PSU Testing

[pbj]

I am building a computer with new and custom parts. I have another computer that does not work but i will use for spare parts.

I intend to start by purchasing a PSU and a PSU tester.

Any recommendations?

My first choices are:

XFX 650W TS SERIES FULL WIRED 80+ BRONZE PSU

and

Coolmax PS-228 Power Tester-LCD Display, 6&8 IN PCIE-PS-228

I intend to buy multiple PSUs because I intend to build multiple computers for gaming and personal use.

I humbly ask for any opinions regarding my choices.

Thanks

 

[lehtv]

Why do you need a PSU tester? You'll know if the PSU doesn't work in normal use.

Where are you buying from?

What components will you be connecting to that XFX 650W, and what does it cost to you? It's impossible to know if it's the best unit you could pick without knowing answers to these.

 

[pbj]

I want to hook up the power unit to a Asus z97z and a i7 4970. or starters. But I want to collect tools for building and repair.

i want to know if the tester i chose is good enough to test the xfx 288.

i havent purchased the xfx and i suppose i still have the chance to change my mind but i doubt it. the xfx ts 288 will do just fine. it is powerful enough for my maximum needs and it is well within my budget.

ultimately my question is are there any specific specs i should be aware of before i make the purchase?

 

[lehtv]

A PSU tester isn't really a necessary tool for troubleshooting typical hardware problems. If you find that the system is unstable and you want to single out the PSU as what might be causing the instability, I recommend simply having a backup PSU on hand rather than a PSU tester. A backup PSU will be less expensive and it will give you a practical yes/no answer to "does it work", and if you need to RMA your primary PSU, you can continue using the PC while waiting for a replacement.

I'm not sure what the XFX 288 is, do you mean XFX 650W? What does the 288 refer to?

An i7-4790 consumes under 100W, and the bare bones system required to run it only consumes another 50W or so. In high performance PC's, especially on the gaming front, the graphics card is what mainly determines how powerful a unit you need, because graphics cards can use anywhere from a few watts to 500 watts depending on the model.

The number of PCIe connectors required by the card is an easy way to determine how much power is needed. If it needs no external connectors, a 300W unit is already enough. If it needs just one connector, 400W is fine. If it needs two connectors, usually you'll want at least 500W.

It would still help if you let me know where you're buying from. Country, local or online? If online, what site?

 

[pbj]

a backup psu is a great idea. but i already plan on doing that.

i have read a lot about beginning builders skimping out on psus. with the research i have done, i have found that i can personally afford a platinum modular somewhere between 750w to 850w.

it is obvious to me that a psu that cant supply enough power is bad.

what i am not sure of is whether a psu that supplies more power than needed is also bad.

for example, if i have a system that requires 500w, hooked up to a psu that maxes out at 1000w, do i risk damage to the machine?

i do not have a problem with spending no more than 300 per psu. and i plan to purchase 2 or 3 during the next year. and so a platinum modular sounds good because i want the ability to interchange if necessary and i will want the option to run 24/7 at times. i will probably go with corsair and newegg looks fine with me online.

i still want the tester because i may buy the psu before i have a mobo and cpu to test it on.

it was brought to my attention that if i purchase a psu online with shipping that a best practice is to test upon delivery to facilitate returning if in the event the psu was damaged during shipping.

thus the psu tester.

this is why i ask for any advice on how to test a psu with a psu tester.

 

[meeshu]

. . . it is obvious to me that a psu that cant supply enough power is bad.

what i am not sure of is whether a psu that supplies more power than needed is also bad.

for example, if i have a system that requires 500w, hooked up to a psu that maxes out at 1000w, do i risk damage to the machine? . .

No. There will not be any damage to your system by using a PSU rated higher than the system power requirement. The PSU only supplies power that the system requires, and no more. So, for example, while using a 1000W PSU on a system that requires 500W, the PSU will only supply 500W of power and no more. If another system requires 747W, the 1000W PSU will only supply 747W of power. And so on.

 

[pbj]

That is good to know. I work for a video gaming company and it just doesn't make sense to me to buy cheap psus.

 

[lehtv]

i have read a lot about beginning builders skimping out on psus. with the research i have done, i have found that i can personally afford a platinum modular somewhere between 750w to 850w.

Efficiency and modularity have nothing to do with reliability. That skimping on a PSU is bad is certainly a valid point, but only insofar as it affects the unit's reliability. There's nothing wrong with skimping on features you don't actually need, e.g. settling for Gold or even Bronze efficiency as opposed to Platinum, or semi-modularity as opposed to full modularity. In addition, note that more expensive doesn't automatically mean more reliable or higher quality. It's perfectly logical to buy an inexpensive unit if it is known to be reliable and meets the needs of the user.

it is obvious to me that a psu that cant supply enough power is bad.

what i am not sure of is whether a psu that supplies more power than needed is also bad.

for example, if i have a system that requires 500w, hooked up to a psu that maxes out at 1000w, do i risk damage to the machine?

What meeshu said. Buying an oversized unit can only damage your wallet.

i do not have a problem with spending no more than 300 per psu. and i plan to purchase 2 or 3 during the next year. and so a platinum modular sounds good because i want the ability to interchange if necessary and i will want the option to run 24/7 at times. i will probably go with corsair and newegg looks fine with me online.

300 USD is a ridiculous amount to spend on a power supply. Please state what hardware you will be powering so that I can recommend what to buy.

Platinum efficiency is generally not worth paying for because for every Platinum unit, there's an equivalent Gold unit that is just as reliable but costs so much less that the Platinum unit would not save enough electricity to pay back the difference in initial cost in any reasonable amount of time. It's just not worth it.

i still want the tester because i may buy the psu before i have a mobo and cpu to test it on.

I don't see how that matters. If you find the unit doesn't work properly in normal use, just enter the standard RMA process. By all means, buy a PSU tester if you really want to play around with one, but I just don't see a good practical reason to get one. The chance of a DOA unit is a few percent at worst and less than one percent at best, so if all you're going to do is buy 2-3 units, you're almost certainly never going to need a tester. And even if you did receive a dud, you would find that out when actually using the unit in a computer, thus negating the need for a tester entirely.

 

[bryanl]

A PSU tester of the type you're thinking about will not test realistically since the load will be far too small, only 10W. You would be better off with a digital multimeter, even a $5 one, and test under load, such as with a motherboard.

$300 for an ATX PSU is far too much.