ATI needs extra power too

[bob05]

EARLIER THIS WEEK we told you about the dual Molex connectors on the NV40 based boards, and the power consumption it brings to the party.
In the graphics world, the companies don’t step to far out of line with respect to each other, 3DFx showed that one pretty graphically. So, if no one dares to step out and be different, we have a sort of self imposed status quo. Two Molex connectors is stepping out of line, and that takes balls.

Well, balls or the knowledge that your only real competitor is doing it also. Yes, you heard that right, ATI is going the dually path also. So, what does this mean to the average person? Power supply upgrade time.


http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=15246

Well you heard it here first, ATI needs a dually molex power connectors too. :t

[RamonGTP]

Why would there need to be two connectors??? The power is ultimatly coming from the same powersupply. Are the cards drawing so much current that the PCB traces to/from the connectors just cannot handle it, so they need two to split the load?

[Yoshi]

The PSU makers are going to have a field day, but it is a bad move as if memory serves right buying a $100 PSU will only last 6 months as BTX is going to change it:(

[causticVapor]

Originally posted by RamonGTP
Why would there need to be two connectors??? The power is ultimatly coming from the same powersupply. Are the cards drawing so much current that the PCB traces to/from the connectors just cannot handle it, so they need two to split the load?

Yeah, this is what I don't understand either. Most PSUs have all the 4-pin lines coming off the same circuit.

I guess the current really is too much for one wire to handle... I know the FDD wire got pretty hot with a 9700 pro, from experience, so it's probable...

[causticVapor]

Originally posted by Yoshi
The PSU makers are going to have a field day, but it is a bad move as if memory serves right buying a $100 PSU will only last 6 months as BTX is going to change it:(

This is what Stroligo is talking about. He says it's better to wait for BTX capable psus - else, you'll end up purchasing two.

[RamonGTP]

According to anandtech, ATX PSU's won't have a problem with BTX boards.

As we mentioned at the start of this article, the BTX standard specifies the same motherboard connectors as we saw with ATX - meaning that ATX power supplies could be used in BTX cases and with BTX motherboards. The vast majority of ATX power supplies will not fit in micro and definitely not in picoBTX cases, but using them in a full sized BTX tower is a possibility.
Full Article (http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1876&p=1)

[bob05]

Originally posted by RamonGTP
According to anandtech, ATX PSU's won't have a problem with BTX boards.


Full Article (http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1876&p=1)

That's good, but I wonder if ATX PSU's will support all the new power management features that BTX supports (or a better question is will anyone need these new features that BTX offers in the first place ;) ).

[Someone Stupid]

No surprise with the juice they are drawing. They are effectively starting to draw as much juice as a CPU and it wasn't like this should be shocking. The current series already needs a dedicated line that fortunately can be used elsewhere. Now the cores are pulling more, so they need less ripple in the current, hence the rails issue and the small PCB's don't allow for massive ripple cancellations, at least not cheaply, not to mentin the additional heat those components would add (more MOSFETS).