FSP Epsilon PSU

[jonnyGURU]

Because...

The reason I have the site up is not to sell a product. It's not to make advertising moneys (I might make $200/mo, but that doesn't include server costs.) It's not to spread fud or do any viral marketing. It's not to convince people that they need to think like I do.

The only reason I have the site is to help educate people. To show that brand X isn't always so bad or that brand Y isn't always so good. To show what to look for and why something might cost more than another, or why something might actually be overpriced considering.

I do the site because I feel that many people are mislead by fan boys or people with an axe to grind. I feel that people are mislead by misrepresentation of product by some manufacturers. I feel that people are mislead by their own ignorance. I feel that people that expect good advice from a support forum are being duped.

But if my efforts or motives are questioned, why should I bother? If I'm going to provide a "service" only to have someone try to discuss that I'm part of a "conspiracy theory"behind my back, why should I bother? If I'm wrong about something, tell me I'm wrong. But to go around and say crap about me behind my back like, "you have to take what Jon says with a grain of salt because of his alliance with Ultra." That pisses me off because I would like to think it's not true.

I know I can't make everyone happy, but when people start making sh!t up and talking crap about me and what I do as if its the Enquirer reporting on Tom Cruise, it just get's old and I really don't have to put up with it. It's gotten to the point where it really makes no difference to me anymore and you all can go out and fry your computer parts with crappy power supplies that you think are "t43 h0t 5tuff" for all I care. I give up.

 

[Rommel44]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Because...

The reason I have the site up is not to sell a product. It's not to make advertising moneys (I might make $200/mo, but that doesn't include server costs.) It's not to spread fud or do any viral marketing. It's not to convince people that they need to think like I do.

The only reason I have the site is to help educate people. To show that brand X isn't always so bad or that brand Y isn't always so good. To show what to look for and why something might cost more than another, or why something might actually be overpriced considering.

I do the site because I feel that many people are mislead by fan boys or people with an axe to grind. I feel that people are mislead by misrepresentation of product by some manufacturers. I feel that people are mislead by their own ignorance. I feel that people that expect good advice from a support forum are being duped.

But if my efforts or motives are questioned, why should I bother? If I'm going to provide a "service" only to have someone try to discuss that I'm part of a "conspiracy theory"behind my back, why should I bother? If I'm wrong about something, tell me I'm wrong. But to go around and say crap about me behind my back like, "you have to take what Jon says with a grain of salt because of his alliance with Ultra." That pisses me off because I would like to think it's not true.

I know I can't make everyone happy, but when people start making sh!t up and talking crap about me and what I do as if its the Enquirer reporting on Tom Cruise, it just get's old and I really don't have to put up with it. It's gotten to the point where it really makes no difference to me anymore and you all can go out and fry your computer parts with crappy power supplies that you think are "t43 h0t 5tuff" for all I care. I give up.

Dont give up your site is one of the best sites about PSU. And I like fact that your reviews are fair.

 

[jodoog]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
Because...

The reason I have the site up is not to sell a product. It's not to make advertising moneys (I might make $200/mo, but that doesn't include server costs.) It's not to spread fud or do any viral marketing. It's not to convince people that they need to think like I do.

The only reason I have the site is to help educate people. To show that brand X isn't always so bad or that brand Y isn't always so good. To show what to look for and why something might cost more than another, or why something might actually be overpriced considering.

I do the site because I feel that many people are mislead by fan boys or people with an axe to grind. I feel that people are mislead by misrepresentation of product by some manufacturers. I feel that people are mislead by their own ignorance. I feel that people that expect good advice from a support forum are being duped.

But if my efforts or motives are questioned, why should I bother? If I'm going to provide a "service" only to have someone try to discuss that I'm part of a "conspiracy theory"behind my back, why should I bother? If I'm wrong about something, tell me I'm wrong. But to go around and say crap about me behind my back like, "you have to take what Jon says with a grain of salt because of his alliance with Ultra." That pisses me off because I would like to think it's not true.

I know I can't make everyone happy, but when people start making sh!t up and talking crap about me and what I do as if its the Enquirer reporting on Tom Cruise, it just get's old and I really don't have to put up with it. It's gotten to the point where it really makes no difference to me anymore and you all can go out and fry your computer parts with crappy power supplies that you think are "t43 h0t 5tuff" for all I care. I give up.

If its any consolation, based on your advice, I took into account what you mentioned in your review and decided to go with a cheaper, more reliable PSU...so thanks.

Keep the reviews coming!

Joe

 

[Zebo]

which I'm about two clicks away from doing.

Don't do that dude I just found your site today... excellent testing and methology BTW....

I'd like to see more... no seasonic ... a recommended list? but maybe you are waiting for a larger sample size... and a SPL meter would be nice at various distances under various loads...course SPCR people could cross refernce for quietness.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Zebo
... a recommended list?

Thanks, but no. I tried that and found I was doing a dis-service so I deleted the list.

I had a list of recommended brands, but Thermaltake makes good PSU's and bad PSU's. FSP makes good PSU's and bad PSU's. Antec makes good PSU's and bad PSU's. So what do you do? Make a list of models? Too long. To hard to read. Also, why would I recommend something that I "assume" is good because of previous experience with a completely different model? Can't do that.

I know in theory it seems like a good idea. But there's just no good way to do such a list. And any such list out there that's like that is complete BS. I guarantee you that anyone that puts together such a list doesn't even have experience with 90% of the power supply brands on that list.

That's why coming to forums for recommendations is such a joke. People seriously take advice from someone that had a good experience with a particular brand two years ago? People seriously take advice from someone that had a bad experience with a particular model of power supply two years ago?

