PSU Upgrade Need advice

[markrb38]

I currently have an Antec Tru-430 and I feel that with my heavy load it's just not enough now for
a completely stable system or soon to be not enough.
Plus I really would like more SATA power connecters then the 2 provided.
Nothing in the Antec line really strikes me. The NEO looks nice enough, but
still not exactly what I am looking for.
Enermax has a couple I would consider with 4 SATA and 550W or so.
I just don't know enough about their line to sort them out.
There are also many other companies out there as well, most I wouldn't touch,
but there are always good companies that I have never heard of.

I don't care about pretty lights, but quite would be nice and quality is a must.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[drpootums]

I'd go for these companies:

Fortron
OCZ
Antec

All are good for the most part. If you dont want to go with Antec then the OCZ Powerstream is good, though kinda expensive. The Fortron Blue Storm i have is also pretty good and the rails are very stable, but i guess that the other Fortron's (like the 530w version) are a bit better and are a bit cheaper. The reason i went with this one is because of the efficiency, PFC, and sleaved cables.

 

[kaborka]

I bought the Fortron 550W from Directron for my new SLI rig. If you search the Hot Deals forum for Directron, you'll find 5% and 10% off coupons.

 

[LifeStealer]

I'm torn between the Fortron and the OCZ Powerstream. Have you gotton your Fortron yet kaborka?

 

[kaborka]

It's due in next week. I'll first load it down using some old disk drives and see what the rails look like on my oscilloscope. That's the first thing I do before using any new PSU, just in case it's out of spec or has too much ripple.

I've always been a fan of Fortron -- their specs are known to be conservative. The OCZ seems to have an excellent rep, too. Search the Hot Deals for both names for other deals and comments.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: markrb38
I currently have an Antec Tru-430 and I feel that with my heavy load it's just not enough now for
a completely stable system or soon to be not enough.
Plus I really would like more SATA power connecters then the 2 provided.
Nothing in the Antec line really strikes me. The NEO looks nice enough, but
still not exactly what I am looking for.
Enermax has a couple I would consider with 4 SATA and 550W or so.
I just don't know enough about their line to sort them out.
There are also many other companies out there as well, most I wouldn't touch,
but there are always good companies that I have never heard of.

I don't care about pretty lights, but quite would be nice and quality is a must.

Thanks,
Mark

What makes you think your 430 watt Antec isn't enough? The most I've seen a system draw was in the mid 300's and that was with 2 6800 Ultras in SLI and very high end Intel/AMD CPU.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: markrb38
I currently have an Antec Tru-430 and I feel that with my heavy load it's just not enough now for
a completely stable system or soon to be not enough.
Plus I really would like more SATA power connecters then the 2 provided.
Nothing in the Antec line really strikes me. The NEO looks nice enough, but
still not exactly what I am looking for.
Enermax has a couple I would consider with 4 SATA and 550W or so.
I just don't know enough about their line to sort them out.
There are also many other companies out there as well, most I wouldn't touch,
but there are always good companies that I have never heard of.

I don't care about pretty lights, but quite would be nice and quality is a must.

Thanks,
Mark

What makes you think your 430 watt Antec isn't enough? The most I've seen a system draw was in the mid 300's and that was with 2 6800 Ultras in SLI and very high end Intel/AMD CPU.

It's not necessarily the total wattage -- it's the stability on the rails. My Antec 400W has difficulty with my rather meager Sempron 3100 setup.

 

[JBDan]

PCPower&Cooling/OCZ/Fortron best line regulation and ripple specs in the business at 1%. Very stable.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: markrb38
I currently have an Antec Tru-430 and I feel that with my heavy load it's just not enough now for
a completely stable system or soon to be not enough.
Plus I really would like more SATA power connecters then the 2 provided.
Nothing in the Antec line really strikes me. The NEO looks nice enough, but
still not exactly what I am looking for.
Enermax has a couple I would consider with 4 SATA and 550W or so.
I just don't know enough about their line to sort them out.
There are also many other companies out there as well, most I wouldn't touch,
but there are always good companies that I have never heard of.

I don't care about pretty lights, but quite would be nice and quality is a must.

Thanks,
Mark

What makes you think your 430 watt Antec isn't enough? The most I've seen a system draw was in the mid 300's and that was with 2 6800 Ultras in SLI and very high end Intel/AMD CPU.

