does anyone know if Seasonic S12 can save $ on bill?

[nyker96]

Seems everyone is saying seasonic is such high efficiency I wonder if it can save like 20-30 bucks a year on electric bill.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Depends on the efficiency of the old PSU. But I doubt it really saves that much. But it does save on heat output as well as raw energy usage.

 

[Skott]

I doubt the common user has done this kind of detailed testing considering you'd have to have a very controlled environment to get an accurate estimate.

 

[Baked]

Buy a kill-a-watt and do the energy saving test yourself.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Baked
Buy a kill-a-watt and do the energy saving test yourself.

No kidding. You can get 'em on Fleabay for $20 or less.

 

[nyker96]

I actually is planning this for my next computer probbaly beginning of next year upgrade and is looking into PS portion from silent PC site which I must say is by far the most professinal. They recommand Seasonic hands down, however, my only problem is I want a 500+ but seasonic is like 100+ bucks in that range, while PS like Antec is lot less. So I was just wondering maybe Seasonic can save a bunch every year so to justify its higher purchase price compare to say Smart Power 2 550 or True power series which is like a good 30+ dollars less.

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: nyker96
I actually is planning this for my next computer probbaly beginning of next year upgrade and is looking into PS portion from silent PC site which I must say is by far the most professinal. They recommand Seasonic hands down, however, my only problem is I want a 500+ but seasonic is like 100+ bucks in that range, while PS like Antec is lot less. So I was just wondering maybe Seasonic can save a bunch every year so to justify its higher purchase price compare to say Smart Power 2 550 or True power series which is like a good 30+ dollars less.

Seasonic > Antec

Don't even consider an Antec.

 

[Zap]

nyker96, most people overestimate what they need for power. Also, it is possible to get a 500W PSU with 80+ efficiency. I believe the Enhance 5150GH will fit the bill.

For an overall energy efficient system (which will run cooler, use less power and need less cooling - thus quieter) you need to plan from the ground up. Use a power efficient CPU and don't overclock (or by much). Choose cooler running video cards. Energy efficient PSU. LCD monitor. Fewer hard drives (use larger ones instead if you need the capacity).

 

[Baked]

Remember Seasonic is not the only PSU manufacturer that produces PSU with PFC and 80+ efficiency. I'm using the Enhance ENP-5150GH from ewiz.com and loving it. Super stable, quiet, cool, and affordable. It has all the features of the Seasonic S12 500W for a lot less.

 

[CCityInstaller]

The Antec NeoPower 480 is a great PS with a 80% efficiency rating, and can be had for as little as $49. I am using it to power a fairly powerful rig, and it runs everything I can throw at it. I run Folding@Home in the background 24/7 and AutoCAD daily, as this is my main workstation. My voltages are dead on, and don't have any fluxuation.

 

[corsa]

A good PSU will b 80% efficient, u should try underclocking the cpu...

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Pabster

Originally posted by: nyker96
I actually is planning this for my next computer probbaly beginning of next year upgrade and is looking into PS portion from silent PC site which I must say is by far the most professinal. They recommand Seasonic hands down, however, my only problem is I want a 500+ but seasonic is like 100+ bucks in that range, while PS like Antec is lot less. So I was just wondering maybe Seasonic can save a bunch every year so to justify its higher purchase price compare to say Smart Power 2 550 or True power series which is like a good 30+ dollars less.

Seasonic > Antec

Don't even consider an Antec.

Not true. The NeoHE and Phantom lines are some of the best. Go check SilentPC and the NeoHE is second only to Seasonic.

I can't speak for the TruePower or SmartPower. People say they've gone downhill, but without an actual +/- fail rate compaired to other companies, it's all just internet opinion.

 

[Bull Dog]

Originally posted by: Baked
Remember Seasonic is not the only PSU manufacturer that produces PSU with PFC and 80+ efficiency. I'm using the Enhance ENP-5150GH from ewiz.com and loving it. Super stable, quiet, cool, and affordable. It has all the features of the Seasonic S12 500W for a lot less.

My Enermax is over 80% efficient

 

[Lonyo]

You can't save much.
Assuming 200w average use 24/7 with 9c/kw charges, you're paying a total of $165/yr for your electricity.
You are probably actually using quite a lot less than that (since your PC is not bleeding edge, and I expect it's not on 24/7), so the savings you make won't really offset the cost of a new PSU.

 

[Zap]

Lonyo's probably right about it not saving enough to pay for the PSU... probably until after several years of usage. However, if you ever have to purchase another PSU for whatever reason (second machine, sold original system, original died, etc.) then keep the 80+ PSUs in mind for a replacement.

Problem solved, please pay cashier at the window.

