Review 'EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G5 Power Supply Review' - Tom's

[UsandThem]

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/evga-supernova-1000-g5-power-supply,6337.html

Apparently EVGA has gone with FSP, instead of Super Flower, to manufacture their G5 lineup.

And from the review, that was a very bad decision. It looks like the G5 series is one to skip altogether.

We would select the 1000 G3 over the 1000 G5 on any day of the week, but as it seems EVGA is not willing to continue its close cooperation with Super Flower, so sooner or later the G3 models will not be available. This means that you better grab one now that the G3s are still available. Till the stock of the 1000 G3 clears out, there is no point in getting a G5 unit. Finally, EVGA, along with FSP, should do something about the highly aggressive fan profile, which makes this PSU loud under high loads.

Ouch. Usually EVGA is pretty aggressive when it comes to getting their products into a reviewer's hands, but I can now see why EVGA was unusually slow to send this unit out for testing.

 

[DigDog]

if you are in the EU, you can buy this same PSU from Super Flower directly. Caseking.de tends to have it in stock, and IIRC you can also get it in swaggy bright white colours.

Or you should do what I did and buy a G3 2 years ago, and let it basically idle at 92% efficiency as it laughs in the face of a 400W load.
THEY SAID I WAS MAD! BUT I SHOWED THEM ! MUHAHAHAHAHA



edit: when you said "review" I obviously thought this was a jonnyguru review, but I see it's Tom's; I would still wait for jenny's review as this may still be a viable unit. Obviously the G3s would be a better deal and the message here is "buy G3s!", even better if some foolish retailer decides to discount them as end of life ..

 

[UsandThem]

iedit: when you said "review" I obviously thought this was a jonnyguru review, but I see it's Tom's; I would still wait for jenny's review as this may still be a viable unit. Obviously the G3s would be a better deal and the message here is "buy G3s!", even better if some foolish retailer decides to discount them as end of life ..

It's possible other reviewers might like this unit better (or the smaller units perform better than the larger units). However, when I saw the fan noise on page 2, I knew this fan would be a pass for people who care about noise. For only hitting 210w on this unit, that is a very aggressive fan curve.

The passive operation goes up to around 210W load. With >760W load the fan gets too loud, exceeding 50 dB(A), so you will probably need earplugs if you plan to stress this PSU.

However, I was a little suspicious when I began receiving promotional emails from them offering 25% off of the G5 series when users left a review (apparently a person leaves a review and then sends EVGA the link to the review for them to verify). EVGA didn't do anything like that with the G2 and G3 series, as the various hardware review sites had reviews up when the units were available for sale.

 

[DooKey]

That sucks.

I own two 750W G3 PSU's and they are quiet and solid as a rock. Not to mention reviewed very well. Guess I'll keep them.

 

[UsandThem]

That sucks.

I own two 750W G3 PSU's and they are quiet and solid as a rock. Not to mention reviewed very well. Guess I'll keep them.

I also own a G3 (and a G2 and P2), and they have been rock solid and silent for me as well. It's a shame (IMO) EVGA went with a different manufacturer. FSP is (usually) a good manufacturer, but they are nowhere as good as Super Flower's Leadex (I, II, III) line.

 

[DigDog]

i'll say it again, https://www.caseking.de/en/brands/super-flower/pc-components
if you live in EU, you can still get the same line, just under a different branding.

if you live in the US, you're out of luck - i think. I dont think Super Flower sells their products on your side.

 

[UsandThem]

if you live in the US, you're out of luck - i think. I dont think Super Flower sells their products on your side.

They don't.

There are a few 3rd parties who sell them at inflated rates on Ebay and Amazon, but the units are too pricey and have no warranty.

Hopefully another company will partner with them, and release some of their Leadex-based units back to the U.S. market.

 

[UsandThem]

Tom's also published the review of the 750w unit: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/evga-supernova-750-g5-power-supply,6344-6.html

It's about the same as the larger 1k unit.

If you want a high-performance PSU, you should try to get one of the G3 models that are still available in the stores. Till the G3 stock clears out, there is no point in preferring a G5 unit. Even when all G3s are gone, there are better options than the G5 (e.g., the Corsair RMx and Seasonic Focus Plus Gold models).

 

[DrMrLordX]

RIP EVGA. No idea why they made such a poor decision. The stupid beancounters probably got to them by convincing them to go with a crappier FSP design. Idiots.

 

[UsandThem]

RIP EVGA. No idea why they made such a poor decision. The stupid beancounters probably got to them by convincing them to go with a crappier FSP design. Idiots.

FSP is decent, but they can't match Super Flower's best units. EVGA really should have given a different product lineup name, as EVGA didn't publish anything saying they were switching OEMs, so customers expected this to be a continuation of the G2 and G3 series.

My biggest complaint about the G5 lineup, outside of simpler topology of course, is the way they tuned the fan profile. A top-shelf PSU should not need the fan to go from zero to 1400 RPM at little more than a 200w load, along with 40 dBA+ of noise.

