PSU 12v rail query

CurlyWhirly · 9 Jul 2009 at 09:26

I've recently bought a OCZ StealthXStream 600W PSU and am wondering why it has multiple 12v rails (like most power supplies) whilst the PC Power & Cooling Turbo Cool 1200W PSU has a single 12v rail of 90A ?

Are there any advantages in having all that 12v DC power on a single rail?
I've never seen this before on a PSU and am just curious

CurlyWhirly · 9 Jul 2009 at 09:30

p.s. I think it may have something to do with the larger wattage power supply being able to generate all of the 12v power on a single rail but am still not sure if there is any advantage to doing this!

Venares · 9 Jul 2009 at 09:50

Theres very liitle diference between a single rail PSU and a well built multi-rail.
The only time a single rail may be better is if your running some scary looking TEC monster that draws crazy amps.
Other than that its all much the same, though I do prefer the single rail Corsairs myself

CurlyWhirly · 9 Jul 2009 at 10:14

Cheers

Ch3m1c4L · 9 Jul 2009 at 14:06

multi rails need more attention when plugging in, as otherwise you can overload on rail. Saying that though, most decent ones will just act in "single rail" mode in this scenario and pump more juice down the first rail from the second one, if tha tmakes sense.

Sasahara · 10 Jul 2009 at 11:43

Most PSU that show multi rails are not, at best they have overload protection in the 20-24A region on each line. Take the corsair range, only the HX 1000W has 2 true +12v rails. Over 90% of the PSUs on OC are single rail design.

CurlyWhirly · 13 Jul 2009 at 19:09

Mmm... perhaps I made a mistake buying the OCZ and should have gone for a single rail PSU instead

Sasahara · 13 Jul 2009 at 22:29

The OCZ StealthXStream 600w only has one rail, true multi rails are only found on expensive high watt PSUs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply_rail#Multiple_.2B12V_Rails

What the OCZ may have is overcurrent protection on groups of lines, but that protection is going to be higher than the printed output spec.

CurlyWhirly · 13 Jul 2009 at 22:56

Sasahara said:
The OCZ StealthXStream 600w only has one rail, true multi rails are only found on expensive high watt PSUs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_supply_rail#Multiple_.2B12V_Rails

What the OCZ may have is overcurrent protection on groups of lines, but that protection is going to be higher than the printed output spec.

Thanks, I didn't know that.