Help Choosing The Best Quality Budget PSU For My Build

[ttechf]

Hi,

I just need some help choosing the best quality budget power supply for a new build I'll be doing.


It has to be modular and I'd love some suggestions for the following wattage

- 500
- 600
- 700 - 750


I did the wattage test for my new system on Newegg's calculator and it said I'd need 483 watts before I added any fans or overclocked. I'm not sure how much headroom I should give myself as in extra wattage for the fans and overclocking for the Intel Sandy Bridge processor.

I know good and decent companies are

- Seasonic
- XFX
- Antec
- Corsair


To anyone who can help me save money while still getting a quality power supply, thank you! lol. : )

 

[lehtv]

What graphics card and motherboard? Where are you buying from?

 

[Zap]

What are your actual components beyond an overclockable Sandy Bridge CPU? If only a single GPU graphics card, then a decent quality 500W would more than suffice. Also, if you want to save money you don't need a "best quality" but merely one that works as it should. That statement in itself is sad commentary because we all hope that a component works as advertised, but with PSUs it isn't always so.

For us to give you specific recommendations, tell us your graphics card and estimated number of drives/fans, plus where you will be buying from. Also, how soon? The reason is that sales come and go.

Even lacking more info, here is a suggestion:

SeaSonic M12II 520W
$60 +shipping
80Plus Bronze
Brand known for good quality
Modular
Supports any normal single GPU graphics card

 

[ttechf]

What are your actual components beyond an overclockable Sandy Bridge CPU? If only a single GPU graphics card, then a decent quality 500W would more than suffice. Also, if you want to save money you don't need a "best quality" but merely one that works as it should. That statement in itself is sad commentary because we all hope that a component works as advertised, but with PSUs it isn't always so.

For us to give you specific recommendations, tell us your graphics card and estimated number of drives/fans, plus where you will be buying from. Also, how soon? The reason is that sales come and go.

Even lacking more info, here is a suggestion:

SeaSonic M12II 520W
$60 +shipping
80Plus Bronze
Brand known for good quality
Modular
Supports any normal single GPU graphics card

Hey, sorry for not providing enough information.

CPU - Sandy Bridge i7-2700k
Motherboard - Asus Maximus V Gene [Micro ATX]
Drives - 1 SSD and 1 HDD
Fans - 4
Graphics Card - HD 6870
Buying From - Newegg
When I am buying - 2-3 months from now so don't worry about certain sales.



Thank you! : )

 

[Zardnok]

I am a big Corsair fan, so I will toss in a recommendation for a TX650M or TX750M. Both are 80 Plus Bronze with a large single +12V rail and a 140mm fan. They are just under/over $100 depending if you do rebates and how patient you are to find sales.

 

[lehtv]

If you see yourself doing SLI/Crossfire on the Maximus V Gene in the near future (two slots apart, it's suboptimal for dual GPU), get a 650W unit with four PCIe connectors. NZXT Hale82 650, XFX 650W for instance.

Otherwise, you're fine with ~500W e.g. Seasonic M12II 520W for $60 on newegg, or PC Power Cooling MK III 500 or 600. IIRC Rosewill 450W Capstone Gold is also pretty affordable. At work atm, cba to link

 

[Zap]

CPU - Sandy Bridge i7-2700k
Motherboard - Asus Maximus V Gene [Micro ATX]
Drives - 1 SSD and 1 HDD
Fans - 4
Graphics Card - HD 6870

If you aren't going to go dual graphics, then even a 450W PSU that comes with dual PCIe power plugs will work, such as the Rosewill Capstone 450W that lehtv mentioned. They have been on sale as cheap as $52 shipped, and they have 5 year warranties, are 80Plus Gold and are good quality.

 

[Agent-A01]

A quality 500 watt would be plenty for that build.