 

[DrMrLordX]

They had to do it to tame temps. Something about the new design is getting way too hot.

 

[UsandThem]

OK, now I am just confused: https://www.eteknix.com/evga-supernova-850-g5-power-supply-review/9/

I know different sites can rate components differently, but Tom's states this power supply is very loud, with the fan going to 1400 RPM just over a 200w load. However, eTeknix states the fan doesn't begin spinning until the unit is at 80% of its load capacity, and highly recommends this unit.

It may sound at this point that we’re in danger of waxing lyrical about the EVGA SuperNova G5 and if we are, it’s only because it really is that good!

In terms of a power supply, from the most basic to advanced consumer, this is practically perfect in terms of what it offers and, more importantly, delivers.

The EVGA SuperNova G5 is bulletproof in every regard you could potentially be critical of a power supply in and, if you were to ask me what power supply you should buy today, I’m pretty sure this would be high, if not top, of my list!

Spoiler

With the eco mode looking to only operate the fan when needed, this again was a little unusual. Why? Well, it only seemed to deem running the fan necessary at 100% load. As such, if noise is one of the primary concerns of your system design, this power supply could definitely play a huge role in that ethos.

Spoiler

Throughout all of our load tests, the fan remained at a largely constant 930rpm. Despite this, however, the fan itself was barely audible and as such, is no cause for concern as far as we can see.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Maybe eTeknix got a revised unit with different firmware for the fan?

 

[UsandThem]

Maybe eTeknix got a revised unit with different firmware for the fan?

Could be.

What's odd is one says the fan comes on roughly a 20% load (which is on the very low side), and the other says it doesn't kick on until an 80% load (which is extremely high).

Otherwise, something is way off (or one of the sites could be improperly testing or reporting incorrect info). Hopefully a few more reputable review sites will release a review on it, and clear up some of this confusion. I'd love to see a JonnyGuru's site review on it, but that likely isn't going to happen.

Usually, the reviews might differ in recommendations a little, but it usually isn't this wide. Tom's basically says avoid it all costs, and eTeknix gives it an Editor's Choice award.

 

[DrMrLordX]

One of the tests might have been inside a hotbox and the other not.

 

[Kenmitch]

Could be.

What's odd is one says the fan comes on roughly a 20% load (which is on the very low side), and the other says it doesn't kick on until an 80% load (which is extremely high).

Otherwise, something is way off (or one of the sites could be improperly testing or reporting incorrect info). Hopefully a few more reputable review sites will release a review on it, and clear up some of this confusion. I'd love to see a JonnyGuru's site review on it, but that likely isn't going to happen.

Usually, the reviews might differ in recommendations a little, but it usually isn't this wide. Tom's basically says avoid it all costs, and eTeknix gives it an Editor's Choice award.

Maybe ECO mode on and off is the difference? ECO mode changes the fan profile.

 

[UsandThem]

Maybe ECO mode on and off is the difference? ECO mode changes the fan profile.

From the two reviews, they both state they are using the "eco mode", but they both seem to report drastically different fan behavior.

I think we will have to wait for another legit review from a site to figure what's going on (and which one of these reviews are incorrect in their findings).

 

[DrMrLordX]

Oklahoma Wolf reviewed the G2, P2, and G3 series, so I would expect him to review the G5 as well. Eventually?

 

[UsandThem]

Oklahoma Wolf reviewed the G2, P2, and G3 series, so I would expect him to review the G5 as well. Eventually?

He apparently retired last November. I created a separate thread in OT asking about future reviews on that site: JonnyGuru

 

[DrMrLordX]

Eek Oklahoma Wolf was supposed to be the bonified replacement for JonnyGuru when Jonny went to work in the PSU industry. He didn't last that long!

 

[UsandThem]

I came across another review. It's not from one of the bigger sites, but it looks to be a legit review.
https://www.nikktech.com/main/artic...rnova-850-g5-power-supply-unit-review?start=7

They recommend it based on all of their tests, but it does seem like it is definitely a noisy PSU. I'm not sure why eTeknix said their test unit was quieter than what this site and Tom's reported.

 

[DigDog]

well, it's not like you haven't got choice, even if you live in the US. The PSU market today is a choice between excellent and excellenter; i hardly think a 2% efficiency difference is gonna make you go broke.

 

[DrMrLordX]

well, it's not like you haven't got choice, even if you live in the US. The PSU market today is a choice between excellent and excellenter; i hardly think a 2% efficiency difference is gonna make you go broke.

I would be less worried about the efficiency curve and more worried about voltage regulation in different workloads. Those EVGA G2 units were pretty good for the money. The P2 units were amazing, albeit more expensive. Any step backwards is . . . disappointing.

 

[amenx]

Pretty sure they went FSP due to cost. Still have my 750w G2 unit going strong.