GS 800w or TX 750? Corsair - PSU jungle!

[MisterMac]

Hi,

I'm having a hard time trying to find some variable metric to value the different brands from corsair or anyone else.

What makes X series better (excluding warranty)?


The GS Line is just above the entry level series, according to Corsair.

It has less warranty (Meaning the components naturally are higher quality in TX) - but..

I can get a 800w GS series for the same price as a TX 750... but the GS has 65A on the 12v rail vs 60a on the TX.

Assuming i don't give a flying fuck about the warranty, why would i choose the TX?

I get a hefty ammount of 12v Wattage for future SLI of even highend graphics cards.

When i look at cheap units, i see their weak 12A rails and thus can easily math things up - they deliver not what promised, not even close.
A simple metric, something anyone can check and see if it sucks or not.

But what about from TX to GS? or TX To HX?

Other than warranty, where can i find some metrics, to quite litterally value a PSU in terms of Output vs Price?

Assuming i only buy 80Plus bronze or above - can i even go wrong?
Should i just get the most Amps i can find at teh cheapest price?


Someone help me out here.

 

[lehtv]

Where are you buying from?

Also: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=157583

The criteria for buying a PSU should be:

• Does the PSU provide enough power for my machine?
• Does the PSU have all of the connectors I require (6-pin for high end PCIe, two 6-pin, four 6-pin or even the newer 8-pin PCIe connector)?
• If using SLI or Crossfire, is the unit SLI or Crossfire certified (doesn't matter if a PSU is certified for one or the other as long as it has the correct connectors. If it passed certification for EITHER that means it's been real world tested with dual graphics cards in a worst case scenario).

Figure out if there are any variables that may affect the actual output capability of the PSU:

• What temperature is the PSU rated at? Room (25° to 30°C) or actual operating temperature (40°C to 50°C)
• If room temperature, what's the derating curve? As a PSU runs hotter, it's capability to put out power is diminished. If no de-rate can be found, assume that a PSU rated at room temperature may only be able to put out around 75% of it's rated capability once installed in a PC.

After that, narrow selection down with finer details that may be more important to others than it may be to you....

• Does the unit have power factor correction?
• Is the unit efficient?
• Is the unit quiet?
• Is the unit modular?
• Am I paying extra for bling?
• Do I want bling?

In addition it's a good idea to pay attention to voltage regulation and other power quality characteristics when reading reviews... Corsair, Seasonic and Antec units, just to name a few, are generally very good in this respect.

 

[MisterMac]

Where are you buying from?

Also: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=157583



In addition it's a good idea to pay attention to voltage regulation and other power quality characteristics when reading reviews... Corsair, Seasonic and Antec units, just to name a few, are generally very good in this respect.

Good Read.


But if i try to focus on the units at hand:

Corsair TX 750
Corsair GS 800

I don't care about bling.
I don't care much for modularity.


Quietness would be nice, but would be a FAR out criteria down the list.

That leaves me with efficiency vs Price.

a 50W HIGHER rated PSU gives me 60W extra out my 12v Rail for less price.

Same connectors, peripherals.

Identical outputs all over.

Why would i (besides more warranty) choose the more expensive less powerful product?

The TX in thsi case seems extremely overvalued by the introduction of the GS Series.


I seem to see similar things with other PSU OEM's and their different "lines".

EDIT:
Buying in my local EU country, not USA/CA.

 

[MisterMac]

I geuss as the real manufacturers and suppliers improve tech, we see revisions and changes in line up.


the GS 800 seems like a pretty hefty PSU at this pricepoint overall and comparing to a TX 750.

 

[lehtv]

TX750 V2 is a great PSU. I think the 5 year warranty and being Seasonic-manufactured are definite advantages over GS800, and it's also a bit more efficient. Seasonic has a track record of high reliability. However, Corsair's CWT manufactured units aren't bad by any means. Looking at the GS800 review, it seems to be a very high quality unit despite the low cost :thumbsup:

Other options you could consider: XFX Core series, Antec Earthwatts and HCG series.

