PSU - Antec or Fortron or other

[Sid59]

Reference Thread

basically, i now feel that my Antec Tru380 Watt PSU isn't enough for my configuration.

specs-
Abit NF7-S Rev2
AMD Barton 2500+ @ 2.2ghz
Radeon 9700 Pro
2 x optical drives (Plextor 40x & NEC 1300A)
1 x floppy
3 x hard drives (120 WD, 160 Maxtor, 200 WD)
ATA / IDE Card
1 x 512 MB RAM

soon i will be upgrading another stick of 512 RAM and a 250 gig drive to replace the lost 120 (see reference thread)
- it will be config above + the 512MB and 250gig drive.

I just finished re-reading the Anandtech Roundup but i want some user feedback and see what configs people are using.
i know some are overkill but for the price, it can't be that farfetched.

Fortron 530W - 69USD


Antec Tru480 - 83USD

Thermaltake 480 - 69USD

i want something quiet for my sonata to keep the quiet theme. If you have other suggestions or comments. Go on. thanks.

 

[Sid59]

small bump .. would like to order by tonite or hte morning so the psu comes by the end of the week.

 

[eLinux]

My friend has an antec and it seems like a really nice one...

Of the three, I personally would trust that company the most.

Have you looked into enermax? I hear they're pretty good, too...I dunno, maybe it's too expensive for your range, but if not, take a look at 'em.

 

[beatle]

It's your money, but you won't need more than a quality 300W unit will put out...

All of the brands you listed are good, and Enermax is good, as eLinux said.

 

[compudog]

Antec or Enermax are very good (IMHO). Sparkle, Fortron, Deer, Zalman, Thermaltake are also good. Though a 530W PSU for $69 seems too good to be true.

 

[Sid59]

the thermaltake and fortron did very well in the 2003 PSU Round UP Article

"t's your money, but you won't need more than a quality 300W unit will put out..."

As mentioned, i really think 380 might be a little lean on muscle with the above power hungry parts.

im leaning towards the ThermalTake 480W.

anyone remember the site where you put in your componets and it will shoot out a ballpark figure about how much power it will consume?

 

[dartworth]

I'm running the same PS in one of my boxes. It runs 24/7 with no probs...

ASUS A7N8X DLX
2500+@3200+
1 GB Corsair PC3500
2 X 36 GB Raptors Raid 0
1 X WD 120 GB HD
1 X CD Burner
1 X DVD Burner
Audigy 2 SC
Floppy
Flash Card Reader
3 USB Printers
Scanner
Case fans...

No problem for my PS

 

[Viperoni]

380w is good enough. Get something like MotherBoard Monitor and see if your voltage lines are sagging. If not, you're fine.
The NF7-S powers the CPU from the +12v line I believe, and those new Enermax PS's happen to have 2 seperate +12v lines from the PS...

 

[Sid59]

these are my current volts .. the more reading and reasearching im doing .. im not entirely sure why my hdds (maxtors) did that. might jsut be a huge coincidence.

+5 = 4.95
+12 = 11.86
-12 = -12.03
-5 = -5.04

 

[Sid59]

http://www.vbutils.com/power.asp - PSU Calculator

 

[rickon66]

I have the Thermaltake 480-it has been great.

 

[Texun]

I've never used a Fortron but I hear good things about them. However, the Antec 430 True Power that I have has been trouble free for 2 years now and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one in a minute. I probably spent $200 on PSU's before I got it right. The Antec is the highest priced PSU that you have listed, but after going through 3 other PSU's before the Antec I wouldn't let the extra cash hold me back if I had to do it over again. I learned my lesson the hard way. Not taking anything away from the others you have listed, but I would go Antec just to have the same feeling of confidence that this one has given me.

