PC Peripherals PSU or Mobo - Power Routing for PC Components

[terence_fdes]

Hi TE Folks,

I need some BASIC EDUCATION on "Power Routing" for Various PC Components. I hope you get the gist from my muddled thoughts. I am lost as to why - both the mobo & psu provide power routing/supply for various components ?

The SUMMARY is - What is the best / efficient / optimum way to "power" connect (routing) the various components [HDD's; GPU Card; SSD; Audio Card; TV-Tuner Card; Cabinet Fans; CPU Cooler "power requirements", etc on a pc] - Motherboard or PSU & Why ?

Please specify the above routing of each component (mobo or psu) & why?

Motherboards that have "discrete" temperature control of Fan Speeds (through UEFI) - HERE, if the power is routed through the PSU then, would this feature still be ennabled ?

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BACKGROUND :

Stemming from picking the best PSU - Regular or Modular ?

Should I go for a MODULAR PSU (which is amlost double the cost ?) - where I would use only what are the neccesary cables - thus ensuring better air-flow or the regular one.

PSU under consideration:

Seasonic S12II - 620W @ Rs 3700/-

Seasonic SS-560KM @ Rs 6600/- - Modular (with separate power cables) - use only what is neccesary for better air flow (ALMOST DOUBLE THE COST).

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I am still gathering all the R&D neccessary to build a new rig (after 8/9 long years). I wish it to be stable & of excellent quality.......... (and assemble it myself late April/May, if I can gather that final confidence .... or request any local TE guys).

I definately do not want to scrimp on spending my hard earned money in ensuring I pick the BEST of the various components - (and yet manage things within a budget of 50-75K). I wish to go in for an i7-3770K (if it is affordable) or i7-2600K; 3-5 HDD's; cabinet with min 3 fans; RAM 16 GB).

Cheers - Terry

 

[flash23]

Sorry if I am not getting what you are trying to say, I will try to answer the questions in best possible way.

I need some BASIC EDUCATION on "Power Routing" for Various PC Components. I hope you get the gist from my muddled thoughts. I am lost as to why - both the mobo & psu provide power routing/supply for various components ?

Almost every component has two sets of cable running into it. one set is the the power cable coming from the PSU while the other set is the signal cable coming from the motherboard. The m/b can not provide power to the peripherals as the communication between them is of very precise timing, interference from the high power supply cables will tend to deteriorate the signal quality and possibility of communication failure. This is because power lines have a tendency to induce noise in the surrounding cable due to electromagnetic waves. The power lines from the PSU does contain some minor AC component.

The SUMMARY is - What is the best / efficient / optimum way to "power" connect (routing) the various components [HDD's; GPU Card; SSD; Audio Card; TV-Tuner Card; Cabinet Fans; CPU Cooler "power requirements", etc on a pc] - Motherboard or PSU & Why ?

Dont worry about this the board manufacturers do a very good task of power routing. We as end customers need not worry much about it. Just to let you know, keep a sufficient gap between the signal cable and the power cables.

Motherboards that have "discrete" temperature control of Fan Speeds (through UEFI) - HERE, if the power is routed through the PSU then, would this feature still be ennabled ?

The controlling part is done through the the BIOS/UEFI of the m/b while the power is supplied by the PSU.

To make this short the temperature sensor provides the readings based on which the control signal is generated by the m/b and sent to the fan. Based on this control signal the speed of the fan is controlled by the microcontroller inside the fan.

BACKGROUND :

Stemming from picking the best PSU - Regular or Modular ?

Should I go for a MODULAR PSU (which is amlost double the cost ?) - where I would use only what are the neccesary cables - thus ensuring better air-flow or the regular one.

Go for one which your budget and requirements permits.

if you have or are planning to buy a good cabinet it will have decent cable management options so in this case you can go for non modular PSU.

Also I want to say that two PSUs having the same specifications but only one is modular and other is not will give you the same performance in terms of power supply.

 

[terence_fdes]

Thank you #[member='flash23'] .... Now If I gather your thoughts correctly, this means that each & every component for a PC has 2 connectors

- the first is "power" which is connected to the PSU and

- the second "signal" which is connected to the motherboard

Right ?

 

[Crazy_Eddy]

Partly correct. Power can be provided by the motherboard as well (which indirectly draws power from the PSU through the ATX 24-pin and ATX 12v connector).

What flash is saying is, you don't have to worry about power routing since hardware manufacturers make it fixed except for fans.

- Components that are inserted into the motherboard draw power from the motherboard.

eg: Processor, PCI, PCI-e cards, RAM.

An exception is PCI, PCI-e cards that draw excess power (like high-end GPU cards). They have a molex/PCI-e power connector on the card to be hooked up to the PSU and draw power directly.

