New build existing PSU?

bremen1874 · 27 Oct 2008 at 01:35

I'm looking at building a new PC; some new parts and some old.

I've got a couple of power supplies that are probably big enought from a wattage point of view and may still be useable. The most likely candidate is an Antec TruePower 550W EPS12V as it has all the connections I'm likely to need including SATA. It's currently powering one of my servers but I know I've got another PSU spare that could replace it.

I appreciate that the emphasis has moved from the +5V rail to the +12V rail but I'm not sure what the +12V rail really needs. How many amps does the +12V rail need for the following?

1. Intel quad - probably a Q6600 OC'd to 3GHz-ish.
2. Motherboard - probably a P5Q-E.
3. 2 x 2GB DDR2 RAM.
4. Heatsink and fan.
5. 8600GT video card (I'm not playing games).
3. 3.5" Raptor HDD.
4. Floppy (still useful at times).
5. A couple of optical drives.

I've just pulled the top of the server and according to the label the rails (all single) are as follows...

+5V 40A
+12V 36A
+3.3V 32A

As I'm not needing to power any exotic graphics cards at the moment it looks reasonable when compared to the HX 520W I was considering.

How important is the +5Vsb rail as I forgot to check while it was open?

rz30 · 27 Oct 2008 at 02:06

You would be surprised at how little wattage you will need for that system 280 Watts would do it..

bremen1874 · 27 Oct 2008 at 02:16

As it's a decent quality PSU and I could in theory pull just over 400 Watts off the +12V rail (assuming there isn't any significant load on the other rails) I'm hoping it'll do the job.

EsaT · 27 Oct 2008 at 09:04

bremen1874 said:
As it's a decent quality PSU

No it's not.
Those old CWT made Antecs have Fuhjyyu capacitors so they can blow up at any day if temperature isn't kept low.

bremen1874 · 27 Oct 2008 at 13:47

Thanks for the warning about the Antec.

I cracked it open to check, and it does have Fuhjyyu capacitors several of which are showing signs of failure.

It looks like I'm definately going to have to buy a new PSU. I've had use my only other spare that might have worked to replace the Antec in my server.

I've got several other Antec PSUs of varying ages and capacities. Is there a list anywhere that'd allow me to check whether they're likely to have the same problem?

EsaT · 27 Oct 2008 at 15:15

Antec SmartPowers, non-Trio TruePowers and TrueControls are made by CWT so those are the ones to avoid.
Also apparently all of those old Antecs have all UL-code E161451 which means CWT/Channel Well Technology.
(UL sign is that symbol similar to mirrored LR)

bremen1874 · 27 Oct 2008 at 16:28

My dead True550P has a UL code of E176105 which appears to mean it could have been built by any of the following...

Andyson
Channel Well
Delta
Fortron
Seasonic