Looking for a CHEAP but RELIABLE PSU

[CurseTheSky]

Basically, I'm looking for something in the $30-50 range that won't die on me in a year or two. It's going to go in a slightly older system (currently a 250w Dell unit is doing the trick), so wattage doesn't have to be that high... 250-300w+ would be excellent. Does such a think exist, or am I SOL on this one?

I've looked at a few so far. I'm not sure if any of these are decent, but it's worth a shot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104931
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817153023 (The Toughpower units seem to be decent, not sure if their lesser units are any good)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817163033 (KIDDING, KIDDING!)

Finally, the motherboard I'm looking at has the 4-pin connector, and a 20-pin connector. Almost all of the recent power supplies have 24-pin connectors, as well as the 4-pin connector. Is the 24-pin backwards compatible with the 20-pin in any way?

Thanks.

 

[JEDIYoda]

reliability is in the eyes of the user!!

It really doesn`t matter what we suggest even.
if you want something that has a 1 yr warranty and your satisfied and you say well even if i have to purchase 5 of these all 5 are still chaper than one of those....well its your perception.

Personally for cheap and reliable you really cant go wrong with any Fortron PSU and possibly the new Corsair PSU`s that just came out.

Good Luck!!!

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

I would go with the ST350 Silverstoner.

The last 4 pins can just hang off the end of the jack on the board if there is room. I looked but did not see a pic of the 24pin shell to see if the last 4 pins just clipped off. Some guys just cut them off if there is something in the way, like a cap or toroidal coil..meh.
They prolly are removeable.

 

[CurseTheSky]

^

When I first read the end of that, I thought you were suggesting cutting the capacitor or coil...

I didn't know what to say.

 

[John]

http://www.clubit.com/product_...l.cfm?itemno=CA6245000

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
Basically, I'm looking for something in the $30-50 range that won't die on me in a year or two. It's going to go in a slightly older system (currently a 250w Dell unit is doing the trick), so wattage doesn't have to be that high... 250-300w+ would be excellent. Does such a think exist, or am I SOL on this one?

I've looked at a few so far. I'm not sure if any of these are decent, but it's worth a shot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817256019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104931
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817153023 (The Toughpower units seem to be decent, not sure if their lesser units are any good)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817163033 (KIDDING, KIDDING!)

Finally, the motherboard I'm looking at has the 4-pin connector, and a 20-pin connector. Almost all of the recent power supplies have 24-pin connectors, as well as the 4-pin connector. Is the 24-pin backwards compatible with the 20-pin in any way?

Thanks.

personally the only one of the 4 listed that I would absolutely stay away from is the Thermaltake!!

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
^

When I first read the end of that, I thought you were suggesting cutting the capacitor or coil...

I didn't know what to say.

Yeah! Just clip that stuff off the MB

That Corsair John linked look real good...if you can deal w/rebates.

 

[Jhhnn]

If you're using the original Dell mobo, be careful- some older Dells need a proprietary pinout on the atx connector. Plugging in a standard atx supply will release the magic smoke.... adapters and specially configured psu's are available. These guys have provided me with some strange oem stuff when I needed it-

www.power-on.com

Otherwise, I'd go with one of the fortrons you didn't mention-

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104031

The high efficiency design will pay for itself rather shortly, depending on you electrical rate, while putting out less heat at the same output- always a good thing...