Do you hate modular power supplies?

[Smoblikat]

I do, they make everything more cluttered and messy looking. With a normal PSU you take all your cables and either use them, or hide them behind the motherboard tray, and unless your case isnt big enough back there, it looks 100% clean inside your computer. With modular all the cables come out all across the front and it looks messy. I prefer all my cables coming out of one small hole and instantly being tucked away. Thoughts opinions on why modular is better/worse?

 

[lehtv]

Well, modular is better if it allows you to not use quite as many cables as with an equivalently powerful non-modular unit. But often the PSU that is the right size for a particular system will have most cables in use anyway. Modularity is more useful if you're oversizing your PSU choice on purpose, e.g. to leave room for future upgrades like SLI/crossfire.

 

[airdata]

no... love them.

with a normal powersupply you take your huge jumble of unused cables and let them occupy your empty bays.

WIth a nicely planned modular set up you have a clean case w\ good air flow. The last computer I put together would have looked pretty bad w\ a regular psu. I only had to use 2-3 cables for the psu and w\ the cable management of the case it looked great.

 

[BFG10K]

I love modular PSUs, especially fully modular ones. It's so much nicer to install or remove a PSU when the only thing you have to worry about is the box and nothing dangling or getting snagged. Also with my system, my PSU has a lot of unused modular cables.

 

[WT]

Uhhh, I think the consensus is most of us very much like modular as opposed to cable clutter from the cables that are not needed. I just wish I could afford all modular PSUs on my builds.

OP, if you want to get rid of one, I will trade you my Antec High Current 750 for a comparable modular

 

[Smoblikat]

Well, modular is better if it allows you to not use quite as many cables as with an equivalently powerful non-modular unit. But often the PSU that is the right size for a particular system will have most cables in use anyway. Modularity is more useful if you're oversizing your PSU choice on purpose, e.g. to leave room for future upgrades like SLI/crossfire.

I agree, modular might be better for oversized PSU's since you wouldnt be using all the cables anyway.

no... love them.

with a normal powersupply you take your huge jumble of unused cables and let them occupy your empty bays.

WIth a nicely planned modular set up you have a clean case w\ good air flow. The last computer I put together would have looked pretty bad w\ a regular psu. I only had to use 2-3 cables for the psu and w\ the cable management of the case it looked great.

No, with a normal one they all fit behind the motherboard tray and it leaves the inside of your system clean looking.

I love modular PSUs, especially fully modular ones. It's so much nicer to install or remove a PSU when the only thing you have to worry about is the box and nothing dangling or getting snagged. Also with my system, my PSU has a lot of unused modular cables.

Thats a very good point, if you do swaps on parts a lot having to only remove the brick is easier than all the cables. If all the PSU's had standards for modularity then i would consider it way better. But since one cable from one PSU wont work with another i dont see it as being that big of a deal, since to swap the PSU you need to remove the cables anyway.

 

[Smoblikat]

Uhhh, I think the consensus is most of us very much like modular as opposed to cable clutter from the cables that are not needed. I just wish I could afford all modular PSUs on my builds.

OP, if you want to get rid of one, I will trade you my Antec High Current 750 for a comparable modular

, no thanks. I dont buy modular power supplies because they clutter up the look of my case too much, so i have none to trade.

 

[realjetavenger]

, no thanks. I dont buy modular power supplies because they clutter up the look of my case too much, so i have none to trade.

How exactly do modular power supplies clutter up the look of your case when you are only attaching the cables you want/need to use? As opposed to non-modular where all cables are there and you must try to hide the ones not used?
I think you've got it backwards.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I totally love them. I have now used an OCZ, Silverstone and SeaSonic modular PSUs and I don't think I will ever not use one in another build that I do. They clean everything up and allow me to keep my builds looking clean.

 

[slpnshot]

How exactly do modular power supplies clutter up the look of your case when you are only attaching the cables you want/need to use? As opposed to non-modular where all cables are there and you must try to hide the ones not used?
I think you've got it backwards.

I'm sure he's talking about the fact that modular cables shoot out from an entire side of a PSU(if all the cable ports are used) while the non modular has the cables cramped into a corner.

I just went from a non-modular to a fully modular PSU and I do understand where he's coming from in that regard. You make the front 'messier' at the expense of having an easier back cable management, provided you had unused cables on the non-modular.

 

[etrigan420]

I think it's six of one, half dozen of the other.

I get what you're saying with the modular boxes. Each plug has it's own termination point on the PSU, so it physically takes up more surface area on the box itself.

Whereas on a non-modular, the bundle of cables comes from a common access point on the box (the small round hole), so takes up less room and creates less clutter at the point where the cables run into the PSU itself.

So I guess the question is: Where would you like your clutter? :hmm:

(Also depends on case consideration...not *all* cases have space behind the motherboard tray to stash cables.)

I haven't replaced the PSU in my machine in 3 or 4 years...if I had to do it now I'd probably just get a decent Corsair non-modular box and call it a day. Although I might go back to a Lian-Li case for my next build, and IIRC they are not very "cable-stash" friendly.

