ksquared

Yes, I completely agree. The problem is I'm not an expert, that random user obviously isn't an expert, and all would agree that jonnyguru is an expert. The problem thus is back to what I initially focused on, there is no legitimate kit, designed by experts, with the high quality of Corsair, out there for a non-expert like me to just buy and connect with 100% certainty. I don't see Corsair selling 100K such kits, but IMHO a profit on even 1000 kits would be worth something. It would have been down to 999 if I had the chance to purchase one at an economically feasible price.

Somewhere I read that it had the potential to not be matched in phase between the two different PSUs. Here is one reference to the potential problems (but back in 2014): https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/dangers-of-dual-psu.1992711/ But yes, Thermaltake did use the W0157 only attached to the graphics card.

That's where I think it is being limited. It is an SFX sized PSU, but it is a spectacular PSU of any physical size, but especially the 450W version where quality is often lacking in other brands. And yes, there are after-market cables, an excellent set is the Corsair 8920228. But then the economic reality is that for a set of very nice looking wires you're paying essentially the price of an SF450 power supply, a legitimate, complex, well-engineered piece of electronic equipment that powers a computer. The help from jonnyguru has been greatly appreciated! So ulitmately I decided at best it was ugly, and possibly bad. I studied the W0157 Graphics Card PSU, and maybe I don't understand something. It seems there is a rule, never ever power the same item from two different PSUs. That seems straightforward, and easy to do for a hard drive or CD. But unless I'm not understanding, I thought the graphics card got power from the PCI-e connectors and the motherboard. So if the one PSU is powering the motherboard, and the other PSU is powering the PCI-e connectors, that seems to be a potential problem to a non-expert such as myself. One other bit of interesting potential problems too is that I guess it is possible to plug each PSU into a different outlet and thus on a different leg of the 120V power from the electric company. I guess that could be avoided of course. My first choice would have been another SF450. If Corsair made a legitimate setup using quality components in order to power the graphics card with a dedicated PSU, I would have done that and been happy for years. So instead, I wanted the Corsair HX1000, another very high quality PSU, unfortunately not in stock here, but available at Newegg for a 61% price gouge ($344 from Tom & Jerry through Newegg vs $205), of course that isn't going to happen. The HX1000i was actually $14 less at $330 from BuyOnline through Newegg, actually just a 16% markup over the $285 price from Corsair. The alternative, Corsair RM1000i, again not in stock here. But I could get it on Newegg, for a 50% price gouge ($300 from BuyOnline through Newegg vs $200). That isn't going to happen either. The end result is I bought a non-Corsair PSU. That hasn't happened in a LONG time.

That's what I wonder about though. As the power requirements have gone higher and higher, I would think dual power supplies would be more common. Not for somebody building a computer with all new components, but somebody upgrading as seems common with the video cards. But maybe as mentioned, not enough cases will accomodate it, and now the 5.25" drive is extinct too. So with something such as add2psu, it should be doable and safe? Somewhat another incentive at the moment is some of the larger power supplies are out of stock, yet the smaller ones are available. I'll add, interesting reading on the website and the "fog light relay." I'll say I really like the SF versions, but I really object that there isn't an option to specify regular length cables. In my opinion, this is greatly holding back the SF popularity.

Maybe the PSU manufacturers frown upon it?? Long ago it was keep it working, use ingenuity to make it work. Now, just replace with something bigger. I see why the oddly shaped PSUs, such as the TT W0157 which fit into a 5.25" drive bay, didn't catch on, as they were expensive niche products. But when the case can fit two ordinary PSUs, it seems to be a viable alternative.

Thanks for the information. I'm not sure why this is so frowned upon though. I understand if you're doing the paperclip method it isn't safe, but with something properly wired it seems that it should be fine. The one mentioned, TT Power Express, seemed to be specifically made for powering a graphics card.

Background, I have the working computer with the SF450, working fine with the 1660 Super GPU. I'm wanting to replace the 1660 Super with the 3080 or 3090. Obviously a major difference. Obviously the SF450 isn't going to power that. So, instead of what I see as wasting the SF450 and removing it, to purchase a very large power supply, is it possible to use another SF450 specifically to power the GPU? I know there are potential issues if not done properly, so I'm not going to do anything without learning from the experts here. It seems that people have done dual power supplies, and the PC-011 has space for dual power supplies, so if it isn't possible to do why does the case have two spaces?

In trying to decide about the Corsair power supply, the Cable Compatibility table is an excellent help, as at some point I might upgrade to a more efficient Corsair power supply. I understand that there are Type 3 cables, and Type 4 cables, and the 24-pin Type 4 is an upgrade over the Type 3 cables with the four sensing wires and the little capacitors for the lines. The other Type 4 cables also have the same little capacitors added to them, so that aspect is clear. However, there is one detail I don't understand. The Compatibility Table of course shows either a Type 3 or a Type 4 24-pin cable, because they are different. But the Table also lists both Type 3 and Type 4 cables for many of the power supplies. But only either a Type 3 or a Type 4 comes with a power supply, otherwise there would be so many more cables. So is there a specific time where anything manufactured after a certain date will have the Type 4 cables, and if so when is that date? As two non-essential questions, 1) Can you connect a Type 4 24-pin cable to a "Type 3" older power supply? and 2) Why don't the AX-i and the HX-i supplies use the newer Type 4 24-pin cable? Thank you for your help.

I was thinking of this aspect too, as just replacing a video card can boost the usage by 100W. And of course the Corsair power supply will still be working a decade from now.

OK, I realize it is an old thread, but I'm in the exact same situation, and I'm trying to choose between the RM550X and the RM650X-2018. With the estimated 420W usage maximum, the RM550X seems great. It is even that ever so slightly more efficient in the 420W range, but it is minuscule. I'm wondering though, for noise, will the RM650X be slightly quieter, since it isn't operating at the same 80% level as the RM550X, it is closer to 65%? Would the difference in operating levels end up having any realistic impact on PSU lifespan? Meaning if the 550 will last for 12 years and the 650 will last for 12.5 years, that isn't going to convince me to go with the 650. I greatly appreciate any help from the experts here, as it is my first posting on the forum:!: