Getting PSU help

[Hedonist]

Isn't that the "ATX 4 pin Molex 12v p4 connector" shown at this site which has been linked lots of times in this thread?

[Aegis]

Nice reference page!  I bookmarked it.  Thank you.

[Hedonist]

Aegis - if you like that one you might also like this.. but please don't tell nymph4, who is reputed to be studying for A+ certification, it will only confuse.  Lots of pics to d/l so if you're on dial-up it might take some time.

A visit to FormFactors.org (linked in the above site) is also of interest, at least to me that is.

Good luck

[Aegis]

All right -- I won't tell her, if you don't...   

[nymph4]

How do I insert an Image into the text
I click on Insert Image and it just put like HTML tage I think???

[Aegis]

The URL, or address, of the image goes between the image tags -- you are correct.

[nymph4]

So if I have a Picture from my computer I can not show it here unless it is on the net??

[nymph4]

What I meen is if I have a Picture can I show it here or does it have to be a Link to a Picture on the net???

[Aegis]

I'm sorry -- my lack of response was due to the fact that I'm not sure.

I believe that is true -- the image must be from an internet / on line source.

[nymph4]

Ok I have been doing a lot of reading about Power Supplys and I think I have it.

When you look a the SPECCS for any Power Supply it will give you listings like
+ 12 V at so many Amps
+ 5 V at so many Amps
+ 3 V at so many Amps

Or they may be - 12 - 5 - 3 but I am not going to get into that.

And all this meens is what ever needs say  the 12 Volts it will have so many Amps with it what ever the Amps are with that Voltage.

And so on for the other Voltages.

What I need to know is is the 21 Volts just for the CPU or for Moters and Hard Drives??

Becouse the Voltage for the Hard Drives you will want to give a LOT more Amps. And this is the one I think I should make shure gives a high Amps rating.

Please help thanks

[Hedonist]

What I need to know is is the 21 Volts just for the CPU or for Moters and Hard Drives??

Becouse the Voltage for the Hard Drives you will want to give a LOT more Amps. And this is the one I think I should make shure gives a high Amps rating.

You don't have to make sure of the cable/plug ratings, this is all done for you by the PSU manufacturer.  When a cable/supply is intended for motors, which draw a lot of current, the psu manufacturer attaches a special plug such as a Molex 4-pin which can only be attached to hard-drives, cdroms, dvd's etc..  If the supply is intended for the processor a different special plug is attached which can only be inserted into the appropriate socket on the motherboard.  You do not have to specify, or make sure, which type of connector has which current rating.

So, if you see a supply of say +12v at 20a then you can be certain that it is intended for a high current use application such as drive motors.

[nymph4]

You can not just buy a Power Supply if it has all the Plugs.

A 200 Watt Power Supply will have just as Many Plugs as a 500 Watt does.

It does not meen it can take the Load of every connector.

So this is what I ment if I am going to have a System with Say 6 Hard Drives and a DVD/CD ROM I will make shure that the Voltage that will be going to these Devices has a very high Ampare.

That is what I ment when I asked if the 12 Volt is for Hard Drives and things like that. Because if I see a Power Supply that says 12 V at 18 AMP  and one that says  12 V at 20 AMP I will take the one that says  20 AMP for the 12 Volt.

Am I right for thinking this way??

[nymph4]

I found a Link to a Web Site that says just what I ment.
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/power/sup/output.htm

[Hedonist]

I'm not quite sure what your problem is.

So this is what I ment if I am going to have a System with Say 6 Hard Drives and a DVD/CD ROM I will make shure that the Voltage that will be going to these Devices has a very high Ampare.

Am I right for thinking this way??

No.

In order to select a power supply which is more than capable of supplying power to all your components first you must calculate what the total power requirement is by adding the power requirements of each component.   You must consider the requirements of the processor, motherboard, all drives, video card, pci cards, modem etc.. etc..  The end calculation is in Watts not amps.

Here is the Thermaltake power calculator and there are many more here.   Once you have decided which components you want to use in your pc enter the details in the appropriate boxes and the power supply rating in Watts will be displayed.

When you use the power calculator the power requirement of your selection is included in the program.  e.g. if you select 6 hard drives the program will add-in the power requirement for six hard drives without you needing to know what that value is.

[nymph4]

I am just keeping some notes and I need help.

I know the ATX Rail has three Rails  + 3.3 Volts + 5. Volts + 12 Volts.

But what did the PC / XT / AT Rail have ware they the same just Negitive Volts??