PSU Question -new Tagan 530W modular

[dannyboy83]

Hello,

Could someone explain to me the difference between "combined" and "split" rails on this PSU, and the pros and cons? I got mine today, but am unsure what to choose.

My system is in my sig (the top one).

Here's a link to the product

Thanks in advance

[shaithis]

If I am not mistaken...the split rails are a requirement for SLI graphics cards.

[dannyboy83]

Ah I see. So combined for non-SLI setups like myself? I have a single PCI-E card in.

[sawyen]

If I am not mistaken...the split rails are a requirement for SLI graphics cards.

Not entirely accurate tbh... SLI doesnt require split rails to function, but it does benefit from split rails to provide extra stability in amps.

split rails becomes useful when u have divided high load hardware that requires a dedicated rail to maintain the current integrity. Split rails would probably reduce the amount of amps on subrails compared to on ONE single rail.. It is hwoever less susceptible to current ripples when say ur graphics card running on overclock suddenly decides to suck loads of current leaving ur CPU thirsty.. and crash as a result of that..

But thats an extreme scenario, running combined rails should work fine, unless you have sooo many hard drives and pheripheral cards that ur uberly overclocked 512MB GTX is finding it hard to quench.

The 530W Tagan has plenty of grunt dont worry.. Never broken a tint of sweat even with my power hungry 6800GT was clocked at 450/1200 + a 2.7Ghz 3500+ and 2 HDD in RAID.

[wannabgeek]

Sorry to jump in on this but i am really confused on which PSU to buy! I am building my 1st selfbuild (specs below) any ideas on a £35 - £50 PSU

Any of these cheapo's OK for me?
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/prod...0&cat=0&page=0

Thermaltake Soprano case (3 inc 120cm fans)
Asrock Dual sata mobo (pce & Agp)
AMD 3700 San Diego (may go dual in future) with Artic cooling pro 64
present Nvidia 6800le (OC'd to 6800) will upgrade to 7800GT soon,but not SLI
1x 250GB + SATA (still deciding what one)
1x 250GB 7200 Maxtor ATA Ultra
Audigy 2 LS
Nec 3500 DVD/RW
Liteon CD/RW
pci firewire card

[Thorsson]

any ideas on a £35 - £50 PSU

Yeah, spend a bit more.

[dannyboy83]

The Hiper ones on Scan are slightly cheaper than the Tagans, and look good ones too. Maybe around the £60 mark.

[Supershanks]

Why is it that pps are prepared to shell out hundreds of £ then look 2 spend £35-50 on a PSU. The psu is the heart of any system though not as sexy as the latest gfx card or CPU is's just as essential in holding all the components together.

sawyen's observations are entirely correct. Dual rails have evolved primarily for Intel systems. 12v Rail 1 is used exclusively to serve the CPU, qwith 12v2 proding power 2 all other components. Whilst this is fine for the more power hungry Intel CPUs, it means that an AMD rig will have surplus amps on 12v1 not needing as much CPU power but as sawyen says may crap out (sorry to be 2 technical ) on 12v2 if running SLI & a shed load of drives etc.,
More info on dual rail here see links below

These posts by Fasteddie & syar2003 may help understanding the operation of dual rail units.

Power Suppy Requirements & Selection

The Tagan is one of the few switchable PSUs around allowing the user to select dual or single rail.

Luck

[Supershanks]

Oops

[wannabgeek]

Why is it that pps are prepared to shell out hundreds of £ then look 2 spend £35-50 on a PSU. The psu is the heart of any system though not as sexy as the latest gfx card or CPU is's just as essential in holding all the components together.

.........Probally because we just found out the importance of a PSU in a PC!
Anyway i am gonna order this one,its not overkill is it?
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/prod...code=PSH-4B580

[Supershanks]

@wannabgeek
what are the 12v amps on the Hiper, personnaly i'd go 4 the 530w Tagan EasyCon - TG530-U15 - 2Force Silent Modular PSU that dannyboy83 linked 2 in 1st post think it's a better bet only £7 difference.

luck

[shaithis]

.........Probally because we just found out the importance of a PSU in a PC!
Anyway i am gonna order this one,its not overkill is it?
http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/prod...code=PSH-4B580

Fitted a black label version of that one last week (only difference is no LEDs on the black model)......and I had replaced a Tagan.

The Tagan was a smidging quieter, the Hiper seems better designed - both were rock solid on voltages.

Not much in it TBH.

[RavenNight]

I love my Hiper, its awesomely stable and looks fantastic.

[dannyboy83]

my mates got a Hiper, and I've just got my Tagan. Both are happy, so I think buying either would be a good buy.