Is a PC Power and Cooling 510-SLI worth it?

[BonzaiDuck]

I was just looking at the specs on this new Turbo Cool 510 (SLI version). You would think if they marketed it for "SLI" it would have a higher Amperage capacity on the 12V rail than the ordinary Turbo Cool -- but no -- 34 Amps. Same as the other versions.

I even have questions as to whether OCZ's PowerStream has "less effective" voltage regulation than the Turbo Cool. The Tech Report review of the PowerStream, Neo Power and several other makes and models showed a near absence of AC ripple voltage and rock-solid rail-voltages on the OCZ, and it came out on top based on rigorous testing and quantitative results. PC P&C declined to participate in that review, but they were willing to participate with Maximum PC, with whom they had a big advertising account (and always have had one). One of the sloppiest review jobs I've ever seen -- they inconsistently applied review criteria -- ignoring performance for a criterion with one PSU and then using it to boost the rating of another. The shell-game-shuffle apparently allowed them to give two "Kick-Ass" awards -- one to the Antec NeoPower, and the other to the Turbo Cool, which won "2nd place".

The other issue was "Active" vs "Passive" PFC. The difference is not significant for performance, and mostly means a few pennies (literally) in the home-user's electric bill.

Ignoring price, PCP&C may be the "best" you can get. I still don't like the idea that they have one model for EPS12 and PCI-E compatibility, and another for conventiional ATX -- and now a third model for "SLI". But I cannot see how earlier versions that have the 24-pin connector are not "SLI" compatible, since the 12V rail provides the same maximum power level. So the marketing on the "SLI" version seems like hype, as does the price.

If you factor price into the equation, I might be able to say the PCP&C is "as good as" some other makes and models, but not "better than".

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: jbh129
If you can afford it, PCP&C is THE BEST. No one can deny this fact. If you cant afford it, there are other good options available.

By your reasoning, if someone made a desktop PSU that put out 500A/10,000W to a totally stable 12V rail, was moderately quiet, and cost $2000, then a person who could "afford it" SHOULD purchase it, even though their system uses an absolute theoretical MAX of 20A/350W (which it doesn't ever actually reach), and the marginal benefit (besides the head trip for those who gets off on "having the best"), if there is any, would be .0000000000001%. I say, if you really want to make use of that extra $1900 worth of totally unnecceary power supply capability, purchase a $100 PSU and give the rest to charity.

Obviously, this is an extreme example, but the logic of "if you can afford it" escapes me. (1) Buy quality, yes, but buy what you need. (2) With cash to burn, buy what you want, but (hopefully) "what you want" is based on some rational analysis of benefit.

 

[imported_marcosv]

Originally posted by: shira

Originally posted by: jbh129
If you can afford it, PCP&C is THE BEST. No one can deny this fact. If you cant afford it, there are other good options available.

By your reasoning, if someone made a desktop PSU that put out 500A/10,000W to a totally stable 12V rail, was moderately quiet, and cost $2000, then a person who could "afford it" SHOULD purchase it, even though their system uses an absolute theoretical MAX of 20A/350W (which it doesn't ever actually reach), and the marginal benefit (besides the head trip for those who gets off on "having the best"), if there is any, would be .0000000000001%. I say, if you really want to make use of that extra $1900 worth of totally unnecceary power supply capability, purchase a $100 PSU and give the rest to charity.

Obviously, this is an extreme example, but the logic of "if you can afford it" escapes me. (1) Buy quality, yes, but buy what you need. (2) With cash to burn, buy what you want, but (hopefully) "what you want" is based on some rational analysis of benefit.

I don't think his reasoning is out of line. In the case of the 510-SLI he's not even talking about paying twice as much for a PSU (if you are considering an Antec Neo Power) and he's getting a lot more margin than .0000000000001%. PC P&C advertises 510W @ 50 Deg-C and 1% max voltage variance. What premium are some people willing to pay for high quality memory or for a well known brand?

What power margin are you looking at with a SLI system? With SLI, it's not hard to imagine nearly 300W for a power hungry CPU, and two $500 video cards. Throw in four 10,000 rpm hard drives and you are up to nearly 400W for the 12V line. That's close to maximum on the 12V line for most of these PSUs. In contrast, if you aren't running an SLI system, PC P&C website recommends you go with their $100 Silencer 470 model.

In the end when you buy their higher end line, you are paying a lot for the PC P&C reputation which goes back years. But, given the consistent quality of their PSUs, I think the premium is something like $60 more. As for Antecs, I usually would get the next size up to be sure I had enough margin. By doing this I do save money over buying a PC P&C. Given the power demands of SLI systems, you can't really do that anymore and so you better look very closely at the reviews for the particular model you are considering.

