Anyone Have Experience With the 350W Fortron PSU?

[Elfear]

I'm thinking about getting this PSU for my brother-in-law's rig. Specs are as follows:

3700+ San Diego
7800GT
2 Optical Drives
4 80mm fans
1 IDE drive

The specs for the PSU look very good with 18A on one 12V line and 16A on the other. Anyone have any experience with this PSU?

 

[JEDIYoda]

Elfear I know fortron is a good product!!

In fact its one of the top 5 in my opinion...

But I honestly think that 18 amps on the 12v is not enough....

Thast just my opinion.....more like 20amps or 24amps would be better!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Elfear]

Well for one rail that's true but, if I'm reading the spec page correctly, that thing has two 12V rails.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Elfear
Well for one rail that's true but, if I'm reading the spec page correctly, that thing has two 12V rails.

good point,,,as you probably know from my other posts I am not to hip on dual rails since they both actually come from the same rail...only split...

But with that said....yeah dual rails 18 amps should be fine my friend!!

 

[Elfear]

I'm not a huge fan of dual rail PSU's for overclocking or SLI'd rigs but my brother-in-law isn't too hardcore so I'm thinking it will be a good solution for him. The only thing that's got me worried is the spec sheet seems almost too good to be true. Heck the PSU is only $26.99 at Directron and it has 12V rails almost as powerful as an OCZ 600W Powerstream. Fortron is a good name too so I'm a little leary about the validity of those specs (meaning maybe someone typed them up wrong).

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I have two FSP Group 400 watt Fortrons in use right now and have another that is going in the"quiet"rig. Look at it's spec, FSP400-60PNU+3.3@28A,5@30A&12@18A and it costs twice what you post does. What they are showing in the max spec means that one 12V line will support that but not both lines at once. The two 12V lines draw from the same source and that unit could not support 12V@34A. Do you like your BiL? Spend $50 to $80 on as good PSU. Just for fun, go to Newegg and look at the spec of a 300watt Zippy. That PSU would crush any of the Fortrons i have...:laugh:


...Galvanized

 

[Elfear]

Thanks for the info Galvanized. That makes more sense than what I thought it said. I was planning on spending around $50-60 but I was hoping for something less expensive. Guess I'll keep looking.

 

[Cruise51]

This is what I'd get for $50:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

 

[Elfear]

Originally posted by: Cruise51
This is what I'd get for $50:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

It looks like the 3.3V and 5V line are up quite a bit over the 350W PSU I linked to but the 12V rails are almost identicle. Are the 3.3V and 5V rails all that important anymore?

 

[Zebo]

Yea POS whined on me.. plus built like crap. You want a real PSU check this out.

This is a hot deal on PSU $38!!! High power +3.3V@26A, +5V@45A, +12V@28A,.
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA21492

Reason I say that PSU is HOT HOT HOT, is it's the same thing as OCZ modstream line up. Same as OCZ built by Topower, look identical on insides, have same power ratings etc.. but less than half the cost cause you don't have to pay advertising of OCZ and for employees who spend lots of time at various forums pimping thier gear!

 

[Elfear]

Not bad Zebo. I might have to grab that one. Where did you hear about it coming from the same manufacturer as OCZs?

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Read the review on that PSU that zebo linked at mWave.

...Galvanized

 

[Zebo]

I first got suspicous looking at identical, and unual specs.. I mean 45A 5V and 28 12V are unusual but indetical between OCZ and epower/tagan. Look at both companies whole lineups.. same specs bewteen the two down the list from Powerstream 600 to lowest one. Then I heard about it reading this review and looking at pictures of both inards which were identical.
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article277-page2.html

Then I did a google search of OCZ and epower, or OCZ and tagan and was inundated with matches saying the same thing. both in forums and in on-line media.

Like this guy
http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=5081
""OCZ Technology has been near the top of the power supply hierarchy for quite a while now. Nevertheless, it is a well-known fact that they, like most manufacturers, do not actually make their own units. OCZ Technology uses Topower's as their OEM supplier. Some of the other companies that benefit from Topower include Athena Power, Globalwin, BeQuiet, Aerocool, and ePower. Today we have ePower's Silent Engine 570W PSU for review and it uses Topower's power supplies."

 

[Zebo]

BTW I got it when it was $60 it's now only $47 at newegg!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi...&manufactory=8056&bop=and&InnerCata=58

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Read the review on that PSU that zebo linked at mWave.

...Galvanized

I have read other reviews of EPower products and most of the reviews were favortablw towards there products!!

Now bear in mind....

Just because a company uses parts or even makes a PSU for another company that has a good reputation does NOT mean that the PSU`s made by that very same company with names like...EPower etc.....are of the same workmanship and quality and components.....

Just my opinion!!

Good Luck!!

 

[Elfear]

Decided to bite the bullet and get the Epower PSU. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again for the info everyone.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Read the review on that PSU that zebo linked at mWave.

...Galvanized

I have read other reviews of EPower products and most of the reviews were favortablw towards there products!!

Now bear in mind....

Just because a company uses parts or even makes a PSU for another company that has a good reputation does NOT mean that the PSU`s made by that very same company with names like...EPower etc.....are of the same workmanship and quality and components.....

Just my opinion!!

Good Luck!!

As I said. Look around at where SPCR and other reviews both PSU's.. they are identical inside. Same locations and type of Caps, resistors, HS etc.. Have Identical specs. The price difference is simply ones a generic while the other plasters advertisments all over the net, print media etc to build an audiance and demand. Nothing wrong with that but I'd rather pay less money for the same product which is why I come in and read this stuff in the first place.. along with overclocking.. good memory IC's on budget sticks, etc

 

[forumposter32]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee
Read the review on that PSU that zebo linked at mWave.

...Galvanized

LOL, it might be his HP.

Originally posted by: Elfear
Decided to bite the bullet and get the Epower PSU. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again for the info everyone.

Yeah, I thought I did great when I bought an Enermax because of all the reviews/comments. Well, the fan controller in the back stopped working. I'm very unimpressed. In my next system, I want a Fortron 500w. If I had the money, I'd get a Seasonic 500w. And that was based on a lot of research.