Corsair CX430 430w = $20

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,574
10,211
126
You've been brainwashed by the manufacturers into thinking you need more than a 4xxw PSU to power an average system. Unless you are running SLI with 5+ traditional hard drives, you don't need more than about 400W's. Most typical systems don't even need 300W's.

My non-overclocked AMD Thuban 1045T rigs, with two 9600GSO 96SP graphics cards, take about 370W at the wall, under full load.
 

Pariah

Elite Member
Apr 16, 2000
7,357
20
81
My non-overclocked AMD Thuban 1045T rigs, with two 9600GSO 96SP graphics cards, take about 370W at the wall, under full load.

Which further proves my point.

Back on topic. Even if you don't have an immediate need for a PSU, it's hard to beat $20 for a quality back up. Should get mine tomorrow.
 

UaVaj

Golden Member
Nov 16, 2012
1,546
0
76
It's only 1 6850 and an OCed 2600k. Why are you so shocked?

6850 = ~127W
GigaByte MB = 75W
2600K = ~95W @ 3.8GHz
OC 2600K = ~135W Delta @ 5GHz
4GB = ~20W
3 SSD = ~15W
Cooling = ~25W

492W Total

unless my links/educate guess are in left field. that is near overload max (517w) for the cx430.

if you angle is - Acanthus is not running 100% load 24/7. point taken.



this bring the real questions for the experts. (1) how long can a PSU be pushed at 100%? (2) what is the recommended percentage?
 

Pariah

Elite Member
Apr 16, 2000
7,357
20
81
Peak efficiency is usually achieved somewhere in the 50-75% range. However, efficiency usually drops very little when moving all the way up to 100%, (couple of percentage points). The worst efficiency for pretty much all PSU's is at low loads. So buying an 800W PSU for some regular desktop is probably going to cost you more than a lower PSU that is using more of its capacity.

You can read more about it here:

http://www.plugloadsolutions.com/80PlusPowerSupplies.aspx

You can actually view efficiency curves of countless individual PSU's here.

Load should not effect the longevity of the PSU so long as you are not exceeding its capacity. What matters is that it is getting proper cooling. A properly cooled CPU running near capacity 24x7 should not die any sooner than one that runs at lower loads so long as both are properly cooled.
 
Last edited:

Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
2
76
ostif.org
6850 = ~127W
GigaByte MB = 75W
2600K = ~95W @ 3.8GHz
OC 2600K = ~135W Delta @ 5GHz
4GB = ~20W
3 SSD = ~15W
Cooling = ~25W

492W Total

unless my links/educate guess are in left field. that is near overload max (517w) for the cx430.

if you angle is - Acanthus is not running 100% load 24/7. point taken.



this bring the real questions for the experts. (1) how long can a PSU be pushed at 100%? (2) what is the recommended percentage?

edit: nvm
 

TemjinGold

Diamond Member
Dec 16, 2006
3,050
65
91
6850 = ~127W
GigaByte MB = 75W
2600K = ~95W @ 3.8GHz
OC 2600K = ~135W Delta @ 5GHz
4GB = ~20W
3 SSD = ~15W
Cooling = ~25W

492W Total

unless my links/educate guess are in left field. that is near overload max (517w) for the cx430.

if you angle is - Acanthus is not running 100% load 24/7. point taken.



this bring the real questions for the experts. (1) how long can a PSU be pushed at 100%? (2) what is the recommended percentage?

Err... so a few problems here:

1) The mobo will not draw 75w on its own.
2) The 95W you listed is Max TDP, not what the chip will draw at 3.8. Actual is lower in practice.
3) IDC's 5.0 ghz OC was on 1.495v. OP's is on 1.4v. He was also measuring from the wall unless I'm reading something wrong.
4) 6850 only draws that kind of power at full load. OP isn't likely to hit 100% CPU and 100% GPU unless his game of choice is Furmark/Prime.
 

mvbighead

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2009
3,793
1
81
Lucky I waited. I looked a couple days ago and it was $45 before rebate. Later that night it was back to $39. Only $5, but still a good savings.

