I have a question about this psu. I am upgrading my video card to a Radeon x1950 agp, and it needs at least 30 amps on the 12v rail. This is 2nd on the list of recommened psu's for single video card uses, linky->http://www.atacom.com/program/atacom.cgi?U...&Disp_item2.y=5.

It says high efficiency, but in the specs the rate is only 68% or something. But it has 36 amps on a single 12v rail, being exactly what i need for my mobo. Plus the price ain't bad and it' comes pretty well recommended in the diy power supply recommendations. (In list #2.) It's in the 2nd place category.

I called them and asked about the discrepency of "high efficiency and the low rating of 68%, and i kinda got a run-around, saying she talked to tech support, but like a politician, said something "vague" to justify it. I don't want to skimp on the power supply as this will probably be my last upgrade until a couple years when i switch to a newer platform, like dual cpu, sli and all that other stuff i know nothing about...heh.

So, anybody got one of these and/or a similar setup, or advice or experience you wish to share with me? I would be most grateful. If not, I will hunt you down in the middle of the night and as you can see, i have a silencer, and well, need i say more...:nod:

Sparkle is made by FSP, same company that builds OCZ's PSU's, they are a quality unit that I wouldn't have a problem running any of my rigs with.

70% efficiency is about average so their claim is just a little marketing hype. Nothing to be too concerned with.

Thanks, cpdmf, but I emailed him the next day asking him to cancel my order after i went to ati's web site and saw the cards power requirements and realized i woul have to buy a new psu again. I just got this modstream not long ago. He just came back from vacation, and emailed me. He said no problem.
I got another confirmation email from amozon.com saying my account has been refunded already. Stupid move on my part. I shoulda did my homework before i bought the dam card. He was very nice about it. Close call. My x800xt PE is fine for now until i make the move to a major upgrade to newer platform in a year or so.

Either the power requirements for the X1950 AGP card are exaggerated or the card just plain uses too much for the AGP transition.

I ran a 4400+ on a CFX3200 with X1900's in crossfire on a 600 watt Gamexstream.

A 520W Powerstream can power a single GTX... it's been pretty well documented on a few articles.

You should check out visionteks website forums.That's who made the card. It looks like a horror show with people having so many problems with this card, and i bet most of it has to do with the high amps this thing needs. My present card is also a visiontek, and it has a lifetime warrenty (which i vioded by sticking an artic cooler on there) but i have never had any problems with it.

I oc'd it a few times. It is already running near it's max speeds, so it's pretty much at it's max @ 520/560, but i have had it oc's at 530/575, and it got very hot. Didn't want to burn it up, so i just leave it @ stock.
It handles most games fine, but fear and oblivion will bring it to it's knees....heh.

The powerstream has higher amps than the modstream does. I forget exactly how much, but that was the 1st one i checked out. You're right. My modstream has "only" 28 amps on the 12v rail and on ati's wbsite it says the card needs at least 30amps on the 12v rail, "assuming with a fully loaded system.".
I almost got the powerstream instead of this modstream, but it was a bit more expensive and more than met my needs, and i didn't take upgrading into consideration.