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Please Recommend A PSU

S

SpedeRacer

Member
I'll keep this simple--I'm building a computer by the end of this year and I need a PSU but have no clue which to get.

Components:
-AMD Athlon 3500+ (90nm)
-GeForce 6600GT
-DVD-Rom, DVD-R Drive
-1 HD (200GB SATA if it matters)
-3 Case fans (two 120mm, one 90mm)

-I might OC when the computer gets older
-I might upgrade to dual GeForce 6800GT/Ultras in SLI when the price for those go way down and maybe another HD
-Looking to spend around $90 or less...but more if it's just that good
-Primary concern: quality/efficiency (obviously) and compatibility with SATA and PCIe, secondary concern: quietness. I don't really care for flashy-ness.

If there is any information that I left out, just tell me and I'll edit. Thanks in advance.
 
if you want SATA, PCIe support and quiet, in this price range...I cant think of anything except for OCZ 420 for around $95.

It's not hard to find a hard drive with SATA and quiet, but that also has PCIe, that is tough because it's the ATX 2.0 ones that do. This pretty much eliminates all nice power supplies like Antec 430/480, Enermax 470 and Forton 530.

You might want to check out this one - Fortron Blue Storm 500W ATX 2.0 - it has ATX 2.0 and the cables are sleeved. Also it says it runs at 23DB only and Forton is known to be among the best PSU brands.
 
For that price go with the ocz, you will not be disappointed. I ordered it form monarch computer for $86 and it is top notch. Don't be turned off by the 420 watt rating, it has 30 amps on the 12 volt rail and is solid. The ram and power supply are my first ocz products and I am extremely happy. I upgraded from a p3 800 with geforce 3 to this new gaming rig a week ago for a little under $1400 and it rocks.

http://www.monarchcomputer.com...p;Category_Code=ps-400

Here's my system I built with it

3200 winchester at 2500 mhz now (250x10) 1.52 vcore (can go higher, just no reaosn to yet)
zalman 7000 alcu cpu cooler (38 idle, 52 load)
2x512 ocz plat rev 2 (2.5-3-3-10-1T) 2.85 vdimm
msi k8n neo 2 with 1.36 bios
74 gb raptor
evga 6800 gt with copper heat sink at 400/1100 (52 idle, 80 load)
ocz 420 watt powerstream
antec 1000 soho server case
 
Ok with regard to my recommendation to Fortron New Blue Storm series....I take that back.

I just found this useful review which highlights all of the negative aspects of the newly redesigned fortron series. So for a Forton power supply, I only recommend the old 530 one if you decide to go that way.

Fortron Blue Storm series - not great

This made me realize that power supply ratings (wattage, amps on the rails, don't necessarily tell you the whole story)

I found some reviews which might be useful to you:

OCZ 420 Review

Also to reinforce the Enermax 475 recommendation I found this review..which is essentially the same power supply with ATX 2.0 and PCIe support: Enermax Review

Also look here:
Power Supplies Section Article Index
Power Supply (PSU) Special #1- Reviews & Modding
 
I know it might be a little high end (and pricey), but you might also want to consider a PC Power & Cooling PSU. MaximumPC has used their PSUs consistently over the past several years, and I have heard a lot of good things about them. If I were to need a new PSU, I would probably spend the $$$ and get one of theirs.

I currently have the Antec TrueBlue 480W, which has served me well. The important thing to remember about PSU's is to get the best one you can afford. It's arguably the most important component in your PC.
 
I recommend getting the Enermax Noisetaker 470 watt PSU. You can get the Enermax Noisetaker for $79.99 over at HardwareCooling.com. I purchased the Enermax Noisetaker 2 weeks ago and I can say that I am very satisfied with the performance. I also did a wattage performance test and it performed alot better (and quieter) than my old Vantec Stealth 470 psu.

-Jack
 
Question about the OCZ PowerStream 420W: the review says it supports PCI-E but no 6pin 12v adapter...if there are adapters, if I buy one and attach it on there, will it work flawlessly?
 
Originally posted by: SpedeRacer
Question about the OCZ PowerStream 420W: the review says it supports PCI-E but no 6pin 12v adapter...if there are adapters, if I buy one and attach it on there, will it work flawlessly?
Click to expand...

Yes it should simply work off your regular 4-pin cable. Since companies ship PCI-E videocards, they cant expect everyone to own a 6-pin compatible power supply. These videocards thus ship with these adapters so you don't have to worry.
 
Originally posted by: RussianSensation
Originally posted by: Acanthus
Originally posted by: Mik3y
antec true 430W
Click to expand...

At least.
Click to expand...

Don't say "at least" because that implies that you are saying at least 430 Watt power and power rating of the PSU doesnt tell half the story.
Click to expand...

At least an Antec 430 watt. Implying an antec brand PSU of 430w or more.
 
Originally posted by: RussianSensation

Don't say "at least" because that implies that you are saying at least 430 Watt power and power rating of the PSU doesnt tell half the story.
Click to expand...

he says true power, thats a model, which denotes a known 12V rail of 18A. Def not enough for SLI and the system.

I currently use a 480watt TTGI power supply that offers 27A 12V rail for $55. TTGI is made in the same OEM factory in taiwan as Enermax, so its basically the same product, it also offers a really nice 140mm fan. I'd highly recommend it.
 
One word: OCZ PowerStream 520W. 😀

Wait, that's 3 (or 4 if you expand the W abbreviation 😛). Nonetheless, it's absolutely top-notch and it's certainly future-proof.
 
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