That's like me expecting good things from Abit because of the BX6 of seven years ago? Or should I expect bad things because of the KT7A of six years ago?

My friend had a Hyundai Excel back when they were second worse only to Yugo. Look at them now. Sorry... I can't do a "recommended brands" list.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU

Originally posted by: Zebo
... a recommended list?

Thanks, but no. I tried that and found I was doing a dis-service so I deleted the list.

I had a list of recommended brands, but Thermaltake makes good PSU's and bad PSU's. FSP makes good PSU's and bad PSU's. Antec makes good PSU's and bad PSU's. So what do you do? Make a list of models? Too long. To hard to read. Also, why would I recommend something that I "assume" is good because of previous experience with a completely different model? Can't do that.

I know in theory it seems like a good idea. But there's just no good way to do such a list. And any such list out there that's like that is complete BS. I guarantee you that anyone that puts together such a list doesn't even have experience with 90% of the power supply brands on that list.

That's why coming to forums for recommendations is such a joke. People seriously take advice from someone that had a good experience with a particular brand two years ago? People seriously take advice from someone that had a bad experience with a particular model of power supply two years ago?

That's like me expecting good things from Abit because of the BX6 of seven years ago? Or should I expect bad things because of the KT7A of six years ago?

My friend had a Hyundai Excel back when they were second worse only to Yugo. Look at them now. Sorry... I can't do a "recommended brands" list.

Not recommended brands but PSU's

Does'nt seem like it would be difficult to me.. if X PSU scores 9 or above it makes "the list" simple as that. I know there is no substitue for reading each and every review but lets be frank about the net culture: People want quick and now and I think "the list" would increase traffic and noterity of your site by appealing to those users I argue the majority.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Here's a quick rule of thumb: No UL, it's not recommended.

That eliminates, Powmax, Diablotek, etc.

 

[smthmlk]

jonnyGURU: link(s) to bad FSP units (besides power ripple problem of the epsilon)? Thanks.

Zebo: I think what would work best (but still not very accurate) is something along the lines of storagereview, but for PSU's, with reviews by trusted sources and then a simple system guaging peoples psus life span only. The problem with this, of course, is that people tend to sign up and add the psu(s) they have that are dead, and those without problems don't sign up and add their good psu's, and such and so forth and what not. I would prefer a system like this (if it caught on with a large group of people and the rating system was either/or and not a grading scale; the unit has been alive and well for 5 years and 10 months, or died in less than 3 months, etc.)

I also wish SPCR would do more reviews of PSU's.

 

[akshayt]

for OPs rig I recommend a 550-600 watts high quality PSU

450 is even below the min recommended by the GPU maker. and you have a c2d and will probably oc it as well

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: smthmlk
jonnyGURU: link(s) to bad FSP units (besides power ripple problem of the epsilon)? Thanks.

Nope. Because as I stated in my own review.. the power supply actually performs very well and got a very high score.

But I'm the only review that tests for ripple at the load and none of us can tell how long a PSU is going to hold up or what the potential damage is going to be to your other components and over what time frame.

So all any of us can really say is "yep. It'll power up your system."

It's up to you to look at that ripple and say, "Gee... I don't think I like that" or not. I know I wouldn't like it. You see that Tagan I reviewed? That thing was ass for load regulation but it had almost zero ripple. Or the Zeus ST56ZF? That's where I'd like my PSU to be.

Originally posted by: akshayt
for OPs rig I recommend a 550-600 watts high quality PSU

OP already stated that original problem was mobo.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU

Originally posted by: smthmlk
jonnyGURU: link(s) to bad FSP units (besides power ripple problem of the epsilon)? Thanks.

Originally posted by: akshayt
for OPs rig I recommend a 550-600 watts high quality PSU

OP already stated that original problem was mobo.

akshayt's notorious for reading miscomprehension.

 

[smthmlk]

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
FSP makes good PSU's and bad PSU's.

I was under the impression that more than one FSP unit was 'bad' (ripple problem or otherwise) due to your use of "PSU's" instead of "PSU" (notice the former implies plural bad models.) I'm not saying that the ripple problem isn't a problem, but was curious if they had other models with similar or even worse issues. Just for confirmation: Is the ripple problem with the epsilon the only big issue with FSP's current line of products that you know of right now? Thanks.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: smthmlk

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
FSP makes good PSU's and bad PSU's.

I was under the impression that more than one FSP unit was 'bad' (ripple problem or otherwise) due to your use of "PSU's" instead of "PSU" (notice the former implies plural bad models.) I'm not saying that the ripple problem isn't a problem, but was curious if they had other models with similar or even worse issues. Just for confirmation: Is the ripple problem with the epsilon the only big issue with FSP's current line of products that you know of right now? Thanks.

Well, considering an FSP Epsilon 600W, Epsilon 700W, OCZ GameXstream 600W and GameXstream 700W is a pluralirty of PSU's, I used the "s" at the end of "PSU."

I've never seen this with the FSP "FSP" models that use a conventional build design.

The "AX" models, aka the "Saga" series, are of a cheaper build quality. Single layer PCB, cheaper components, etc.

So when I imply plurality, I mean plurality.

Now that this has been drawn own ad nauseam, I will egressing.....

 

[smthmlk]

thanks for the clarification. Any chance on a formal review of the AX line?

 

[Goi]

From what I've read previously, the FSP Blue Storm series was also not favorably reviewed. At least, the rating was made on the peak power rather than continuous, which was misleading.