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Need a 500+ watt watercooled PSU (not mod.)

T

TheStigma

Member
Like the topic says,

Do you know of any powerful watercooled PSUs? Im looking for something in the 500+ watt range. I know there are a few 350w and 450w, but thye just arent future-proof in my eyes, as power-consumption is steadily increasing, so preferably I want 500 or more. 550W or even 600W would be nice.

I have of course googeled extensively myself, but so far only come up with one that matches my criteria, the LICS 550W, apparently produced (and sold) only in germany from what I can tell. its well-priced compared to competitors and has enough punch, but Id liek some alternatives to choose from. It also seems that it may prove hardto track to a store that actually has them in stock...

So, please link me to any units you know of, and I would appreciate it immensely =) I can order from around the world if need be, so pretty much anything is interresting.

PS: No, I dont want a PSU with low noise, and no I don't want with passive cooling. Just to get that out of the way =)

-Stigma
 
A 350 or 400W PSU is more than enough unless you're running a massive RAID array with an SLI setup. What's wrong with a passive or no noise PSU? If you watercool your PSU all it does is heat the water up for every other component and ruining your temps and taking away one of the benefits of watercooling.
 
This is exactly what I didn't want.. having to explain WHY... but ok, here it is:

First of all, I need more than a piddly 350W. Allready now a SLI-setup of ultras will be on the edge of working at all with a 350W. heck, dosnt even Nvidia have 400W listed as a requirement? A high-end CPU might take roughly 100watts at full load. Add to that a stunning 153watts for an ultra-SLI setup, and your allready up to 253 watts not including any other devices. it dosnt take much to push past 350w...

Sources:
http://www.techreport.com/onearticle.x/7417
http://www.techreport.com/onearticle.x/7417
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/

OK, so why not 400? or 450 then?

Lets say I wish to have this PSU around a couple of years. If we look at the historical evolution of GFX cards, how can you say with any certainty that the next gen (or the next after that) GFX cards wont take +40% or even more juice for the top models? Theres noting to indicate that this wont be the case for CPUs either (tho they arent as likely to increase as much as GFX card IMO).

So why get a model that adequate now, and have to upgrade it a year or two up the road? Might as well get a more powerful unit is my reasoning.

OK, but why not a passive? Because testing shows they get incredibly hot, and because of this are prone to dying really fast when used extensively. The superheating also akes the max wattage output severely reduced from what specs say. As anyone with any insigt into PSU electronics can tell you, the power output capacity drops extremely fast when the unit heats up past about 60 celcius. A passive PSU get a LOT hotter than that...

OK, why not a socalled "noiseless" low-noise PSU? Well they arent noiseless. In a system with no moving parts (like mine, I have my HD watercooled and packaged in a thick layer of noise-dampening material and watercooled everything else), you WILL hear it. Especially under max load. Another pro is that I don't have to deal with the extra heat that the PSU would pump out into my room. Its no fun in the hotter parts of the year to have equipment tat spwes out even more heat. with a watercooled solution I wuld have to bear with the heat from my 21" CRT ^_^

But it will heat up your watercooling too much! Nope, I use a primary loop cooled by a secondary open-ended piping connected to the water-system. Since the water in my part of the world is extremely plentiful, free, and cool (6-7 degrees C) even in the summer, I can basicly run the system as cold as I want with as much load as I want without affecting the coolant temperature. I actually have to restrict the coolant-flow in order to not get condensation, so lets just say that temperature is.... not a problem =)

A watercooled PSU is the only way to have a powerful AND reliable AND completely noiseless PSU, and thats all there's to it.

So, now that you all know why I need it, lets get back on topic please =)
of course, if I cant get my hands on a powerful unit, i will get a 450W, but I'd absolutely prefer something more powerful.

-Stigma
 
Originally posted by: Thermalrock
you can run two ultras on a 350w quality supply EASILY.
Click to expand...

I didn't say you couldnt, but you'd allready be pushing against your max capacity, and adding a RAID setup or anything else power-consuming would leave virtally no margins.