 

[ribbon13]

The SLI is no different than the 510W models which are $200

The all have the same 5v 12v and 3.3v rails, the only thing that really changes is the connectors. And whethere its annodized black, and has sleeved cables.

I have a rackmount powersupply from 1991 than would run ANY single motherboard computer you could dream of. If you know how to solder, some electronics, then you may not need to buy another PSU for years to come if you get a 510W PCP&C

I mean if you look at the pin-outs of all these new connectors, its just the same old 3.3/12v/5v

 

[imported_marcosv]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
The SLI is no different than the 510W models which are $200

The all have the same 5v 12v and 3.3v rails, the only thing that really changes is the connectors. And whethere its annodized black, and has sleeved cables.

I have a rackmount powersupply from 1991 than would run ANY single motherboard computer you could dream of. If you know how to solder, some electronics, then you may not need to buy another PSU for years to come if you get a 510W PCP&C

I mean if you look at the pin-outs of all these new connectors, its just the same old 3.3/12v/5v

So right. When I called PC P&C they said the only differences between the 510-Deluxe and the SLI models is the cabling. However, they are quick to suggest buying a unit with the 24-pin motherboard connector if you plan to go that route, which means one shouldn't be buying the 510-Deluxe model. The lowest end 510 model doesn't have adjustable voltage pots on the +V lines along with the 24-pin motherboard connector.

The 510's specs are nice enough to do the job with a single +12V rail.

 

[ribbon13]

I'd reccomend this
http://www.pcpowerandcooling.c...bout/index_whatnew.htm
as soon as it comes out.
god... so beautiful.
Ah well, not everyone runs a dual opteron.

 

[imported_marcosv]

Originally posted by: ribbon13
I'd reccomend this
http://www.pcpowerandcooling.c...bout/index_whatnew.htm
as soon as it comes out.
god... so beautiful.
Ah well, not everyone runs a dual opteron.

Yeah. Heatercore mentioned that one earlier. It looks so sweet. It'll probably cost $400 or more, but, just think about the monster system you would have to build to be worthy of a power supply that delivers 850W continuously and with FOUR +12V rails dishing out 60+A!

 

[mrBA1105]

Wow, I didn't realize this topic was still going. I did realize how lame it was to spend that much on a PSU. I cancelled my order with PCP&C (I only ordered from them in the first place because I thought I can only purchase through the company itself). But I then realized FrozenCPU had some in stock for a cheaper price, on top of that I had one of those 10% off things from a previous purchase I made. So it came out around $210. Still completely overkill, I agree. But anytime I make an investment in something that has the capacity to stop working on me in a relatively short amount of time (a few years), it's really nice to have that 5 year warranty, a reputation of great quality, etc. This may be naive on my behave since it is my first custom build ever. My inexperience with various PSUs, motherboards, other components, and manufacturers. I did read up on every part that I purchased, and it's always safe to use that extra 70 bucks for insurance rather than to purchase a cheap product.

I hope everything goes smoothly when I put the finishing touches on it. My PSU and 2005fpw are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, everything else is just sitting pretty in the case. Oh yeah, I also hope I get a monitor with minimal issues, those 2005fpw stories are kind of scary, haha. Thanks for the replies on the topic though. Peace outt!

 

[imported_marcosv]

Originally posted by: mrBA1105
I hope everything goes smoothly when I put the finishing touches on it. My PSU and 2005fpw are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, everything else is just sitting pretty in the case. Oh yeah, I also hope I get a monitor with minimal issues, those 2005fpw stories are kind of scary, haha. Thanks for the replies on the topic though. Peace outt!

Wow. I just paid attention to your final component list. Certainly not a low end first system. 🙂

A number of my friends bought those Dell 20" LCDs and love them. One had a hot pixel problem, but, Dell was really good in shipping out a replacement monitor without fuss (she kept hold of her old LCD until the new one arrived).

 

[HeaterCore]

Hey, if it's not going to cut into the rest of your system, then by all means go for the best. I've never been unhappy when I've made a deliberate splurge, like picking up a CM Stacker case. That one cost me over $150 AND some dirty looks from the wife when she saw the size of what I was bringing into our shoebox apartment, but I'm set for a case for years to come.

-HC-

 

[chr6]

i have one, yes, it is loud, but well worth it, runs my sli-dr setup, 4 hd's, and 2 optical drives just dandy