Conflicting information on PSU wattage and need clarification and advice

[fretman]

Hi Folks,

Writing all of you from Canada. Christmas has passed and not a flake of snow...amazing!

I'm putting together a budget build to replace my 8 year old system. Was going to do it about a year ago but never had the opportunity. Now I have the time and I've already started. These are the parts for my budget build. The parts with an asterisk in front are parts I have not bought yet but will be getting soon.


* Intel I3-6100 (CPU)
* Samsung 850 EVO 500gb (SSD Storage)
* Windows 10 Home 64-bit (Operating System)
EVGA GTX 950 SC (Graphics Card)
ASUS H110M-A (Motherboard)
Thermaltake Versa H15 (Case)
Crucial DDR4 2133 (2x4gb) (Memory)
Basic optical Drive

Now I have to select the proper PSU. I went to the "Extreme Power Supply Calculator" site and entered in the above information. The site returned a 289W recommended PSU.

This is what confuses me. My graphics card recommends that I have a minimum of 380W PSU even though I entered this GPU into the calculator.

Can someone explain to me why there's this discrepancy.

Based on this, I've been looking at PSU's between 430W and 500W. Although there is a nice Antec one at 350W which seems to be higher than what the "Extreme" site recommended but is lower than what EVGA recommends for that card.

And if any of you have any personal recommendations on a PSU, please let me know as well.

Thanks for the help.

 

[theAnimal]

The quality of PSU can vary from excellent to extremely poor, and the latter in most cases are lucky to be able to provide anywhere close to their rated wattage. Therefore PSU calculators and video card manufacturers build in a safety buffer.

For your system a good quality 250W+ would be plenty, but it's easier to find over 350.

 

[fretman]

The quality of PSU can vary from excellent to extremely poor, and the latter in most cases are lucky to be able to provide anywhere close to their rated wattage. Therefore PSU calculators and video card manufacturers build in a safety buffer.

For your system a good quality 250W+ would be plenty, but it's easier to find over 350.

Interesting...you believe a 250W would be plenty? You may be right but I think I'll sleep better if I went a bit higher. I was looking at the EVGA 430 or Corsair CX430M.

 

[theAnimal]

Your video card might hit 100W at most, CPU around 50W, the rest is less than 50W.

 

[fretman]

Your video card might hit 100W at most, CPU around 50W, the rest is less than 50W.

OK...and you are correct...it is harder to find a PSU in the 300W range. Most I see are in the 430W to 500W range where the price to quality ratio is best for a budget build. The 300W range PSU's that I've seen are quite expensive.

 

[philipma1957]

OK...and you are correct...it is harder to find a PSU in the 300W range. Most I see are in the 430W to 500W range where the price to quality ratio is best for a budget build. The 300W range PSU's that I've seen are quite expensive.

do not be "stupid cheap"

or should I say "pennywise pound foolish"

Antec makes a perfect psu for you. I will find the link.

http://www.ncix.com/detail/antec-ea-380d-green-380w-earthwatts-76-107364.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/antec-earthwatts-ea-450-green-450w-9e-107149.htm

both are really good for you but seem to be out of stock.


http://www.ncix.com/detail/antec-earthwatts-ea-550-green-550w-2c-107150.htm

this one is in stock

 

[fretman]

do not be "stupid cheap"

or should I say "pennywise pound foolish"

Antec makes a perfect psu for you. I will find the link.

http://www.ncix.com/detail/antec-ea-380d-green-380w-earthwatts-76-107364.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/antec-earthwatts-ea-450-green-450w-9e-107149.htm

both are really good for you but seem to be out of stock.


http://www.ncix.com/detail/antec-earthwatts-ea-550-green-550w-2c-107150.htm

this one is in stock

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess you prefer Antec over Corsair and EVGA? I was looking for a semi-modular one because I'm building with a Micro-ATX case and this is my first build. However, the Antec 380 model you linked me to appears to have non-sleeved cables so I might be able to have a little more room to work with.