However, this is completely off-topic. Im not here to argue for the need for huge powersupplies. I'm here to ask if anyone knows where to get them. Please don't derail the thread. If I want to have enough surplus powerto even run a small peltier off the same PSU, then just humor me ok?

-Stigma
 
Oh there are many availiable. They might not exactly be abundant in the market yet, because of their extreme area of use, but there are a few out there. Il see if I can get a link or two..

http://com-tra.de/shop/de_DE/p...961_and_Netzteile.html
http://www.aqua-computer.de/ (cant link direclty but look under "shop" - "netzteile")
http://komplett.no/k/ki.asp?sk...4993&view=detailed

Theres 3 different models from 2 german sites and a norwegian one (respectively). All built in germany tho. (last link is from a company named alphacool but I didnt take the time do link diretcyl to their site). I knowof atleast one more thats USA-built, but cant remember the neame witohut doing more searching.

If I cant find any better alternatives, il likely go for the last one, since Its a decent 480W, and is availiable from a store nearby for less hassle. 480" still isnt "perfect" tho in my eyes. I wouldnt mind even a bit more...

So, does anyone actually have any suggestions or what?
-Stigma
 
I've not seen any liquid cooled PSU's from any of the normal vendors I deal with. I've even search with vendors I don't normally use and there are none listed.

I'd suggest stick with liquid cooling on the rest of your system and just go with a very quiet/silent PSU. With a quality case, you'd be amazed at how quiet it can be (I can speak from experience having just moved to the Lian-Li V1100B case). Right now, the loudest thing in my case/system is the hard drives being accessed. The rest of the system is quieter than my laser printer before it goes to sleep (which is quiet). Right now, if you whisper you're talking louder than the computer I have. In the same room, with no other noise sources, you can barely hear it. From another room, even just inside the other room right next to the room the system is (under 10' away) you can't hear it. Hell, the heating system in my apartment drowns out the computer, and that's with the furnace being in the attick and just the air vent in the same room moving air.

The way I see it, your liquid cooled PSU is more of a pipe dream or completely un-needed item. Spend the money on a QUALITY, and quiet, case and you'll be a lot better off.
 
Im using a Lian-Li. Cna't get much more qualioty than that. However, I dont really have any other noise factors arund me, so im liable to hear anything, including a "quiet" PSU. The harddrive is taken care of by watercooling and then wrapping it in a generous amount of isolation. Now I can barely hear writing if i put my head actually next to it. From outside the case (or even 10 cm away) its noiseless.

I understand that you may not have need of a watercooled PSU, but don't force that opinion on me please. I've though this out very carefully over the last few months, and I have buildt over a dozen custom rigs/cooling solutions over the years. The PSU however, is the one thing I won't mod, because of the fire-hazard a mistake could cause.

-Stigma
 
A DIY watercooled PSU has about as much chance of posing a fire hazard as a retail watercooled unit. Just look at the LC6550. The waterblock is composed of at least 4 seperate copper pieces that had to be screwed together and sealed, something that can easily be done (and safely) by yourself. If you're really worried about it you can seal the circuits in the PSU with silicon sealant and go goop-happy.

http://www.digital-explosion.c...index.php?articleID=65

http://forums.digital-explosio...k/viewtopic.php?p=1881

http://www.ictisp.com/~amorceg...Ingles/004intercFA.htm
 
I'm sure that a safely modded unit would work just fine. Of curse that way it would also cost a heap less, and I could pick the base of the unit from a much wider selection. However, I have (1) No longer access to equipment with wich to make my own water-blocks, and (2) I have absolutely zero experience in working with high-voltage equipment. All in all, I've decided that this is one thing I should leave unmodded (or atleast not attempt myself). I guess I've grown too old for the craziest mods haha ~_^. Thanks for the links however. I did consider doing it myself at one earlier point, but I've concluded it would be too much of a hassle and risk for me at this point in time.

-Stigma
 
I don't think you're going to find a quality 500+ watt PS that is water-cooled. I understand your reasons for wanting water cooling, but I think a quality air-cooled supply would serve you better. If you have the money, I would reccomend a supply from PC Power and Cooling. Something like the Turbo-Cool 510 would serve you well, and has a 5 year warranty.
 
