

This is the one i was thinking of adding
Corsair Builder Series CX 500W ATX Power Supply http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-034-CS&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1084
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The corsair builder psus are terrible, they are really poor quality compared to corsair's other psus.

Something like this would be fine though (that psu can safely output 500W even though it's only rated at 430). You can even get cables to connect the 24 pin connector of the second psu to the one connected to the motherboard so they switch on simultaneously.
 
Thanks jak731

One of them cables to connect the two PSU together came with my case

Just find it
DSC00136.jpg
 
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chaparral said:
Am looking to upgrade to SLI GTX 580's but i only have a 720watt PSU..

Do you think i be better off buying a second low cost PSU to run with my 720watt psu..Or am i going have to fork out a small fortune and buy a new 1000watt psu ??


(P.S Don't think am going want all the wires from having two PSU's installed in my case :( )
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I had the same dillema. I got a 1KW PSU. Unless you plan to fit 2 radiators down there, i would just get a second one and maybe upgrade when the time is right, bear in mind the extra cables etc. If you do go for 2, watch out for PSU's that have attached cables as it is unnescesery clutter. Silvestone modular PSU's have 100% detachable cables
 
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