I am currently about to receive a single EVGA nVidia 8800GT KO video card, and would like to run two of these cards in SLI mode when needed sometime in the future. A single card requires a minimum of 22 amps on the 12 volt rail, and 24 amps on the 12 volt rail for 2 cards in SLI mode. I have purchased an OCZ Game X Stream 700w PSU which states has a max current of 18 amps on each of the 4 separate 12 volt rails. The PCI-e rail no. 1 states a max overcurrent limit of 20.5 amps, and the PCI-e rail no. 2 states a max overcurrent limit of 48 amps.
Since most power supplies I've looked at print that they have only 18 amps on 2, 3, or 4 separate 12v rails, I'm confused about why the amp requirements for this graphics card is so high. I read that you can roughly estimate the amps on a PSU's 12 volt rail by adding all the separate rails together. Is this true? Does my PSU have enough juice to power two of these cards?
PSU shown here:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817341002Start Free Trial