 

[nyker96]

The Enhance ENP-5150GH looks interesting. The review claims about 80% at 100W or so. Active PFC too! However only downside is single PCI-e seems meant for non-SLI which is fine I usually don't like SLI much vs. single card GPUs. I must say quite impressed. Now I have a few PS on my list as possibles:
1. Seasonic S12 series
2. Enhance ENP-5150GH
3. NeoHE high efficiency series

 

[Baked]

The Enhance ENP-5150GH is a SLI/Crossfire capable PSU w/ dual PCI-e connectors. If you're looking at the ENP-5150GH, you might as well add the ENP-5140GH to the list.

 

[Zap]

As Baked said, the 500W 5150GH has dual 6 pin PCI-E. The 400W 5140GH has only one.

nyker96, your Antec is what, 70% efficiency? That extra 10% isn't a whole lot, for your system probably worth 20W. That's like leaving a night light on. Now, if you were wanting to upgrade your motherboard and would like to get a PSU with 24 pin and PCI-E, then when you replace that TruePower go ahead and make sure the new PSU is 80+ efficient.

BTW, here's a review of the Enhance 5140GH.

 

[nyker96]

Yes the Antec I've got is 70%, but ... it's not an ATX 2.0 one, so my next PS will be ATX 2.0+, I'm pretty much will get rid off everything on this old rig except HDs which I just bought another 200. so minus the 2x200GH HDs. everything else I'm getting new. PS is usually my first purchase decision even before CPU/mb which probably will change beginning next year. Zap tx for the review link, I read that one last night. Also I'm planning running single g-card setup, several has suggested a 400W (like the ENP-5140GH) will be sufficient but I don't really want to take a chance since I always want to OC the CPU so need the extra juice to keep the system stable.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: Bull Dog

Originally posted by: Baked
Remember Seasonic is not the only PSU manufacturer that produces PSU with PFC and 80+ efficiency. I'm using the Enhance ENP-5150GH from ewiz.com and loving it. Super stable, quiet, cool, and affordable. It has all the features of the Seasonic S12 500W for a lot less.

My Enermax is over 80% efficient

My hamster and hamster wheel are 100% efficient

 

[Zap]

nyker96, if you really want the 500W Enhance, then get it. It's only around $11 more - shouldn't break the bank.

 

[KingGheedora]

Assuming your system power draw is 200 watts (probably only the case with a higher end system under load), you'd need aPSU drawing 250W from the wall, operating at 80% efficiency to power the system. That's 50W power lost to heat.

With a 70% efficient PSU, you'd need a PSU drawing 286Watts from the wall, so 86W lost to heat.

36W diff. in heat loss between the 80% and 70% efficient PSU's.

 

[nyker96]

zap, yes I'd probably choose 500W over the 400W Enhance. They only 11 apart. King, you analysis seems correct. There's roughly a 10% or about 25W difference under normal conditions between 80% vs 70%. If one runs 10 hrs a day = 250W or about 1.5 kW energy difference per week. That is about 20 cents here/ kW, that's about 30c per week. or about 50*30c = 15 bucks per year. If you had it for two years, it's a 30 bucks saving in energy bill. Seems pretty significant.

 

[StinkyMojo]

Originally posted by: Baked
Remember Seasonic is not the only PSU manufacturer that produces PSU with PFC and 80+ efficiency. I'm using the Enhance ENP-5150GH from ewiz.com and loving it. Super stable, quiet, cool, and affordable. It has all the features of the Seasonic S12 500W for a lot less.

Dude I just got mine today.. the performance/price ratio is badass

... Though it was strange eWiz sent mine in a Western Digital box LOL

 

[Jeff7]

I finally dug up an old thread, no thanks to this myopic search engine. The old thread had the words "Antec" and "Truepower" in it, but the search didn't turn it up. Neither did Google, oddly enough.

Anyway, some data for you:
Antec Truepower 430W:
"Soft-off state" = 0.12A
Idle at desktop = 2.10A
Power factor while idle = 0.69
Prime 95 torture test = 2.54A - 208.20888 Watts
Power factor during test = 0.70

Seasonic Super Silencer 460W:
"Soft-off state" = 0.07A
Idle at desktop = 1.33A
Power factor while idle = 0.96
Prime 95 torture test = 1.67A - 190.46016 Watts
Power factor during test = 0.96

Not even 20 watts. Now then, assuming 24/7 usage, and maybe.....8 cents per kilowatt hour for electricity:
.208KW * 24hrs * 30 days * $0.08 = $11.98 per month
.190KW * 24hrs * 30 days * $0.08 = $10.94 per month
Savings of about $1.04 per month, if I did all that correctly.
I suppose I could have just done .208 - .190 = 0.018 and multiplied that by 24 * 30 * 0.08 for the same answer in fewer steps, but, you know....my mind is like x264's multipass compression I guess. It needs several passes to get it right.

So it will save power, but it won't really do anything to your power bill. You'd get more benefit by turning off the PC at night. But I do always like things which are efficient.