 

[Smoblikat]

I think it's six of one, half dozen of the other.

I get what you're saying with the modular boxes. Each plug has it's own termination point on the PSU, so it physically takes up more surface area on the box itself.

Whereas on a non-modular, the bundle of cables comes from a common access point on the box (the small round hole), so takes up less room and creates less clutter at the point where the cables run into the PSU itself.

So I guess the question is: Where would you like your clutter? :hmm:

(Also depends on case consideration...not *all* cases have space behind the motherboard tray to stash cables.)

I haven't replaced the PSU in my machine in 3 or 4 years...if I had to do it now I'd probably just get a decent Corsair non-modular box and call it a day. Although I might go back to a Lian-Li case for my next build, and IIRC they are not very "cable-stash" friendly.

Exactly what i said in my OP. If you have room behind the motherboard tray than non-modular is perfect. But unless you dont plan on using every cable (which I did when i had my old modular PSU) it looks more cluttered in tehe front of the PSU and gets on the way of a lot of things.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I'm not a big fan of extensive cable management, so I could really care less if the PSU is modular or not. Generally, non-modular is slightly cheaper. My current 1050W PSU is modular, but only because I got it for a good price. (Newegg, $130 on closeout.)

 

[Fallengod]

I would say non-modular is usually much cheaper. If modular was the same price, I would be modular all the way. Usually good quality modular PSUs are in the $80+ range whereas I got my Antec Neo Eco 620 for $35AR.... Obviously everyone owns different cases, I dont know too many that allow you to hide cables behind the mobo tray.... My Antec P182 I can have a few behind the tray, but its not really for "hiding" stuff, its for cable management. For the most part, I stick all the extra cables in bottom bay area.

 

[billyb0b]

modular is the only way to go. have a corsair ax1200 and the thing is beefy and great on cable management

 

[nitromullet]

Definitely prefer modular. I see the OP's point, but I aside from not having to hide cables I'm not using my PSU also has different options for some of the cables. For instance, there are some cables with two SATA power plugs, and some with four. I use the one with four with the HDs, and the one with two for my optical drive. You can also completely forgo any cables with legacy molex plugs (HD or FD) if you want, which no PSU manufacturer is going to skip on a on a non-modular PSU.

My PSU also came with more cables than will even fit into the PSU at once, so I'm not limited to a set configuration of cables even if I use all the available slots. All-in-all, I think modular PSUs just offer more flexibility. You use what you need, and nothing you don't.

 

[richaron]

on top of above reasons...

Modular PSU allowed me to buy a short set of cables. Awesome.

 

[Smoblikat]

on top of above reasons...

Modular PSU allowed me to buy a short set of cables. Awesome.

Thats true, you can buy manufatcurer specific cables then they will work, but you cant take any modular cable and plug it in.

 

[AE-Ruffy]

I love modular psus.

I can take the entire unit out without messing with my cables, clean it out and pop it back in.

Plus all the unneeded cables are removed.

 

[gramboh]

Modular for sure. Once you start going up to 650+ watt units with 4+ PCI-e connectors and/or dual CPUAUX, you have a ton of extra cables to tuck away on a non-modular unit.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

There is absolutely no way I'd consider a non modular PSU for my personal computer.

 

[DigitalWolf]

Well its just like everything else in life, all that matters really is what you prefer.

For me... well all 3 of my current desktops are using Corsair AX-series power supplies. I don't think any of them look "cluttered". I also couldn't stand having this huge rats nest of unused wires even if you couldn't see it. I suppose it goes back to my days of doing Electrical work. Its like when I'd pull a panel cover and get a jack in the box explosion of wire... oooo free scrap.

 

[Fallengod]

I dont have a problem with non-modular PSU's, they are generally much cheaper. Obviously it comes down to preference and maybe case type. If I didnt own a case like my Antec P182 where you have the entire bottom bay area(that I dont use) to hide cables, I might put a higher priority on having a modular PSU. My problem is I always focus on hot deals and tend to buy decent quality units that go on sale which are usually non-modular... My Antec Neo Eco 620watter was only $35. If I could find a decent quality modular on sale for the same price, id definitely rather have that though. I prefer a modular but I am usually unwilling to pay double or triple the price tag to get one...

 

[Smoblikat]

I dont have a problem with non-modular PSU's, they are generally much cheaper. Obviously it comes down to preference and maybe case type. If I didnt own a case like my Antec P182 where you have the entire bottom bay area(that I dont use) to hide cables, I might put a higher priority on having a modular PSU. My problem is I always focus on hot deals and tend to buy decent quality units that go on sale which are usually non-modular... My Antec Neo Eco 620watter was only $35. If I could find a decent quality modular on sale for the same price, id definitely rather have that though. I prefer a modular but I am usually unwilling to pay double or triple the price tag to get one...

I agree, you usually pay more for modular. but as others have said, its all down to preference. In my HAF 912 any cables that i dont use fit right between my side panel and the motherboard tray (including 24pin) so im fine and prefer non modular units.

 

[sandorski]

Love Modular, will not get anything else ever again.

I hide my unused Cables in a box on the other side of the room.