 

[Stuka87]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess you prefer Antec over Corsair and EVGA? I was looking for a semi-modular one because I'm building with a Micro-ATX case and this is my first build. However, the Antec 380 model you linked me to appears to have non-sleeved cables so I might be able to have a little more room to work with.

If you want to spend more for a modular you can. There is a definite price increase when doing so though.

I am using an Antec Neo-Eco 520C, which is actually a Seasonic that is rebranded. Seasonic builds the best power supplies IMHO, many tests show the same. There are other good PSUs out there, but you will pay more an efficient supply that is also modular.

EDIT: Looks like the 520c was EOL'ed.

 

[philipma1957]

Thanks for the suggestions. I guess you prefer Antec over Corsair and EVGA? I was looking for a semi-modular one because I'm building with a Micro-ATX case and this is my first build. However, the Antec 380 model you linked me to appears to have non-sleeved cables so I might be able to have a little more room to work with.

Varies I use antec corsair evga and seasonic plus server psus from delta.

I was trying to get one on a Canada Website that was big enough and had a decent price.
Since I am USA I am not as familiar with stores to buy from up North from New Jersey.

Also I don't use lower powered 450, 500 ,550, 600 and 650 gear much.
Most of my builds are 750 watts and up.

A lot of times in the 400 watt price range there is not a lot of choice. So If I make a small build for a friend I use a little bigger.

all of the ones below are bigger then you need but sometimes turn up at low cost

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Earthwa...1425293&sr=8-1&keywords=antec+platinum+ea+650

I run the one below 24/7/365 in a server for mining Bitcoin
using 120 watts this is one of my favorite psu's but no one stocks it any more

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182169

 

[fretman]

Varies I use antec corsair evga and seasonic plus server psus from delta.

I was trying to get one on a Canada Website that was big enough and had a decent price.
Since I am USA I am not as familiar with stores to buy from up North from New Jersey.

Also I don't use lower powered 450, 500 ,550, 600 and 650 gear much.
Most of my builds are 750 watts and up.

A lot of times in the 400 watt price range there is not a lot of choice. So If I make a small build for a friend I use a little bigger.

all of the ones below are bigger then you need but sometimes turn up at low cost

http://www.amazon.com/Antec-Earthwa...1425293&sr=8-1&keywords=antec+platinum+ea+650

I run the one below 24/7/365 in a server for mining Bitcoin
using 120 watts this is one of my favorite psu's but no one stocks it any more

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182169

I have been contemplating the following for the last 2 weeks.

Corsair (CS450M, VS450, CS430, CS430M)
EVGA430
Antec (EA-450, EA-430, VP450P)

But the one you suggested (Antec EA-380D) is the one I'm seriously looking at now. One thing I don't understand though. There is no top or bottom fan on this. My case is PSU bottom mounted and there is a filter at the bottom of the case. I was told to install my PSU with the fan facing down so that the fan would suck cool air in and exhaust it out the back. With this Antec PSU, the fan faces the back. Not sure how that cools things down.

BTW: If you're looking for Canadian sites, you may want to try www.NCIX.COM or www.CanadaComputers.com. They both have good prices. And with the American Dollar doing so well against the Canadian Dollar, the exchange rate should work well in your favourr.

 

[fretman]

If you want to spend more for a modular you can. There is a definite price increase when doing so though.

I am using an Antec Neo-Eco 520C, which is actually a Seasonic that is rebranded. Seasonic builds the best power supplies IMHO, many tests show the same. There are other good PSUs out there, but you will pay more an efficient supply that is also modular.

EDIT: Looks like the 520c was EOL'ed.

Yes, I went to look at the Neo-Eco per your post. However, it doesn't seem that there's alot of distributor out there anymore. I am currently looking at the Antect EA-380D.

I would still prefer semi-modular but the only ones within my budget range are the Corsair CS450M, CX430M. There are Manufacturers rebates which make the price good but I'm not a big fan of these rebates so would prefer to avoid them.