new PSU for an old rig...

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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
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A quick answer would be nice. My dual rail 550W PSU just died after about 2.5 years. My rig:

MSI Neo4 Platinum
X2 4400 (socket 939)
2 GB
5 internal HDs (>1.5 TB)
7900 GT OC (soon to be a 8800 GT, the only future upgrade)
7 or 8 usb devices (one is a HD with external power)
2 optical drives

What am i forgetting to mention (sound & ethernet are onboard)? My apartment can get *really* hot (>85F). Grazie for suggestions. A sale at BB or MicroCenter would be nice...
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Nice, thanks Doc. No frys B&M in my area though (cambridge MA). What are the cable lengths like? My case is *big* and reaching the bottom drives with SATA power is tough. The back of the PSU to the furthest SATA drive is ~20 linear inches. Also, my current busted PSU had 20A rails.
 
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Doclife

Senior member
Oct 7, 2007
414
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Originally posted by: homercles337
Nice, thanks Doc. No frys B&M in my area though (cambridge MA). What are the cable lengths like? My case is *big* and reaching the bottom drives with SATA power is tough. The back of the PSU to the furthest SATA drive is ~20 linear inches. Also, my current busted PSU had 20A rails.
Click to expand...

You can read the review of the Antec 430W Earthwatts PSU here (the review includes cable lengths). Both the 500W and 430W PSU should have the same cable lengths.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article684-page2.html


What's the full spec of your busted PSU (make, model, current rating on 12V lines) ?
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Doclife
What's the full spec of your busted PSU (make, model, current rating on 12V lines) ?
Click to expand...

My psu came with my graphics card a while back. Its rated at 550W with dual 20A rails. IIRC, its core is Antec, but wrapped in BFG labeling. Im not sure if that helps, but i can take a pic if needed. When i bought it, everyone here indicated that it was quality.
 
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Doclife

Senior member
Oct 7, 2007
414
0
0
Originally posted by: homercles337
Originally posted by: Doclife
What's the full spec of your busted PSU (make, model, current rating on 12V lines) ?
Click to expand...

My psu came with my graphics card a while back. Its rated at 550W with dual 20A rails. IIRC, its core is Antec, but wrapped in BFG labeling. Im not sure if that helps, but i can take a pic if needed. When i bought it, everyone here indicated that it was quality.
Click to expand...

It must be a 650W not 550W. 20A rail on each 12V line amounts to 480W (240W on each 12V line) leaving only 70W for 3.3V and 5V lines on a 550W, which I don't think is enough juice. In any case, The BFG PSU comes with "Limited Lifetime" warranty. I suggest you call BFG and ask for RMA. You will not need to buy another PSU after all. You will have to learn how to live without a computer meanwhile :/.
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Doclife
Originally posted by: homercles337
Nice, thanks Doc. No frys B&M in my area though (cambridge MA). What are the cable lengths like? My case is *big* and reaching the bottom drives with SATA power is tough. The back of the PSU to the furthest SATA drive is ~20 linear inches. Also, my current busted PSU had 20A rails.
Click to expand...

You can read the review of the Antec 430W Earthwatts PSU here (the review includes cable lengths). Both the 500W and 430W PSU should have the same cable lengths.

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article684-page2.html


What's the full spec of your busted PSU (make, model, current rating on 12V lines) ?
Click to expand...

What are some of the other quality made PSUs? Sorry, but i havent looked at PSUs in a while and all my research is on my dead machine. Im looking here:

MicroCenter

MicroCenter is about a mile away...
 
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Doclife

Senior member
Oct 7, 2007
414
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Doclife
The Corsair 520W and 620W series are high quality and will work very well in your hot environment. Both PSUs were designed to deliver the rated output at 50C (90F) and has a 5 years warranty.

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0245606

http://www.microcenter.com/sin...tml?product_id=0245607


If you want to save some money then buy online; if you got to have the PSU now then buy them at microcenter.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input. I totally missed the Corsairs because of the weird naming. HX? TX? What about the Antec Trio? With rebate its $90. Eh, you know what im just going to go down there and see what they have in quality PSUs. Thanks again.