- Components that are external to the motherboard only have the 'signal' wire running to the motherboard and draw power from the PSU.

eg: HDDs, ODDs.

Fans are the only component that give you a choice. They can draw power from the motherboard, or from the PSU.

Only 4-pin PWM fans can be powered by the PSU and controlled by the motherboard.

Also I want to say that two PSUs having the same specifications but only one is modular and other is not will give you the same performance in terms of power supply.

Usually modular PSUs tend to have a drop in voltage because of the additional contacts. PSU purists tend to shy away from modular PSUs because of this.

But yes, pick what suits you and get a modular PSU if you're keen on keeping your interiors neat.

I'm not sure about Seasonic though; I've heard a few complaints from different people about after-sales.

I believe only Corsair offers the best option of a fairly quick brand new replacement.

 

[flash23]

#[member='terence_fdes'] you got it.

- Components that are inserted into the motherboard draw power from the motherboard.

eg: Processor, PCI, PCI-e cards, RAM.

An exception is PCI, PCI-e cards that draw excess power (like high-end GPU cards). They have a molex/PCI-e power connector on the card to be hooked up to the PSU and draw power directly.

#[member='Crazy_Eddy'] Thanks for pointing it out, I totally forgot about it.

 

[terence_fdes]

Partly correct. Power can be provided by the motherboard as well (which indirectly draws power from the PSU through the ATX 24-pin and ATX 12v connector).

What flash is saying is, you don't have to worry about power routing since hardware manufacturers make it fixed except for fans.

Thanks #[member='Crazy_Eddy'] : The whole purpose of my excercise was to correctly understand the best method to connect the "power supply" to various components (PSU or Motherboard). The rationale being - If one is going in for the best PSU - Platinum/Gold/Bronze rating, where it's guaranteed that the "power-supply" is 99.999% consistent, then why waste these by instead using some of the "motherboards" power connecting options.

- Components that are inserted into the motherboard draw power from the motherboard.

eg: Processor, PCI, PCI-e cards, RAM.

An exception is PCI, PCI-e cards that draw excess power (like high-end GPU cards). They have a molex/PCI-e power connector on the card to be hooked up to the PSU and draw power directly.

- Components that are external to the motherboard only have the 'signal' wire running to the motherboard and draw power from the PSU.

eg: HDDs, ODDs.

Fans are the only component that give you a choice. They can draw power from the motherboard, or from the PSU.

Only 4-pin PWM fans can be powered by the PSU and controlled by the motherboard.

Usually modular PSUs tend to have a drop in voltage because of the additional contacts. PSU purists tend to shy away from modular PSUs because of this.

Thanks for sharing the above - will definately consider this point.

But yes, pick what suits you and get a modular PSU if you're keen on keeping your interiors neat.

I'm not sure about Seasonic though; I've heard a few complaints from different people about after-sales.

I believe only Corsair offers the best option of a fairly quick brand new replacement.

Strange - as "seasonic" themselves manufacture all of Corsair's PSU's, but as you point out - it's the end-service that also makes the difference.

 

[Crazy_Eddy]

The whole purpose of my excercise was to correctly understand the best method to connect the "power supply" to various components (PSU or Motherboard). The rationale being - If one is going in for the best PSU - Platinum/Gold/Bronze rating, where it's guaranteed that the "power-supply" is 99.999% consistent, then why waste these by instead using some of the "motherboards" power connecting options.

Fortunately there is no best method, only one method

(except for fans)

A motherboard draws its power from a PSU. While it has its own voltage regulation circuitry, how hard it works depends on how well regulated the power from the PSU is.

Strange - as "seasonic" themselves manufacture all of Corsair's PSU's, but as you point out - it's the end-service that also makes the difference.

Corsair use a mix of OEMs now - Seasonic, CWT, Flextronics.

In any case, they both have their own after-sales channels in India.

 

[terence_fdes]

Thanks so much #[member='Crazy_Eddy'] .... (u ain't so crazy after all

)...... and to #[member='flash23'] ... a relative newcomer on the block at TE... U are doing very well. Things are somewhat clear now.

When the day come's ..... when I shall assemble my own system, I would definately thank TE folks, for everything ... and If I still develop "cold-feet" or "rigor-mortis" ... I hope you guys will still be around to bail me out.

Come to think of it .... over the past 10 year's I have suggested "system builds" for over 60 or so folks (based on their budget's), no one's ever complained of any of the recommendation's I did......... ALL without using the help of any "forums"..... never discovered any of em then. But alas, I never got down to assembling any of them............(always freaked out about these "power connectors" and getting them right). So, I left it to the guys at Lammy to do the assembling ....

BUT this time - I want to have a go at it, by myself. Please bear with me until then.... as I may pester you with more "querries". Thanks again TE regular blokes.

Cheers

Terry