Power Supply Sizing For Matrox D-Series Based And Third-Party Based Systems; Shipping An Integrated System - Matrox Mura IPX Series System Builder's Manual

Power supply sizing for Matrox D-Series based and
third-party based systems
When assembling a system based on D-Series products, the power supply must be sized to provide power for the entire system, including the
CPU, all add-in cards, and any peripherals connected. To determine the power supply size, you must consider not only the power
requirements of all devices but also the power rails from which the current is being drawn.
Each power supply provides different voltages with varying current load capacities, depending on system usage. For example, a -12V supply
(still used in some systems) supports less than 1A of load, whereas a +12V supply, which bears the brunt of the load in modern systems, can
easily exceed 50A capacity in many mid-sized power supplies. The remaining voltages (typically, +3.3V, +5V, and +5VSB) fall between these
extremes in terms of current load capacity.
Matrox cards, being PCI Express based, draw power primarily from the +12V supply, though a small amount of current is drawn from the
+3.3V supply (typically on the order of 1-2A). Since each Matrox SKU has slightly different power supply requirements, using the largest
possible current requirement to size the power supply will ensure the power supply is adequate, regardless of the SKUs installed.
To properly size the power supply, the power requirements of all the devices must be added together separately for each supply rail and then
the appropriate power supply selected. For example, the D1480 can consume up to approximately 4.3 A from the +12V supply, while Mura
IPX consumes approximately 2A. A system integrating the maximum configuration of 4 D1480 cards and 3 Mura-IPX cards would therefore
require up to approximately 23.2 A (or 4 x 4.3A + 3 x 2A) from the +12V supply. Note: This is in addition to any pre-existing requirements of
the motherboard and installed hardware (CPU, hard disk drives, etc.). For example, if the system configuration requires 15A from the +12V
supply with no Matrox cards installed, once the Matrox cards are installed the power supply must be capable of providing 15A + 23.2A (or
39A, rounding up) on the +12V rail for adequate power supply.
A merely "adequate" power supply, however, isn't sufficient. Most power supplies operate at optimal efficiency at 50-60% of their rated power
load. Continually operating beyond this may cause excessive thermal generation and lead to premature aging of the electronic components.
It is common practice to ensure that the power supply can supply additional current beyond what's required for the system configuration in
typical use. For maximum efficiency and reliability, make sure to provide a minimum 50% margin on the power supply rating. In the example
above, a system requiring 39A on the +12V rail would require approximately 468W. Assuming another 50W for the +3.3V rail and 10W for
the +5V rail, the total system requirements are approximately 468W + 50W + 10W, for a total of 528W. A 50% margin on the power supply
means specifying a supply of 800W that can supply around 59A on the +12V supply.
Providing less margin than specified above may lead to excess heat generation within the power supply and premature wear-out of electronic
components, possibly compromising the overall reliability of the product.
Note: The margin provided on the power supply must never be less than 35-40%.
For a common display wall setup that supports up to seven Matrox cards and uses a mid-range Intel CPU, we recommend a minimum power
supply of 800W. For larger systems, the power supply must be increased accordingly, taking into account the requirements of the CPU or SHB
and backplane/motherboard components.
For third-party graphics hardware, an optional power supply may be required for maximum support. If your power supply has an insufficient
number of 6-pin connectors to support the maximum number of third-party graphics hardware, you can order optional power cables. For
more information on the power requirements of systems based on third-party graphics hardware, see the documentation for your third-party
graphics hardware.

Shipping an integrated system

While shipping an integrated system, make sure that add-in cards are properly installed in the expansion slots and the board bracket is screwed
securely to the chassis. Most systems have a board retaining clip to protect cards from shock and vibration. If your system has a board retaining
clip, use it to securely clamp the boards into place. For more information, see the user guide for your system or chassis. Follow the system
/chassis manufacturer's guidelines for proper installation, shipment, and transportation of an integrated system. Failure to do so may cause
damage to the cards due to shock and vibration during shipping and transportation.
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