Guys, Got everything ordered except my PSU. :( Need help.

[Rhin0]

hey,

I have about 50-90 dollars to spend on a PSU. I have everything else ordered... Here is the system:

AMD FX-55
Abit AV8
1 GB OCZ Plat Rev. 2
NV 6800 Ultra
Hitachi 250gb SATA
NEC 3500A DVD
Samsung SD-816 DVD-ROM
Tsunami case

Possible additions in the future to take into consideration:
-Soundcard
-extra hard drive

So I just need to get a PSU guys. NO ANTEC WITH THIS SETUP!

-How many watts do I really need?

I want one of these:

-Tagan 480 watt $78
-OCZ 450 watt Modstream $96
-Fortron Source FSP Group Blue Storm 500W Retail $78.00
-ZALMAN ZM400A-APF 400W $75.00


Will any of these more than good enough?

The Modstream is so nice that you don't have to plug everything in and have all those cables. This should be a MANDATORY thing for all PSU's!!!!


Thanks for the help,
Rhin0

 

[akira34]

What do you have against Antec???

I would go with 450W or more on whatever you get for a PSU.

 

[rpv]

Have the fortron source...very happy with it...helped me get to 2.55Ghz....got it for 65$ from axion technologies..happy with their service too

 

[Tiamat]

Antec Neopower is a great alternative if you want a great power supply and have modular cables.
Otherwise, my obligatory "Seasonic Super Tornado 400" for quiet and efficiency.

BTW, even though Neopower is a tad outta your price range, it is probably worth it.

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: Tiamat
Antec Neopower is a great alternative if you want a great power supply and have modular cables.
Otherwise, my obligatory "Seasonic Super Tornado 400" for quiet and efficiency.

BTW, even though Neopower is a tad outta your price range, it is probably worth it.

It's what I went with... Especially since I didn't want to worry about powering up my 4 hard drives and 3 (soon 4) optical drives as well as whatever video card I have at the time.

Personally, I've never had an issue with Antec PSU's... Always rock solid and last longer than I keep them. In fact, there's one powering my mother's system that's been in service for over 3 years now.

 

[Rhin0]

The Antec power supply has known issues with the Abit motherboard

 

[Rhin0]

Well I think I am going to get the OCZ Modstream 450w. It boasts a 26a 12v rail which should be plenty. Plus a thing to remember is I won't be using this PSU in any future computers since I always keep my old ones for my friends to play on.
I wish the modstream didn't have the UV cables on it but the pick and plug is just too good of an idea to pass up.

The Zalman is only 400w and the others don't really offer anything special besides just being a quality PSU with good power.

The OCZ has enough power and has special features.

I'm still open to all opinions though!

 

[Rhin0]

Well crap.

Looking more closely at the Modstream i'm not sure it will have enough connectors for my setup.

I need two connectors for the video card, two for optical drives, 1 floppy, and one SATA.



Wonder if the nonremovable cables have any extra molex power connectors??

 

[akira34]

It has NO issues with MSI boards... Sounds more like Abit has the problem, not Antec. BTW, what's the warranty period on that abit board? MSI offers 3 year warranties on the Athlon64 boards. Going with that means you're covered for 3 years on both the mobo and processor (if you go with the retail processor). I've used other brand boards, and [in my opinion] MSI beats them without even breaking a sweat.

 

[akira34]

Originally posted by: Rhin0
Well crap.

Looking more closely at the Modstream i'm not sure it will have enough connectors for my setup.

I need two connectors for the video card, two for optical drives, 1 floppy, and one SATA.



Wonder if the nonremovable cables have any extra molex power connectors??

Look at what I have connected to my Antec Neo Power PSU... I have a dedicated feed going to the 6800GT, and still had enough connections for all the drives and such.

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: akira34
It has NO issues with MSI boards... Sounds more like Abit has the problem, not Antec. BTW, what's the warranty period on that abit board? MSI offers 3 year warranties on the Athlon64 boards. Going with that means you're covered for 3 years on both the mobo and processor (if you go with the retail processor). I've used other brand boards, and [in my opinion] MSI beats them without even breaking a sweat.

I guess I should have said there is an issue between the two products. I don't know what Abit's warranty is but it doesn't matter, I won't be using it. I've used over 15 ABIT boards with no problems. Running a BH-6 right now. All have been above my expectations that is why I chose them again. Asus was in a close second but gave me no real reason to pick it instead. MSI Neo2 had nothing over the Abit AV8. MSI wasn't even a consideration and won't be. 2nd rate IMO. Good luck with your MSI's! At least you didn't have to send 3 back to get one worked.

 

[Rhin0]

[/quote]


Look at what I have connected to my Antec Neo Power PSU... I have a dedicated feed going to the 6800GT, and still had enough connections for all the drives and such.[/quote]


That's cool but i'm not going to buy that one. I was talking about the OCZ

 

[akira34]

Have had 0 issues with the MSI boards I've used so far... Those have been the K8N Neo Platinum and the K8N Neo2 Platinum... Both boards have been rock solid since day one. I HAVE had issues with some Antec cases (p160) that have made me stay clear of that case and ones like it.

