- Mar 1, 2008
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I suppose I know what the good power supplies are, and I generally recommend and build with Seasonic-manufactured models (Antec, Corsair, PC Power&Cooling).
That said, I've a lot of older machines sitting around whose power supplies I don't trust or have already failed. I'd like to buy three or four basic PSUs for these machines, and by basic, I mean they don't require modular cabling, high efficiency, great wattage, etc. I just don't want them to blow up my kit or fail after two months. We're talking about pre-2005 systems, often with sub-1 GHz cpus, nothing serious in the way of graphics -- and these systems will never be under severe load. Most of them will be running as file servers (okay, perhaps efficiency matters a little).
I don't seem to be able to find much in the way of reliable power supplies below $40 (including postage). I seem to recall being able to buy Fortron and Sparkle PSUs for less than $30, but those days appear to be long gone. The rebates that used to obtain Antec power supplies for less than $30 also seem to have dried up. The Rosewills, CoolMax, and the like have frightening reviews.
Is it my imagination, or are power supplies and cases generally increasing in price? Technology usually gets cheaper, but PSUs and cases are probably more sensitive to raw materials costs, and those have been getting expensive this decade (rise of China, India, etc).
Edit: I may have to bite the bullet and pay $50 (- $10 rebate) for this Corsair, though $40 (+ tax, ugh) is at my upper bound. I'm not buying four of these, heh. Still, it seems preferable to buy one of these rather than get an inferior unit for $35 + almost $10 shipping.
That said, I've a lot of older machines sitting around whose power supplies I don't trust or have already failed. I'd like to buy three or four basic PSUs for these machines, and by basic, I mean they don't require modular cabling, high efficiency, great wattage, etc. I just don't want them to blow up my kit or fail after two months. We're talking about pre-2005 systems, often with sub-1 GHz cpus, nothing serious in the way of graphics -- and these systems will never be under severe load. Most of them will be running as file servers (okay, perhaps efficiency matters a little).
I don't seem to be able to find much in the way of reliable power supplies below $40 (including postage). I seem to recall being able to buy Fortron and Sparkle PSUs for less than $30, but those days appear to be long gone. The rebates that used to obtain Antec power supplies for less than $30 also seem to have dried up. The Rosewills, CoolMax, and the like have frightening reviews.
Is it my imagination, or are power supplies and cases generally increasing in price? Technology usually gets cheaper, but PSUs and cases are probably more sensitive to raw materials costs, and those have been getting expensive this decade (rise of China, India, etc).
Edit: I may have to bite the bullet and pay $50 (- $10 rebate) for this Corsair, though $40 (+ tax, ugh) is at my upper bound. I'm not buying four of these, heh. Still, it seems preferable to buy one of these rather than get an inferior unit for $35 + almost $10 shipping.
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