I see that Christoph Katzer also likes the Antec Quattros, but im not about to spend over $240 on a PSU.
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Doclife
HX series is better I think and it is the one that everyone is raving about.
Click to expand...

Yea, im liking the HXs (thanks for the review link). Now, i have to see if they are in stock, and hope that my mobo isnt damaged. :Q

I imagine that i will use the new PSU on a new build and RMA (just sent an a request) my BFG.

BTW, yes, my life/work does get put on hold when i have problems with my machine. I suppose thats a perk to being an underpaid, over-educated scientist. :eek:
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
No HXs, but the guy gave me a solid return option (he said when i get an HX just bring this one back within 30 days). So, i picked up the Antec Trio along with a PSU tester. My BFG PSU is definitely dead.
 
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Doclife

Senior member
Oct 7, 2007
414
0
0
Originally posted by: homercles337
No HXs, but the guy gave me a solid return option (he said when i get an HX just bring this one back within 30 days). So, i picked up the Antec Trio along with a PSU tester. My BFG PSU is definitely dead.
Click to expand...

Antec Earthwatts series are better than the Trio series in terms of reliability by all accounts. Read the Newegg's customer review and you'll see that more people are experiencing failure with the Trio series than with the Earthwatts series.
 
jonnyGURU

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
104
106
Originally posted by: homercles337
Originally posted by: Doclife
What's the full spec of your busted PSU (make, model, current rating on 12V lines) ?
Click to expand...

My psu came with my graphics card a while back. Its rated at 550W with dual 20A rails. IIRC, its core is Antec, but wrapped in BFG labeling. Im not sure if that helps, but i can take a pic if needed. When i bought it, everyone here indicated that it was quality.
Click to expand...

It's not an Antec. :roll: It's a BFG. Antec doesn't manufacture power supplies... but then again, neither does BFG.

Originally posted by: Doclife
The BFG PSU comes with "Limited Lifetime" warranty. I suggest you call BFG and ask for RMA. You will not need to buy another PSU after all. You will have to learn how to live without a computer meanwhile :/.
Click to expand...

QFT.

Call 1-866-234-3499 and get it replaced for free. Can't get cheaper than that.

Originally posted by: Doclife
It must be a 650W not 550W.
Click to expand...

Why do you say that? There were BFG 550W PSU's too.

Originally posted by: Doclife
20A rail on each 12V line amounts to 480W (240W on each 12V line) leaving only 70W for 3.3V and 5V lines on a 550W, which I don't think is enough juice.
Click to expand...

You know, that's NOT how it works. Using your math, I want to see how you work out a Corsair HX620 where 600W of the power is on the +12V. ;)

Rails are not additive. They're meerly indicators of the maximum limit of how much of each voltage can be delivered.
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Ha ha, you guys are going to love this! My mobo is dead. The north bridge cooler got so hot that it has bubles on the MSI label. I spent 30 minutes on the phone with some asshole from MSI in So Cal before they agreed to RMA. MSI is shit, i will never buy another MSI product ever...ever. In 2.5 years this is the THIRD RMA! Third!

EDIT: The north bridge fan quit working without my knowledge.
 
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Doclife

Senior member
Oct 7, 2007
414
0
0
Originally posted by: Doclife
20A rail on each 12V line amounts to 480W (240W on each 12V line) leaving only 70W for 3.3V and 5V lines on a 550W, which I don't think is enough juice.
Click to expand...

Originally posted by: jonnyGURU
You know, that's NOT how it works. Using your math, I want to see how you work out a Corsair HX620 where 600W of the power is on the +12V. ;)

Rails are not additive. They're meerly indicators of the maximum limit of how much of each voltage can be delivered.
Click to expand...


Thanks for pointing that out. I read the label on the PSU and it does say "Max Combined Wattage". I think I understand what it is saying now; each rail is not individually independent from other rails but merely a different voltage regulator from the same source.
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
RMAed the BFG and picked up the HX620. The HX was delivered today. Thanks for the help. Now if i can just find a cheap 939 mobo and case i can piece together another rig. :D
 
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