Are there any high quality 100-200W PSUs?

[Gigantopithecus]

With CPUs using less and less power, and with onboard graphics (e.g. Intel HD 2000, 3000 and especially the AMD Fusion APUs) increasingly able to handle non-gaming and even light gaming needs, I'd think there would be a bigger market for high quality 100-200W, maybe 100-300W, PSUs. Can you name any? I'm talking about standard sized, not external bricks nor pico PSUs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, it seems that "numbers sell" in the PSU market, and therefore, there isn't much demand for a PSU with "low numbers" attached to it.

If people had half a clue about PSUs, and how they shouldn't just buy the cheapest models with the highest rated wattage numbers (eg Junk PSUs), then there might be a market for sub-300W quality units.

But really, is there a way to get the cost down on units of that capacity, that allows mfgs to price-differentiate their different models properly, and still make a profit?

IOW, would there be a market for a 200W PSU, that cost the same as a 300W PSU?

Or would the market be served by a PSU mfg'r bumping up the cost on all of their bigger-than-200W PSUs by $5, to provide a price reasoning for the customer to purchase the 200W model if that's all that they needed? Yet putting that mfg at a price disadvantage in the general PSU market versus other mfgs?

I think that those are reasons why we haven't seen "quality" 200W units.

 

[tomoyo]

Short answer. No. You just called out no bricks or picos, which are the real answer to this question.

 

[Gigantopithecus]

Short answer. No. You just called out no bricks or picos, which are the real answer to this question.

Thought so. Thanks for the input!

 

[Zap]

IOW, would there be a market for a 200W PSU, that cost the same as a 300W PSU?

This is the big thing. On any particular PSU platform, stepping up in wattage costs very little. That's why you often seem to get another 100W for $10, but you can't get a single 100W for $10.

For actual ATX form factor PSUs that aren't crap, the lowest wattage I can find with a quick look are 250-300W.

Sparkle Green 250W 80Plus $50

SeaSonic SS-300ES 300W 80Plus Bronze $40

SeaSonic SS-300ET 300W 80Plus Bronze $40

Note that the two SeaSonics are on sale right now, so normally they cost more. Also, the "ET" has a 120mm fan, while the other two use 80mm fans.

So, if someone was looking for really low wattage and finds the 250W Sparkle for $50 (which BTW is made by FSP, should be decent), what happens when that person sees, say, an Antec NEO ECO 520 also for $50 on sale?

Yeah, most people will buy the higher wattage unit.

 

[tomoyo]

Yep, I don't see the point. Just get a good 300-350w seasonic and go go go. Also efficiency at really low levels like 30 watts, it really has zero importance if it's 75% or 80%. You're talking about 1 or 2 watts, invisible compared to your lights, tvs, and other devices.
Also while FSP has generally average to mediocre psus, I don't think I'd call a lot of them high quality. Maybe the Aurom I'd actually call that, but even that has group regulation! Although you could say the same for Seasonic S12/M12, but those also have some awesome voltage reg and ripple.

 

[Zap]

Also while FSP has generally average to mediocre psus, I don't think I'd call a lot of them high quality.

I said "aren't crap" not "high quality."

Would you take an FSP or a Diablotek PSU? There's your answer.

FSP PSUs aren't very exciting, but they do the job. Who cares if X PSU has 10% less ripple than Y PSU unless you were e-peen swinging if both PSUs are well within the ATX spec limits?

 

[Modelworks]

Hipro makes them. They are in everything from dell to hp desktops. Before you think that they are not high enough quality think about the millions of power supplies they make vs the number of failures.

 

[ElFenix]

Hipro makes them. They are in everything from dell to hp desktops. Before you think that they are not high enough quality think about the millions of power supplies they make vs the number of failures.

yup. there's some dell supplies that SPCR members are after all the time, but they aren't necessarily ATX.

 

[dualsmp]

Here is a FSP 250w 80+ Gold. One of the few low watt units rated 80+ Gold. Under the pricing tab it says out of stock, but maybe if you call they can help you out.

http://www.fspgroupusa.com/fsp25060ega/p/843.html

 

[tomoyo]

I said "aren't crap" not "high quality."

Would you take an FSP or a Diablotek PSU? There's your answer.

FSP PSUs aren't very exciting, but they do the job. Who cares if X PSU has 10% less ripple than Y PSU unless you were e-peen swinging if both PSUs are well within the ATX spec limits?

Heh I was just basing it off op's question of "high quality" psus. Of course maybe he just means decent useable ones, of which then fsp is as good as most cheap stuff.

 

[OS]

i realize this is an old thread but i would think that even a high wattage power supply of mediocre quality would last a long time on light loads.

What seems to kill power supplies the fastest is heat and/or heavy loads, which causes heat anyways.

So any small/medium size power supply of decent quality will probably last a very long time when used under a very light load.