Best QUIET PSU for Around $80?

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
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Anyone? Any help? I was looking at the seasonic 400watt, but im scared that wont be enough for this system. Thanks!

A64 3400+ (NC) | BFG 6800GT OC | Fortron 530w PSU |
DFI Lanparty UT | 1GB Kingston Value RAM | Audigy 2 ZS Gamer |
Diamondmax10 w/ 16mb cache| Antec P160| Logitech Z2200 2.1 | NEC 3500A
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
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Originally posted by: Heen05
Anyone? Any help? I was looking at the seasonic 400watt, but im scared that wont be enough for this system. Thanks!

What system would that be?
 

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
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A64 3400+ (NC) | BFG 6800GT OC | Fortron 530w PSU |
DFI Lanparty UT | 1GB Kingston Value RAM | Audigy 2 ZS Gamer |
Diamondmax10 w/ 16mb cache| Antec P160| Logitech Z2200 2.1 | NEC 3500A


sorry!
 

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
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Originally posted by: Bar81
What is your version of quiet?


Really quiet. :D

and not my fortron well...because, although it may be loud, lately its been making these extremely annoying clicking noises, for days on end. Then it stops, then comes back. Drives me nuts. :)
 

Bar81

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Mar 25, 2004
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The reason I ask is that everyone seems to have a different definition of quiet. Mine is like 2 AM with nothing going on, can I hear the fan. No PSU with a fan is actually quiet then, but the closest that I've seen is the SilenX.com PSUs I tried Zalman and Seasonic and I didn't find them quiet at all but others do. Go figure.
 

UsandThem

Elite Member
May 4, 2000
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Which Seasonic model are you looking at? A 400w unit would be more than enough to run that system.

 

pwrstick

Member
Sep 1, 2004
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I'm using the Fortron 500watt blue storm. It's relatively quiet. It's funny tho because as I add aftermarket fans to different components I can start hearing things I never heard before. For instance my 6800gt was a jet engine prior to the Arctic NV5 cooler, and after I installed the NV5 I had to get a new PSU because then that was too loud.

Now that I have a new PSU my case fans (and they're 120mm!) seem to be too loud. I even turn them off sometimes. I feel like this noise thing has me in this infinite loop. Nothing is quiet enough lol.

How quiet are water coolers?
 
Dec 27, 2001
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Get a fanless Antec. Might be a little more, but you'll have absolute silence.

nm....$150+

I guess I'd go with a Seasonic or Nexus....or an Antec and mod it myself.
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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I would HIGHLY recommend the Seasonic Super Tornado 400Watt. If you want a bit more power you could get their new S12 series of powersupplies, but it might be closer to $100.

Nexus is known for their fans and generally make decent PSU's.

Dont get the Vantec Stealth. Not as high quality as the Seasonic PSU's.

For silence Seasonic is the best you get without going fanless.

-Kevin
 

Gamingphreek

Lifer
Mar 31, 2003
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Originally posted by: Heen05
so seasonic owns tagan 480? :D

thanks

Definitely wouldn't say owns. I would say the Tagan is a bit more powerful however the Seasonic would still be your best choice for pure quiet.

-Kevin
 

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
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I can only attest to the Antec 430 true power (or 480)
 

icejunkie

Platinum Member
Oct 2, 2004
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My Tagan 380 is quietttttttttttttttt. It's like I don't have a PSU at all, LOL. The 420Watt should be enough to power your system and is right around that $80 mark...
 

Operandi

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: Heen05
Anyone? Any help? I was looking at the seasonic 400watt, but im scared that wont be enough for this system. Thanks!

A64 3400+ (NC) | BFG 6800GT OC | Fortron 530w PSU |
DFI Lanparty UT | 1GB Kingston Value RAM | Audigy 2 ZS Gamer |
Diamondmax10 w/ 16mb cache| Antec P160| Logitech Z2200 2.1 | NEC 3500A

400 watts is plenty, Seasonic makes some the best PSU's made and they happen to be the quietest as well.
 

Thegonagle

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2000
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Seasonic Super Tornado. It's the favorite at Silent PC Review. You need good, unrestricted case airflow for any quiet PC, or else the PSU fan will speed up in order to properly cool the system.

EDIT: The Tornado should be pretty quiet with your P160.
 

ManBearPig

Diamond Member
Sep 5, 2000
9,173
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Thanks alot for your reccomendations and help guys. I would ideally like to replace these fans, but i was told that they are specially made and thinner by somone. If its true or not, i dont know. but if i buy them and its true, it'd be a waste.

So seasonic it is by most people here :D Im hoping 400 will be enough. Anyway, ive got a while to decide so...discuss! :)