Order one for a 478 P4 Gateway system with a bad PSU. Way overkill, but it shouldn't have any more power problems.
 

mikeford

Diamond Member
Jan 27, 2001
5,671
160
106
I notice a lot of people saying spare PS, but I've heard of some DOA, so maybe a good idea to swap it into a system right away and run it for a week or two?
 

MontyAC

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2004
4,112
1
81
I notice a lot of people saying spare PS, but I've heard of some DOA, so maybe a good idea to swap it into a system right away and run it for a week or two?

I Just do the paper clip test on it. If it runs, then it's good to go.
 

RaistlinZ

Diamond Member
Oct 15, 2001
7,470
9
91
I Just do the paper clip test on it. If it runs, then it's good to go.

Can you explain how this works? I got one of the Seasonic X750 Gold's for the $85.00 deal and would like to know if it works without having to take out my current PSU.
 

MrVeedo

Senior member
Mar 9, 2004
982
0
76
Can you explain how this works? I got one of the Seasonic X750 Gold's for the $85.00 deal and would like to know if it works without having to take out my current PSU.

Jump the green wire to ground and it should fire up. Note that this doesn't really stress the PSU enough to verify its not a dud, but at least you'll know its not DOA .
 

Wyndru

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2009
7,318
4
76
Probably doa's because of neweggs crappy packing. I got mine yesterday, and it had 1 piece of that crumpled brown paper in it. And my wife dropped it on the floor when she brought it in.
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,574
10,211
126
the modular version of this PS is going to be on shellshocker in about an hour

http://www.newegg.com/Special/ShellS...9-_-01112013_4

Very interesting. I wasn't aware that there was a modular version of the CX430. It says "New arrival", it must be fairly new then.

Thinking a little bit though - why would you want a modular 430W PSU? Is that still too many cables for some people? I would think that with such low wattage, you would be using most of the cables? Oh well, variety is good.
 

Vincent

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,030
2
81
$25 AR is a very nice deal for low-wattage modular power supply. The trouble is, I already have a Corsair 400CX and a modular OCZ 500W as spares. Hopefully it will be sold out by the time I get home and the temptation will be gone.

Contrary to VirtualLarry, I think low-wattage modular power supplies are great. If all you have are a couple storage devices, it's great to have all the extra cables out of the way.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
Deal is live again - "Deals expire at 11:59pm PT on 1/22/2013!"

$44.99
$24.99 after $20.00 rebate card
+ $5 off w/ promo code EMCYTZT2819, ends 1/22
Free Shipping
 

ModerateRepZero

Golden Member
Jan 12, 2006
1,572
5
81
Very tempting, but I already have one from last time, and I failed to send in the rebate. I decided to get more pro-active about sending in rebates, but I don't think I need another PSU. Even though this is a relative steal for $20 AR. That's the price of a crap PSU, and this PSU is NOT crap.

This /sigh. Ironically I planned to use the PSU for a pre-built PC w/basic PSU but they shipped it with the same PSU.
 

bfromcolo

Member
Jan 12, 2012
48
0
66
I got one of these a few months ago when I first saw the $20 after MIR sale. Works fine and at least visually it's a much better unit than the Antec 500W one I had to replace due to bearing noise. I used the utility here to calculate my system requirements at 357W recommended PSU wattage.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/PSUEngine

Currently running:
PII 840 @3.6
2x4G DDR3
6750
1 SSD
2 HDD
1 PCI wireless card
CD/DVD RW
3 fans
3 USB powered devices

If the PSU calculate utility is to be believed I still have room for a GPU upgrade.

Nice review of the unit here: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/Corsair-CX430-Power-Supply-Review/1200 Although I think the review may be for a earlier version that wasn't 80+ Bronze.

Got the rebate in about 6 weeks as I recall.
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
so I got mine delivered and am going to to the rebate... I have two UPCs though. One was on the plastic shrink wrap which was placed DIRECTLY over the UPC on the cardboard box.

Which do I use?