PC Power&Cooling

[Jumpem]

Are their hard drive coolers, bus coolers, etc. worth the price? IF not some other url's and objective rviews would be greatly welcomed!

 

[Mikewarrior2]

PCPowerCooling power supplies definately aren't worht the price premium. They are merely rebadged fortron-source/sparkle power supplies.



Mike

 

[Jumpem]

Not to sound like an a** Mike, but how do you know that they are rebaged? Thanks for the reply. As long as we're taliking of power supplies is a 250W enough for a P3 900+ machine?

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Numerous people, including Russ of compuCheap, have opened up both the turbo-cool 300W from PCPowerCooling and a Fortron Source/Sparkle 300W, and they are exactly the same, in every which way. The Silencer 275 from PcPOwerCooling is a 300W unit but with the silencer fan instead of the standard fan.

This isn't to say they are bad power supplies(in fact, they are excellent p.s's)., but the cost increase is ridiculous. YOu can get a fortron source 300W for under $50, compared to hwatever PCPowerCOoling is charging right now for it.

A 250W of good quality should be adequate, but just to let you know, you can get antec 300W p.s's for about $37.


Mike

 

[Jhhnn]

They are a good source for odds and ends, and the silencers are competitively priced. A lot of the other stuff is overpriced, but all prices (except cases) include shipping. Their HSF units are not good.

http://www.tdl.com/~netex/cases/ps.html has a good discussion of power supplies.

Wish I could get the new linkage cluster-cluck to work.

 

[Jumpem]

Thanks Mikewarrior2 and Jhhn! I am thinking of an Enermax power supply. They have an exhaust fan on the bottom to suck cpu heat in and one on the back to blow it out. Any opinions?

 

[jonnyGURU]

When we had a problem with K7Ms not working on Sparkle 350s, we looked into the problem. During that time, someone with a PC Power and Cooling 350 called and complained that it didn't work on their K7M either. Thought it was strage so we asked him to take a good look at it and upon comparison, it was the same power supply as a Sparkle 350. DOH, but for twice the money.

He seemed pretty pissed off.

Anyhoo... I have the Enermax myself. The two fans are cool. The one on the bottom is clear. :Q The only complaint I have is that the wires coming out of it are TOO long. I used a bunch of zipties to gather them up, but it still looks like hell.

 

[Jumpem]

Hey Johnny,

Do you know of any sites that sell Enermax power supplies or those switch devices for 5.25" bays for controlling fans? Also, rounded cables would be great? If the wires make it look bad I may not want it since I am thinking about a 100% clear case from designcomp.com. What other 300-400W PSU's do you recommend. Thanks for the help!

Update: Are Antec supplies any good?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Antec, Sparkle and Enlight are all good and don't cost nearly as much as Enermax. Enermax is really overkill.

There's only two places I know of that sells Enermax:

Plycon and Crazy PC.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

a few other enermax vendors



Computer 123

CompuCheap

PC Club

I personally use a 350 Enermax.


Mike

 

[jonnyGURU]

Cool. When I was looking, I ended up with a 430W. If I knew Russ was a supplier, I would've seen if he'd get me one! :Q

 

[Sid]

I bought a PC P & C case and PS about 2 1/2 years ago. Paid close to $200 for the setup. Was my 1st try at building my own machine. Was I dumb. The case and ps were good, but WAY overpriced. I just got an Antec sx830 for $95 (w/300 ps) - what a great case, I'm in heaven.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

PcPowerCooling stuff is good, for hte most part, but the prices are outrageous. But they're still in business, so they probably get a lot of newbie's buying $100 power supplies because htey see PcPOwerCooling ads in PC Mag(eck) and other magazines.

Plus, they're "dvorak recommended"

But no, you weren't dumb. But you did help them make a nice, tidy profit.


Mike