Need solid PSU for New Build

[dfnkt]

Came into a deal with a buddy and we did some trading for some parts he had.

I have got an Intel Core2Duo 1.8Ghz (plan on OCing a bit)
Gigabyte P35-DS3R Mobo
2GB DDR2 1066
BFG 7900GT OC (256MB)
Seagate 300GB Sata2 HD

Looking for a solid PSU, I believe the 7900GT says it requires (aka prefers) a 12V rail with 20A. So far the ones I've found that are good brands but are only 18A on the 12V rails. I have an Antec Neo Power 550 right now with 18A on the 12v rails and its running the 7900gt pretty well except I've got some artifacts and graphics corruption in WoW (an issue i'm addressing through BFG). Would the 18A being under the "suggested" minimum of 20 have anything to do with this?

The one I did manage to find is a BFG power supply, I have never used them, are they worth anything? Looking for something thats 550w+ of a good brand (Antec, SeaSonic, FSP (fortron), OCZ) All these i've found are just 18A on the 12v rail(s).

Here are some of the links:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817702008 - BFG PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817104014 - FSP PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817151030 - SeaSonic

 

[BassBomb]

Corsair

 

[dfnkt]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Corsair

Havn't bought a PSU since I purchased my original Antec NeoPower 480 in 2005. Corsair hadn't gotten into power supplies yet, I had wondered if they were worth anything. Did they buy someone or just start making their own?

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: dfnkt

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Corsair

Havn't bought a PSU since I purchased my original Antec NeoPower 480 in 2005. Corsair hadn't gotten into power supplies yet, I had wondered if they were worth anything. Did they buy someone or just start making their own?

They use Seasonic as OEM. They make arguably the best midrange PSU's available

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: dfnkt

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Corsair

Havn't bought a PSU since I purchased my original Antec NeoPower 480 in 2005. Corsair hadn't gotten into power supplies yet, I had wondered if they were worth anything. Did they buy someone or just start making their own?

They use Seasonic as OEM. They make arguably the best midrange PSU's available

also use Channel Well

VX450-Seasonic
VX550-CWT
HX520-Seasonic
HX620-Seasonic
TX650-Seasonic
TX750-CWT
HX1000-CWT

all of them are great values.

 

[dfnkt]

Anyone think my 7900gt glitch issue could be due to under amped rail on my PSU? I read on a few forums that nvidia had a bad batch of voltage regulators as several people were having this issue. BFG So far has seemed more than willing to replace the card.

 

[dfnkt]

The HX520 Has 18A rail, exactly how important is the Manufacturer recomendation of 20A? I'm sure the PSU would run the card, but is there a benefit of actually giving it a 20A 12V rail?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: dfnkt

Looking for a solid PSU, I believe the 7900GT says it requires (aka prefers) a 12V rail with 20A. So far the ones I've found that are good brands but are only 18A on the 12V rails. I have an Antec Neo Power 550 right now with 18A on the 12v rails and its running the 7900gt pretty well except I've got some artifacts and graphics corruption in WoW (an issue i'm addressing through BFG). Would the 18A being under the "suggested" minimum of 20 have anything to do with this?

Probably not. If you were exceeding the +12V capability of a particular rail, the PSU would shut off. If you were exceeding the total capability of the +12V rail, you might see artifacts... but your machine should run fine off of an Antec 550W or any 550W regardless of where the individual +12V rail OCP's are set at.

Originally posted by: dfnkt
The one I did manage to find is a BFG power supply, I have never used them, are they worth anything?

Relatively new unit. Launched only about three weeks ago. If you're interested, wait about a week because a little bird tells me there might be a rebate going on that unit in August.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: dfnkt
The HX520 Has 18A rail, exactly how important is the Manufacturer recomendation of 20A? I'm sure the PSU would run the card, but is there a benefit of actually giving it a 20A 12V rail?

Read this FAQ and you'll then realize how you're looking at this all wrong: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2167846&enterthread=y

The 20A "requirement" on the graphic card's box is not for the graphics card alone. It's for your whole system. So certainly one rail with 18A is going to be adequate as not everything that uses +12V in your system is deriving that from just one rail. The actual +12V capability of the Corsair is 480W, or 40A. About double what the graphics card says you need. Your Antec actually has a +12V capability of 504W, or 42A, which is EVEN MORE than the Corsair!

The most power your card can consume is 150W. 75W through the slot and 75W through the 6-pin PCIe. In Amps, that's only 12.5A @ 12V. In reality, you're probably only using about 7 or 8A tops.

 

[dfnkt]

Thank you jonny! I know the PSU is a very important part of a systems stability, just dont want to mess up and buy the wrong one!

 

[dfnkt]

Originally posted by: HOOfan 1

Originally posted by: BassBomb

Originally posted by: dfnkt

Originally posted by: BassBomb
Corsair

Havn't bought a PSU since I purchased my original Antec NeoPower 480 in 2005. Corsair hadn't gotten into power supplies yet, I had wondered if they were worth anything. Did they buy someone or just start making their own?

They use Seasonic as OEM. They make arguably the best midrange PSU's available

also use Channel Well

VX450-Seasonic
VX550-CWT
HX520-Seasonic
HX620-Seasonic
TX650-Seasonic
TX750-CWT
HX1000-CWT

all of them are great values.

Channel Well models run as quiet as the SeaSonics? Looking into the VX550

 

[HOOfan 1]

Originally posted by: dfnkt

Channel Well models run as quiet as the SeaSonics? Looking into the VX550

From Paul Johnson at HardOCP
The noise profile of these two units was very similar as we expected given that both came equipped with the same ADDA fan. However, the fan controller used in a power supply can make all the difference between a loud and a quiet power supply but today it seems that both units? fan controllers were tuned for a very low noise profile. Through Test #3 and the Torture Test the VX550W was completely unremarkable in our testing background. In Test #4 it also seemed unremarkable until the unit was stopped and started quickly but even then the added noise was less apparent than the TX750W we recently reviewed. The HX520W on the other hand was unremarkable during all of its test no matter what I did to the unit. Listening at the incubator door for the HX520W was all in vain as while I could see the fan spinning I was unable to detect the unit?s audio profile in our test environment. It seems the HX520W truly does follow in the footsteps of its more powerful big brother the HX620W by being one of the quietest power supplies we have seen to date.

Edit: Since I am quoting his article, I am sure he would appreciate if I gave a link as well

Review of HX520 and VX550 at HardOCP