It's good that you want to buy future-proof power supply, but consider that by the time you will need a 500W PSU (3-4 years from now at least) the ATX form factor will have all but vanished and it will be BTX's time. The BTX form factor needs different PSUs though and you may well not be able to use your PSU then. Also condider that pretty much all S-ATA connectors on current PCs lack 3.3V wire and in a couple of years many HDs will need 3.3.V. The main motherboard connector may also be different by then.
I would just buy a 400W PSU now and buy a better one when you need it.
 
I wouldnt count on BTX being the dominant form factor in only a few years heh... Of course thats just my (and a lot of other peoples) opinion ~_^

-Stigma
 
Well if you are going to get the best PSU out there and mod it for water cooling than the new 600Watt OCZ Powerstream is the most powerful out there. Trailed closely by PCP&C.

If you dont want to mod it your out of luck. You could always get someone to mod it for you or something but that will cost a bunch extra.

I would highly reccommend a Seasonic Super Tornado (which is VERY quiet), or again an OCZ unit which is rumored to hang around 28dba. In all honesty you are not going to hear MUCH either way with all the ambient noise.

-Kevin
 
Originally posted by: nedfox
Google it 🙂

SilentMaxx

There are some more powerful ones, but they are not watercooled.. Fanless, but not watercooled..
Click to expand...

"Only" $200 shipped to the US (no idea how fast the shipping is, since you only get one option... dhl). You can easily get a 'noiseless' PSU for half of that. Of course, IF you also have a QUALITY case, that will reduce the amount of noise you get from your computer. You'd be amazed at what a quality case will do to reduce the sound coming from your system.

Even liquid cooled systems generate SOME sound (fans on the radiator), so a quiet (though not liquid cooled) PSU won't make it into a leaf blower.
 
Even watercooled rigs make some noise yes, exept mine, as I have no moving parts (as explained earlier). Not on "my" side of the wall atleast.

I appreciate all the input, but just to clarify this again:
I AM aware of all the fanless models, but for reasons stated above thats not what I want.
I AM aware that there are very quiet models, but for reasons stated above thats not what I want.
I AM aware that 350W is enough for most people, but for reasons stated above I wish to have more.

I don't wish to be rude, but if your post falls under one of these, it just isn't helping me much. if I wanted a weak fanless or "noiseless" model, I wouldn't be here asking for more alternatives.

It looks like I'm heading for a 480W model (Alphacool NC-480), but of course if anyone else know of models not mentioned yet, let me have a look =)

-Stigma
 
Originally posted by: TheStigma
Even watercooled rigs make some noise yes, except mine, as I have no moving parts (as explained earlier). Not on "my" side of the wall at least.
-Stigma
Click to expand...


Ok I gotta call BS to the statement above. How do you have a PC with no moving parts? Have you created a HD where the spindle does not spin? The fans on your rad do not spin? If you are using a convection rad then that is understandable but you didn't specify. Your water pump humms. I guarantee it. Whether it's audible or not is the question. There is a turbine in the pump. It is moving. I'm not trying to be an ass...although that is my specialty, but your system has moving parts. Now it may be "noiseless", but even that isn?t' true. You just have it to a level that is not audible to you.

Also you made a comment about noiseless PSU's making noise. Passive cooled PSU's such as Antec's Phantom are "rated" at a 0dBA. We all know this isn't possible. If we look at Silenct PC's Antec Phantom Review we learn that there is some coil hum, however to the reviewer it was only audible at a distance of about 2 feet or less. I don't know where your box sits but your PSU should be 2 feet from you. Yes they make noise but a humm rated under 15dBA is as close to silent as you are going to get.


