PSU for new system?

[Pr0d1gy]

I have a Neo4 on it's way, some Patriot TCCD & Corsair Xpert stick, 74gb Raptor, 200gb IDE WD, CD-ROM, some case lights and at least 4 fans going into my new gaming system. For my video card I will either have an x800 xt (maybe PE), x850 xt, or a 6800gt (probably BFG). While I am not going SLI right now, and would like to save some cash, should I go ahead and get an SLI compatible PSU? I would rather keep my PSU cost under $100 to help keep my wife off my back so let me know what you guys think. I don't plan on overclocking right away as I am getting a 3200+ and it should handle any game in stock settings.

Long story short, suggest good PSU's under $100...the further under the better.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Even if you don't get a PSU that's sli compatable, you can still use sli by using one of the adapters that turns 2 molex's into a pcie graphics card plug.

I would recomend any 400w PS by a quality manufacturer, such as OCZ, Antec, Enermax, Fortron, and a few others that I can't think of right now.

 

[DruidAllanon]

Fortron Blue Storm 500 W - $90. It is what I chose for a similar system.

 

[UsandThem]

Read my guide and look for the "Tagan Series" power supply. If you can afford another $2.00, I am getting the OCZ PowerStream 420W for $101.50.

If you want to go SLI, I would go with the OCZ 520, but it is pricey.

 

[Duvie]

Originally posted by: UsandThem
Read my guide and look for the "Tagan Series" power supply. If you can afford another $2.00, I am getting the OCZ PowerStream 420W for $101.50.

If you want to go SLI, I would go with the OCZ 520, but it is pricey.

I agree with the last part...

i wouldn't run any SLI system under 500 watts IMO.....The adjustable rails of the OCZ is a nice feature....

 

[Gamingphreek]

Although Antecs are VERY nice, a real legend among PSU's, they are out of date as they boast high 3.3V and 5v rails but low 12V rail. I find it hard to recommend them for a high powered system.

I would HIGHLY recommend, ifyou are willing to pay, OCZ and PCP&C for a highend SLI system. Zippy is a bit too powerful and is more aimed at people who run those peltier coolers. Seasonic, Enermax, Tagan, and Fortron should be alright running it for a little less money than the OCZ and a decent amount less than the PCP&C.

-Kevin

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: UsandThem
Read my guide and look for the "Tagan Series" power supply. If you can afford another $2.00, I am getting the OCZ PowerStream 420W for $101.50.

If you want to go SLI, I would go with the OCZ 520, but it is pricey.

I got my 420w powerstream here for $86 plus shipping.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs

Originally posted by: UsandThem
Read my guide and look for the "Tagan Series" power supply. If you can afford another $2.00, I am getting the OCZ PowerStream 420W for $101.50.

If you want to go SLI, I would go with the OCZ 520, but it is pricey.

I got my 420w powerstream here for $86 plus shipping.

You b@stard![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] I ordered mine from Newegg for $101.50. Oh well, I guess I should have looked around more

The reviews on that power supply are amazing. It looks like a great unit.

 

[AristoV300]

Antec 480 NeoPower
is a great PSU and good value. For a $100 bucks more you could get the PC Power and Cooling 510 SLI.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Although Antecs are VERY nice, a real legend among PSU's, they are out of date as they boast high 3.3V and 5v rails but low 12V rail. I find it hard to recommend them for a high powered system.

-Kevin

That's interesting. What are you basing that on? I measured my True550 with a multimeter. 100% GPU, and 100% CPU load (with all the drives in my sig active)...

12v rail @ 11.95v
5v rail @ 5.00v

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: Amaroque

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Although Antecs are VERY nice, a real legend among PSU's, they are out of date as they boast high 3.3V and 5v rails but low 12V rail. I find it hard to recommend them for a high powered system.

-Kevin

That's interesting. What are you basing that on? I measured my True550 with a multimeter. 100% GPU, and 100% CPU load (with all the drives in my sig active)...

12v rail @ 11.95v
5v rail @ 5.00v

Antec lists the True550w as being PCI Express compatible. Anything less, like my True430w, aren't. I am only getting 11.5v on my 12v rail.

However, I must say, I have one of the few cards (Leadtek 6600Gt) that only draws it's power from the PCI Express slot. This is what is taxing my power supply.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: UsandThem
Antec lists the True550w as being PCI Express compatible. Anything less, like my True430w, aren't. I am only getting 11.5v on my 12v rail.

However, I must say, I have one of the few cards (Leadtek 6600Gt) that only draws it's power from the PCI Express slot. This is what is taxing my power supply.

Well, I don't have any PCIe boards to test that theory out. I do have several True430's powering various different systems. Regardless of what the BIOS or HW monitor says (I ignore that garbage and use a multimeter), I'm always getting between 11.95-12.00v on the 12v rail. My oldest True430 is about one year old.

My questions to you are, what are you measuring the rails with? Also, perhaps this is only with older Antec PSU's?

 

[Gamingphreek]

It is not going to affect the voltage on the rail as much as it is going to affect other aspects.