 

[RussianSensation]

I believe that p4 runs off the +12 v line, not the athlon and athlon needs a strong combined 3.3 and 5v rails
so you should rather look at your 3.3V if it drops foremost

I'd spend the extra on the Antec because its proven and many overclockers use it

2nd choice forton 530 but there are instances where teh 12 rail drops somewhat

and i'd go for thermaltake last

 

[Texun]

I may get this bass-ackwards but I'll give it a try. After going through several PSU's that were all supposed to be more than enough I read something about Antec being different. According to Antec, and this may be where I get it screwed up, many PSU's provide a combined wattage rating that is actually shared depending on the load across a certain rail. For example: Say you have plenty of combined power for the +5 and +12v rails but the +12 rail is called upon to deliver more power. The current will be dropped on the +5v rail to supply the +12v rail. The combined wattage is still there but the power is directed to the load. According to Antec they don't do this. Their combined rating is supposed to be steady across all rails.

This is rough and I know I may have screwed it up but I think it will give you some indication as to the explanation of their design. The others may have this also. Just taking a wild shot at what I remember from 2 years ago when I went through this.

Hope it helps.

 

[Sid59]

right now .. it's a toss up between the Antec and ThermalTake .. decisions decisions.

 

[vshah]

i have the thermaltake 480w, its very nice...quiet and powerful

voltages under load:
+12v: 12.038
+5v: 5.134
+3.3v: 3.36

 

[Sid59]

anyone know how to read volts? whether they are high, low, or just right?

 

[RaNDoMMAI]

i really dont think u need that strong of a PSU

check out this thread
here

but hey, what do i know

~RaNDoM

 

[Sid59]

maybe i don't need a PSU and it was just a coincidence that both my maxtors failed.

got my 250 gig yesterday and about to order my memory .. hope this antec holds up.

 

[beatle]

Originally posted by: RussianSensation
I believe that p4 runs off the +12 v line, not the athlon and athlon needs a strong combined 3.3 and 5v rails
so you should rather look at your 3.3V if it drops foremost

I'd spend the extra on the Antec because its proven and many overclockers use it

2nd choice forton 530 but there are instances where teh 12 rail drops somewhat

and i'd go for thermaltake last

This used to be the case, but according to AMD, most of them run from the +12v rail, including the NF7-S. It is still up to the motherboard manufacturer though where to get the juice.

 

[WHipLAsh13]

My 2 cents. I have always had good luck with Enermax on the high end brands and Fortron and Sparkle on the lower end in the price point.

 

[dogin]

Like PC Power and Cooling and their new Turbo Cool 550 deluxe with modular wiring (piano black) is ready for the next generation BTX's when you are ready.
http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/power_supplies/index.htm

Need to contact them on 800# to discuss 550 model (510 model shows on site).

 

[Sid59]

ordered the Antec 480 W cause i know the Antec 380W is weak.

i had my other 250 hooked into my other system to transfer files. I moved the hard drive to my main computer and it the 250 would disappear and reappear. When i went to navigate a folder, files were gone. Moved the hard drive back to the other machine, and the files were still there.

I shoulda ordered when i started the thread and it woulda been here today. now i gotta wait till wednesday or thursday =\

 

[ferrarifreak93]

I agree w/ poster beatle, your Antec 380w should be more than enough. The only reason I would upgrade would be if the voltage rails were way off, but they shouldn't with that power supply. I have a 350w Sparkle (fortron) and I'm running a P4 2.4@3.4, 3 hard drives (120,120,200), radeon 9500np@9700p, a card in almost every PCI slot, 3 fans, 2 optical drives, zip drive, and floppy drive. A lot of stuff! And I have no problems. But if you MUST buy a new one, I suggest a Fortron or Sparkle for the money, can't beat 'em.

 

[novice]

I have had no complaints with the Enlight 420W unit. I run one in a Shuttle AN35N with XP 1700+ at 2.00 Ghz and also in a KT3 Ultra with XP 1700+ at 1.93 Ghz. The KT3 also runs a gig of PC-2700 ram, 2 WD 80 Gig SE hard drives, a Lite on DVD burner, GF4 Ti4200 vid card, CDRW drive, etc. But I would tend to agree with the other posters that your Antec 380 should be sufficient. But for the $ the enlight is tough to beat. (It is made by the same company that makes the the Thermaltake power supplies, but usually costs less. For $42 this can't be beat, IMO...