Now as far as getting a premade watercooled PSU your choices are going to be limited. I like Trouts idea to get a good PSU and mod it. Then again persons like myself and I would assume Trout LOVE to tinker and build. The Phantom is screaming for a mod like that. Add to that it's incredible efficiency rating and you could be set. Then again you said you don't wanna hear about mods or anything under a gazillion watts. So that?s not an option for you. Anyhoo, good luck with the project. I would love to know what you end up getting and how it works!!! Be sure to post the results when you are done! Also some pics of the case and rig would be appreciated!
 
*sigh* ...

Well, if you had bothered to read the thread before you replied, and not just answering selectively to certain entences, you would see that I had specified one exeption to the "no moving parts" statement. Obviously the HD cannot be made to have no moving parts, but as i did explain TWICE, the HD is watercooled and packaged in an overkill-amount of noisedampening material (since it dosnt need aircooling), and is completely inaudible even if i run an open side and stick my head next to it. Because the HD isnt a problem, i don't count it in the moving parts statement. As for the rest of the rig, there are NO moving parts, as I said, in the same room as the rig. There is a pump yes, but its in a completely different room, together with the water-heat exchange unit (wich you apparently didn't read about either) wich dosn't require any moving parts to function because of water preassure.

As for the coil making sound, well yes i suppose thats true, but when your talking about noise levels below 10db it would be hard for a human to hear it unless you have your ear placed next it. Just like water rushing through plastic piping, it will in theory make noise, but not enough to count as a source of noise. I mean, any material hotter than absolute zero has atomic resonanse, so in that sense every atom on the whole planet "makes noise" ^_^

I doubt I will end up modding a PSU now, since as I explain earlier, I dont have access to my workshop for a while. I might do something like that sometime in the future however, when im equipped for it, and better prepared. Trying to do a project like this without having the means to make a custom waterblock would be rather futile IMO. I'd gladly post some pics of project freeflow when its nearing complete. If anything atleast the homemade water heat-exchange unit should ne interresting to see how effective i can get on the second revision.

Sorry for sounding pissy in this reply, but you did ask for it a little bit (and i was cranky from just waking up, so there!) ~_^
-Stigma
 
No I read your whole post... your exact quote is "OK, why not a socalled "noiseless" low-noise PSU? Well they arent noiseless. In a system with no moving parts (like mine, I have my HD watercooled and packaged in a thick layer of noise-dampening material and watercooled everything else), you WILL hear it."
You said specifically that your system has NO moving parts. I knew what you meant I was just giving you a hard time. Also you never specified where your equipment was. None of your posts state "My rig is here and my pump/cooling unit is a block a way down the road. You will see a guy in a yellow poncho. His name is Hank. He will take you to the cooling layer." It's not in there. Sorry. 🙂 The "my side of the wall comment" very passively alludes to it. Ah well no one is trying to bust your chops. I just thought the "no moving parts was silly" That?s all.

As far as building your own waterblock I would guarantee you could mod a swiftech block or two and house them in the PSU. Maybe re-house the whole thing in some modders mesh and have a custom one!!!

Ah well. It's ok about sounding pissy. I'm not taking it personally. People who get up in arms about anonymous e-personalities are silly. This is all in good fun. We're cool.


Keep us posted about the outcome. I am about to design/build the new case for my flagship system. I will have some pics up soon as they are done. It's a water cooled beast using a TJ-03 as the base.
 
Allright, well atleast now we both know what the situation is. Guess I could have specified it better.

Oh, and his name isn't Hank, its Harry. I'l have him brew you some coffee and take you for a tour ~_^

Things actually just took a turn for the interresting. Looks like i amy not need to do a second revision of my heat exchange unit, as someone on my national overclocking forums www.overklokking.no has offered me a real water heat exchanger in support of my worklog Project Freeflow. I'l see how this turns out and keep everyone posted =)

-Stigma
 
Not yet, as I am currently in the process of putting stuff together (and ordering in the few parts that are hard to get, like my damn winchester that noone seems to have now).

I'm putting together an extensive worklog wich will also detail the effectiveness of using a water-water heat exchanger for enthusiast PC-cooling. It may take as long as near the end of the month until the worklog is done tho, as I'm not doing it incrementally. I'l be sure to post a link here to it when its done.

-Stigma
 
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