The TruePower PSUs are legendary however like i said earlier they are based off of an older PSU standard. They still have high wattage which is why your computer isn't having trouble amorque, especially since the bulk of your power is drawn off of the nice 3.3 and 5v rails (HDD's primarily).

Antec did update the design and give the 12V rail a bit more juice, as before i believe they topped out at 24A on the most powerful Antec. Now the 380Watt has 24A and IIRC all the others have a max of 26.

-Kevin

 

[nealh]

your spending alot on this computer...for an extra $25-30 and you can get a very nice psu that will prevent from having issues .... seems short sighted to limit to $100

I got a OCZ Powerstream 520W for $135 in Nov from Monarch....I highly recommend not skimping on the PSU with your components....

OCZ, Seasonic and others make very good psu....

OCZ carrries a 5yr warranty...3yrs no questions...last 2 yr you pay labor or parts not sure which...also the OCZ CS has been good from what I see on the forums

 

[Amaroque]

30A on the True550, and 26A on the True430.

 

[DanDaMan315]

Well what are the benefits of a good PSU? I have had my case supplied 400w for 6 months and it seems to be doing me just fine. When overclocking I can tell it gets a little stressed but overall it seems to be just fine.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: Amaroque

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Although Antecs are VERY nice, a real legend among PSU's, they are out of date as they boast high 3.3V and 5v rails but low 12V rail. I find it hard to recommend them for a high powered system.

-Kevin

That's interesting. What are you basing that on? I measured my True550 with a multimeter. 100% GPU, and 100% CPU load (with all the drives in my sig active)...

12v rail @ 11.95v
5v rail @ 5.00v

Antec lists the True550w as being PCI Express compatible. Anything less, like my True430w, aren't. I am only getting 11.5v on my 12v rail.

However, I must say, I have one of the few cards (Leadtek 6600Gt) that only draws it's power from the PCI Express slot. This is what is taxing my power supply.

And how did you measure that voltage ? If it wasn't with a VOM, then its crap, in other words you have no idea what it really is !!!!!

 

[Gamingphreek]

A bad, or generally speaking, generic PSU, has many factors which help to cut cost but also severely hurt quality.

A bad PSU usually has small capacitors, small HS which result in a hotter running PSU which is compensated by louder fans. They also have poor wiring and use cheap wires, which can lead to voltage spikes, poor ripple quality, and if bad enough instability. I component is designed to run at its specific voltage, if a voltage is jumping around from 11.0 to 12.4 it is not good and provides unnecessary stress on the component. Next, bad PSUs generally have poor efficiency, or the power that is acutally obtained from the wall and used as compared to the power that is wasted. Next, generic manf generally do not do much to reduce or protect against EMI (Electromagnetic Interference). Ontop of that they usually cannot attain or in some cases even sustain their rated voltages for a given amount of time, they are messy (internally) and a few other more detailed things.

The PSU is the most critical component of a PC, you have a bad PSU you risk your entire system. Dont skimp, save instead of skimp. You wont regret it.

-Kevin

 

[fstime]

I really dont like the 420 powerstream for 100 bucks, seems pricey to me.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: BouZouki
I really dont like the 420 powerstream for 100 bucks, seems pricey to me.

CPU -|- A64 3400+ [Fx-51] @ 2.8 ghz [1 MB L2 Cache]
Motherboard -|- DFI NF3
Ram -|- OCZ VX 255 FSB 2-2-2
Video Card -|- Nvidia 6800 Ultra

It's not that pricey when you compare it to other things that you buy.

 

[fstime]

Im just saying they're better options for the same price.

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Although Antecs are VERY nice, a real legend among PSU's, they are out of date as they boast high 3.3V and 5v rails but low 12V rail. I find it hard to recommend them for a high powered system.

-Kevin

Antec NeoPower has 33A on the +12v rail.

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: Pr0d1gy
I have a Neo4 on it's way, some Patriot TCCD & Corsair Xpert stick, 74gb Raptor, 200gb IDE WD, CD-ROM, some case lights and at least 4 fans going into my new gaming system. For my video card I will either have an x800 xt (maybe PE), x850 xt, or a 6800gt (probably BFG). While I am not going SLI right now, and would like to save some cash, should I go ahead and get an SLI compatible PSU? I would rather keep my PSU cost under $100 to help keep my wife off my back so let me know what you guys think. I don't plan on overclocking right away as I am getting a 3200+ and it should handle any game in stock settings.

Long story short, suggest good PSU's under $100...the further under the better.

If you plan on going SLI later, the x800xt (no PE for PCI-E BTW), x850xt simply wouldn't work.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: toattett

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
Although Antecs are VERY nice, a real legend among PSU's, they are out of date as they boast high 3.3V and 5v rails but low 12V rail. I find it hard to recommend them for a high powered system.

-Kevin

Antec NeoPower has 33A on the +12v rail.

Im referring to the TruePower series. Sorry i should have made that clear.

-Kevin

 

[classy]

Coolermaster RS450

The best power supply I have ever bought. Not loud but but not quiet either, but it will perform better than most of those mentioned above.