It's not necessarily the total wattage -- it's the stability on the rails. My Antec 400W has difficulty with my rather meager Sempron 3100 setup.

Then there is something wrong with your PSU or some other component. A 400 watt PSU should provide 400 watts of stable power.

 

[markrb38]

Lets not debate the need or lack of a new PSU.
Bottom line is that I want an upgrade whether anyone thinks I do or not.
I understand and appreciate your concern, but please keep on topic for this post.

I am looking at the Fortron 550 now and I can't find any connector ifo on it.
All it says are 9 IDE connectors. Are any SATA? If so how many?
Does an adapter come for the 24 Pin ATX connector to 20 Pin?

How quiet is it?

Thanks for all the input,
Mark

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: markrb38
Lets not debate the need or lack of a new PSU.
Bottom line is that I want an upgrade whether anyone thinks I do or not.
I understand and appreciate your concern, but please keep on topic for this post.

I am looking at the Fortron 550 now and I can't find any connector ifo on it.
All it says are 9 IDE connectors. Are any SATA? If so how many?
Does an adapter come for the 24 Pin ATX connector to 20 Pin?

How quiet is it?

Thanks for all the input,
Mark

How about the Tagan 480 TG480-U01, it has the 24 pin ATX connector and 2 SATA connections with adapters for 1 or 2 more. It's a very quiet and well built PSU, reviewed at Hexus.

 

[render]

Operandi, stop recommending tagan PS. It's been changed.

Before : After

Warranty: 3 years - > 1 year
power: 95-250V -> 115/230V
PFC: Active -> None
Heatsink: Big(same as OCZ Powerstream) -> Small

non-exist customer supports.

My POS tagan 380W just died but also killed my brand new MSI neo2 MB.

 

[markrb38]

Thanks for the PCP/OCZ/Fortron ideas. I also looked into the Tagan and it's just not for me, but thanks.
That PCP looks awesome, but wow I knew this would cost a few bucks, but not that much.
That is PSU I want, but for less. Ok I know that won't happen.
If I could find the OCZ in stock somewhere I might get it.
Right now it's between the OCZ and the Fortron I think.

In all of the reviews I have been reading it seems that Antec isn't as great as I thought.
They are not bad PSU's, but compared to these units listed here that don't do that well.

Anyone have a link to info on connecters for the Fortron. The Fortron website is a bit
useless in this respect.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Mucker]

Review site: http://www.silentpcreview.com/section4.html

m

 

[kaborka]

People (jterrell and JohnDoh) are claiming in this thread that PC Power & Cooling PSUs are really made by Fortron or Zippy. There's a link to a site that affirms this allegation in JohnDoh's post on p3.

 

[markrb38]

I work for an Outsource Manufacturer and just because it might be built by the same people
doesn't mean that it's the same product.
It's up to the company that designs the product to control it's creation.
If one is made by another that doesn't mean they perform the same.

In one review I read it said that much of the OCZ looked like the tagan, down to the heatsink used.
I still would get an OCZ based on the reviews of performance.

Fortron is part of Sparkle, but Fortron appears to be tighter in numbers.

In the end design and execution matter more then who solders the board together as long as they are competent.

On that link I didn't see any references to any of the PSU's mentioned here did I miss it?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: render
Operandi, stop recommending tagan PS. It's been changed.

Before : After

Warranty: 3 years - > 1 year
power: 95-250V -> 115/230V
PFC: Active -> None
Heatsink: Big(same as OCZ Powerstream) -> Small

non-exist customer supports.

My POS tagan 380W just died but also killed my brand new MSI neo2 MB.

So you keep saying, it's well known that Tagan?s sold in North America only have 1 year warranty and don't include APFC.

Your the only person I heard claim that the internal design has been changed.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: markrb38
I work for an Outsource Manufacturer and just because it might be built by the same people
doesn't mean that it's the same product.
It's up to the company that designs the product to control it's creation.
If one is made by another that doesn't mean they perform the same.

In one review I read it said that much of the OCZ looked like the tagan, down to the heatsink used.
I still would get an OCZ based on the reviews of performance.

Fortron is part of Sparkle, but Fortron appears to be tighter in numbers.

In the end design and execution matter more then who solders the board together as long as they are competent.

On that link I didn't see any references to any of the PSU's mentioned here did I miss it?

Thanks,
Mark

Sparkle is made by Forton.

PCP&C is made by EMACS/Zippy

Both OCZ and Tagan are made by Topower.