Respectfully, I'd consider another option before you drop massive cash on a 1600W unit. I totally get the nerves—I was in the same boat when I built my dual 4090 rig last year for Octane rendering. Everyone told me I HAD to go 1600W, but honestly, you can save a few hundred bucks and still get rock-solid stability. I’ve been running the be quiet! Dark Power Pro 13 1300W ATX 3.0 80 Plus Titanium for months now, sometimes for 72-hour stretches, and it hasn't tripped once.

Since it's ATX 3.0, it handles those transient spikes way better than old-school units, so you don't need as much raw overhead as people think. Plus, the Titanium efficiency keeps the heat down during those long renders. If you really want that extra peace of mind without the 1600W price tag, the MSI MEG Ai1300P PCIE5 1300W ATX 3.0 80 Plus Platinum is another beast that’s super reliable. Basically, 1300W is the sweet spot for value and performance imo. gl with the build!

> I’ve been eyeing a few 1200W models, but after calculating the rest of my build... I’m starting to wonder if I should be looking closer to 1600W

ngl i think you should definitely go for the 1600W option. i tried running a similar dual-card setup with a 1200W unit and it was honestly a total nightmare... it kept tripping whenever i started a heavy render. unfortunately, i spent way more money in the long run because i had to buy a second unit after the first one couldnt handle those crazy spikes from the 4090s. basically just wasted cash on the first one tbh.

also definitely get an ATX 3.0 unit!! using those adapters is a huge mess and i actually had one of mine start melting a bit which was super scary. if youre spending this much on a threadripper build, just go big on the psu. i went with a high-end seasonic 1600w and its been way quieter too since it isnt working as hard. just save yourself the headache lol. gl with the build!! 👍

Been using this for years, no complaints

For your situation, I’d prioritize safety and go with a 1600W unit to handle those crazy 4090 spikes. Basically, you want that massive overhead so the PSU stays cool and quiet during 48-hour renders.

* EVGA SuperNOVA 1600 T2, 80+ TITANIUM 1600W vs Seasonic PRIME TX-1600, ATX 3.0
* The Seasonic is ATX 3.0 native, so no messy adapters, which is safer for high-draw cards tbh.
* The EVGA is a classic tank but you'll need those 12VHPWR cables separately.

Personally, I'd grab the Seasonic just for the peace of mind. gl!

I definitely agree with going for a 1600W unit. When you're doing a DIY build like this, it’s basically just safer to have that extra room so you aren't constantly worrying about the machine crashing mid-render, right? I'm still kinda new to this, but I've found that being able to service the machine yourself is a lot easier if the PSU is actually designed for these high-end setups. Here are two quick tips from a DIY perspective: * Make sure you get a unit with "native" 12VHPWR cables so you aren't messing with those four-to-one adapters. It makes cable management way simpler and feels way less sketchy.
* Double check your wall outlet! A dual 4090 rig can pull a ton of power, and you might actually trip your room's circuit breaker if you've got other stuff running on the same line, you know? I've seen some people talk about the Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 1650W lately as a solid ATX 3.0 option for these big workstation builds. Is that a good choice for someone just starting out who wants something reliable but maybe a little easier on the wallet?