Also, think hard before you pay for a PSU that can handle a SLI setup just in case. Most of the time when people plan ahead that way, they end up never going SLI. It's just usually not needed on a single monitor, and by the time your single GPU becomes too slow, there will be a new GPU generation to upgrade to. And even if you do decide at some point to go dual-GPU, nothings stops you from selling the current PSU and upgrading ot a bigger one.

If you just want it to handle any single powerful GPU, TX650 V2 is enough. If, on the other hand, you want it to handle GTX 580 SLI or equivalent, 850W would be needed.

 

[Sunny129]

Other options you could consider: XFX Core series, Antec Earthwatts and HCG series.

i'll add that Antec's NEO ECO series are excellent PSU's too. while i'm not entirely sure who manufactures every unit in the lineup, the Antec NEO ECO 520C is a re-branded SeaSonic S12II 520 (and the NEO ECO 620C a re-branded S12II 620).

 

[Rvenger]

GS800 has a loud fan. Yate Loon running at 2300rpm. Sounds like a helicopter.

 

[Sunny129]

GS800 has a loud fan. Yate Loon running at 2300rpm. Sounds like a helicopter.

OP mentioned that noise is pretty low on the list of priorities, but you make an excellent point. and since you brought it up, i should also mention for the OP's sake that, as great as the TX series Corsairs are, their fans are not quiet. they aren't loud either, but take it from someone who must have a quiet computer, the TX650 was easily the loudest component in my Phenom II system...take it with a grain of salt though - i have no discrete video card, and the CPU cooler is a Coolermaster Hyper 212+ with 2 silent 800rpm fans in a push/pull configuration. i have since switched to a SeaSonic X650 (the Corsair-equivalent of which is the AX650).

 

[MisterMac]

OP mentioned that noise is pretty low on the list of priorities, but you make an excellent point. and since you brought it up, i should also mention for the OP's sake that, as great as the TX series Corsairs are, their fans are not quiet. they aren't loud either, but take it from someone who must have a quiet computer, the TX650 was easily the loudest component in my Phenom II system...take it with a grain of salt though - i have no discrete video card, and the CPU cooler is a Coolermaster Hyper 212+ with 2 silent 800rpm fans in a push/pull configuration. i have since switched to a SeaSonic X650 (the Corsair-equivalent of which is the AX650).

@SLK:

This is interesting nonetheless.

Sunny, do you have a Seasonic TX? or a CWT TX?

I have several fans and a pump, so there's going to be other noise.
As long as the PSU ain't massively scaled differently.


I'm considering going with a Seasonic TX750 V2, if it is fairly quiet.
The prices are the same, i'll have a little less Amps on the 12vrail, but a bit quieter PSU.

I've heard tha TX v2 is indeed loud, but if the GS800 is louder.
that makes a case for the TX, a tad imho.

If you don't care about warranty, i geuss comparing PSU's is just making sure they're efficency is high(80 plus) - and basicly getting as much Amps on 12v as possible vs price vs sound.

 

[Sunny129]

Sunny, do you have a Seasonic TX? or a CWT TX?

i had the TX650 V2, which is a SeaSonic unit. if the TX750 V2 is a CWT unit (and not SeaSonic), then i can't speak for its fan noise. thanks for asking, as i forgot that some TX's are SeaSonic, while others are CWT.

 

[lehtv]

TX750 V2 is a Seasonic. (Also, AX650-850 are Seasonic).

 

[Rvenger]

Seasonics seem to have quieter fans but many of them suffer from coil whine.

 

[OVerLoRDI]

Seasonics seem to have quieter fans but many of them suffer from coil whine.

I have noticed this on my AX850 Largely I think it is my house's fault. There is a lot of harmonic distortion on the lines in this house, largely from junk dimmer switches.

 

[lehtv]

Absolutely no coil whine on my X650. I would assume Seasonic will replace units that suffer from that

 

[Rvenger]

Actually got my replacement HX650W and can report no coil whine present!

 

[Sunny129]

Actually got my replacement HX650W and can report no coil whine present!

good to know! FWIW, of the few SeaSonic PSU's i've owned, i've not once had to deal with coil whine.