As for the other items, not every brand is for everyone. Personally, I prefer quality over cheap. One of the reasons I'm VERY pleased with the Lian-Li case I went with to house my pc's current incarnation.

 

[Operandi]

My vote goes for the Tagan, built much better then your typical Antec and is reasonably priced unlike NeoPower.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Antec makes a good PSU, so I've heard. I thought I heard good things about the OCZ. I once had an Enermax that died after a year.

I tend to experiment with these things. I used to buy generic "Made in China" PSU's rated at 450W with steel casing and gray-primer paint. Those were in the $35 to $45 range and were probably overpriced. We still have two of those running in the "extended-family's" computers, but I decided a few years ago to spend a bit more on reliable power supplies.

PC Power & Cooling has been marketing their Turbo-Cool 510 ATX Deluxe model for about two years now, and I never saw a single "con" printed in reviews with the many "pros". Except one -- the price -- at about $220. I wanted one. I lusted for one. But I didn't want to pay for one.

So I "tried" an Allied (Apex Technologies) AL-B500E. Very pretty. LED fans. Adjustable fan speed. Rock-solid voltages. The 12-V rail is modest, at either 20 or 24 amps, but it provides plenty of power, and runs cool.

I still think you take your chances for paying less than $100 and accepting one-year warranties as opposed to three or -- in the PC Power & Cooling example -- five years.

Has anyone heard anything bad about the Ultra or Mod-Rite X-Connect 500W PSU with modular cabling?

 

[erikistired]

google for reviews on the ultra x-connect 500w. everyone seems to have good things to say (other than a few select people on the forums who seem to have a grudge against ultra). i think that's going to be my next psu.

 

[Operandi]

Have you seen the inside of an Ultra? It's not pretty.

Rats nest of cables, and very small heatinks; it's not a very well put together PSU.

 

[Tyson82]

is the Ultra the only PSU with the modular cabling? Oh and I see an Antec. Any else?

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: Tyson82
is the Ultra the only PSU with the modular cabling?

No,

Check out the OCZ modstream and that Antec Neopower.

I am trying to decided between the OCZ modstream or the Ultra X-connect. The modular cable thing is just too good of a feature not to get. I hope Enermax and other companies start to implement this.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

FrozenCPU -- I THINK that's the reseller where I saw it -- has a kit designed by one of their own staff for "modularizing" (they call it "modulating") a power supply. Interesting. I'll need to work up a little courage for the the prospect of dremeling a brand new PSU chassis, but it offers some nifty options for adding features to a "Turbo Cool 510 Dee-lucks."

There IS something that raises my attention occasionally to certain newly-introduced PSU models, however.

It is "externally accessible potentiometers" for making minor adjustments to each voltage rail. Of course, I've been told that this is "risky business" if one plans on using only the motherboard monitoring software in making those adjustments. One would probably have greater wisdom to put the PSU on a test-bench, apply the appropriate resistors to simulate the necesssary load (and avoid burning up the PSU), and using a multi-tester to make voltage adjustments.

But there are worse risks. If you had to adjust voltages in a power supply that required disassembly to access the pots, you could fry yourself -- Ethel Rosenberg all over again. One time, I had this "Columbia VP-1600" 8088 PC-compatible transportable. The CRT's only cover was the case-panel I removed to access the power-supply, which was also bare and attached to the rear of the computer chassis. I had my multi-tester ready, and I was able to successfully fine-tune the voltages. However, at the time, I noticed one of those "radioactivity" warning stickers -- flower with three petals-- rising-sun "dot" with three triangles -- on the CRT. Later, I developed a wart on my finger where I noticed some itching an hour after closing up the computer case.

Maybe it's all my imagination. I'm still alive. I don't glow in the dark like Homer Simpson at the nuclear plant.

Life is an adventure!!

 

[Rhin0]

Originally posted by: BonzaiDuck

But there are worse risks. If you had to adjust voltages in a power supply that required disassembly to access the pots, you could fry yourself -- Ethel Rosenberg all over again. One time, I had this "Columbia VP-1600" 8088 PC-compatible transportable. The CRT's only cover was the case-panel I removed to access the power-supply, which was also bare and attached to the rear of the computer chassis. I had my multi-tester ready, and I was able to successfully fine-tune the voltages. However, at the time, I noticed one of those "radioactivity" warning stickers -- flower with three petals-- rising-sun "dot" with three triangles -- on the CRT. Later, I developed a wart on my finger where I noticed some itching an hour after closing up the computer case.

Maybe it's all my imagination. I'm still alive. I don't glow in the dark like Homer Simpson at the nuclear plant.

Life is an adventure!!

Warts are caused by viruses not by radiation. The radiation warning symbol is probably from x-ray or gamma emission. It is highly unlikely that the part you were working on contained a radioactive source element. Those would emit alpha or beta particles most likely.