OTP(Over temperature protection) and how much you have to pay to get it

[Torn Mind]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-power-supply-protections/5/
http://blog.fsp-group.com/en/the-importance-of-over-temperature-protection-design/
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/power-supplies-101,review-33299-21.html

Seems like a pretty useful feature if you truly want to set it and forget it with regards to the PSU. Well, until it dies. But if it is the fan that dies, the PSU might live on with a new fan because OTP will kill the power as the temps go up.

Anyway, it seems that the price threshold in which the protection is available is about $60, as none of the cheap OEM replacements seem to have such a thing. Even good manufacturers don't seem to include OTP in the sub-$60 PSUs they offer.

 

[spat55]

I'd of thought that it would be standard in any PSU that has to pass safety regs as it would surely be a fire hazard without OTP, just shows that you should certainly never cheap out of the PSU.

 

[Torn Mind]

It seems more like equipment protection to me, not so much fire protection. If the environment is brutal on fans or the computer might be operating in a very hot environment, it becomes valuable.
Given the upgrade cycle and willingness to discard old units well before their time is up, the situation in which OTP actually kicks in is unlikely to actually happen in many desktops since there is always a little supervision.

Some companies get certification. So, there are other protections in place to pass those various agencies' testing.

 

[UsandThem]

Good read for those who come to the various hardware forums and say things like "If I can get a [insert odd brand name] 1000w PSU for $40, why would I ever consider one that costs 3-4 times as much?".

I think a lot of people think no-name PSUs are the same as the quality units tier 1 manufacturers produce, and only realize they were wrong when they place a 50% load on the cheap PSU, and watch it die while taking out components.

Anybody who has seen JohnnyGuru take apart a cheap PSU after it dies during testing would never buy one.

 

[Torn Mind]

Actually, I recant the $60 figure.

FSP makes the Raider S(80 Plus Silver update) and Vital 400 units, both of which have OTP. The Vital 400 goes for $45 from FSPshop selling on Newegg and the Raider S $50(again, FSPshop). For a replacement PSU that is probably replacing an old OEM unit, either unit will probably suffice. Although, there is no data on the power delivery of the units, I suppose one can expect them to be in spec upon purchase and at least survive light duty usage with ease.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIABP94N11552
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIABP94NS9011
If you value protections over the extra filtering in a budget unit for 45-50 bucks, then these are pretty your only option at that price point.