how can you identify a reliable power supply?

[hurtstotalktoyou]

I see ATX cases with stock 350W-450W power supplies selling for less than $40, so I've always wondered why anyone would pay over $50 for a power supply alone. Apparently, the stock PSUs are not very reliable, and can cause system crashes or worse. Is that true?

If so, how can somebody identify a reliable power supply? How do we know if model A is better or worse than model B? Is it possible to benchmark the units, somehow?

Thanks!

 

[qbackin]

You look at the 12V rating on the side of it. I would say anything under 15A is def no good. Also, psu co. rep is key....Antec, Enermax, OCZ, etc...Good stuff

For a budget go TTGI Superflower, and Sparkle.

 

[imported_Tick]

Yes, you can bench power supplys. It involves a complicated test rig however.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: Tick
Yes, you can bench power supplys. It involves a complicated test rig however.

Do you have any links to the results of such benchmarks?

 

[Ken90630]

This site did a "power supply roundup" awhile back. I used to have the link bookmarked, but it has mysteriously disappeared on me. Maybe you can find it just by searching "power supply roundup" or "PSU roundup" here on Anandtech.com. I think it was done last year or maybe the year before, and I don't know if another has been done since.

Enermax, Seasonic, PC Power & Cooling, Zippy/emacs, and Fortron are all PSU companies with good reputations for both reliability and performance. PSUs are really all over the map though because so many (maybe even most?) are not actually made by the company that puts its label on it -- many are made by another mfgr and "rebadged." AFAIK, I don't think Antec actually makes any of their PSUs, nor do OCZ or Thermaltake. This could have changed since I last read up on this, so don't flame me, guys, if I'm mistaken, but that's what I read here awhile back from a number of different people. And some brands actually use several different mfgrs for their PSUs and rebadge them, so Brand A's PSUs could be made by several different mfgrs at any given time. Confused yet? :laugh:

SilentPCReview.com does PSU reviews, so you might click on over there and check out what they have to say. You generally want to stay away from "throw-in" PSUs that come with most cases, as they are almost always of very poor quality. Stories of fires and fried components are not uncommon with throw-in PSUs. Antec and Enermax are exceptions, as they generally include fairly decent PSUs with their cases. They're not typically quite up to the quality of their aftermarket PSUs, but at least they're not likely to burst into flames or anything and should run most basic & modest rigs just fine.

 

[shoRunner]

i was also looking for that site...i also had it bookmarked, but can't seem to find it....maybe its a conspiracy.

 

[forrestroche]

Originally posted by: shoRunner
...i also had it bookmarked, but can't seem to find it....

Mine disappeared too!

 

[Zebo]

High 12V rail... above 20A is recommend.. above 26A for clockers.

 

[Goi]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou

Originally posted by: Tick
Yes, you can bench power supplys. It involves a complicated test rig however.

Do you have any links to the results of such benchmarks?

SilentPCReview does excellent PSU reviews. There are some on AT, xbitlabs and THG too.

 

[RussianSensation]

The quality of a PSU is also normally "hinted" by its weight. The higher the weight, normally, the better quality it is. The consistency of voltage is tested under system stress to see how stable the system is with respect to 3.30V on + 3.3V rail, 12.00V on +12V rail and 5.00V on +5V. Generally, the rails should not deviate +/- 5% from specifications. For instance, the 3.3V rail should then not be below 3.14 or above 3.47. The closer the voltage readings are to the specified numbers, the more stable the power supply is. Either voltage meter readings can be taken for most accurate results or programs like Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7.0. The system can be stressed with SETI@Home or Prime 95 or SisoftwareSandra burn-in test and readings taken.

Companies that produce high quality PSU are Fortron, Antec (esp TruePower series), Tagan, OCZ, Enermax, Seasonic and of course PC Power and Cooling. I am sure there are other ones, but these are just some in my head.

 

[Oyeve]

I use:


Brand ASPIRE
Model ATX-MR500W
Series CONCORD
SPEC
Type ATX
Maximum Power 500W
Fans 2
PFC No
Dual +12V No
Input Voltage 115/230 V
Input Frequency Range 50-60Hz
Input Current 10A @ 115V, 5A @ 230V
Output +3.3V@28A, +5V@30A, +12V@34A, -5V@0.3A, -12V@0.8A, +5VSB@2A
Approvals cUL, FCC, CSA, CB, TUV, CE, NEMCO, DEMCO, SEMCO, TC



Bought about 8 months ago and powers my main rig which is loaded. Even though its not Dual 12V this baby never let me down. And only cost 60 bucks.

 

[Ken90630]

Originally posted by: shoRunner
i was also looking for that site...i also had it bookmarked, but can't seem to find it....maybe its a conspiracy.

I meant this site -- Anandtech.com -- did the PSU roundup. And I seem to remember the article mentioning a future "Part 2," but I never saw it. (It may have been done; I just didn't see it.)

Nevertheless, the thought of a conspiracy at work here is amusing. :laugh: