Question on Generic Power Suplies

[Lenine]

I'm very short on cash and have decided to buy a 350w/ generic power supply.


At the first sign of it screwing up ill stop using it, the guy at the store reccomends it, but he may be dense. What warning signs should i look out for? Will 1 bad thing going wrong fry my CPU and Mobo and Video Card?


Thanks.


Note : Sorry for posting new thread but the old one didn't really relate and had 15 replies already.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

An Enermax or Antec shouldn't cost that much more. Also, your hardware may be affected, your wagering your hardware components on something that can cost $35 for a nice Antec or Enermax at the same wattage. IF I were you, I wouldn't try saving a few bucks which could end up damaging parts. Once you damage something, its a pain to try and figure out which one because you have to try the setup with other spare parts and see if it works.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

You can even get an Antec or Enermax at 300w and still do better than a generic 350w

 

[Electric Amish]

You can get a Sparkle 300W for $35 or less.

amish

 

[Lenine]

I live in a pretty sh*tty place.


I can't order on the net, and the 2 comp stores closeby only sell generic. One of them sells 'Startech' but no one has ever heard of it...

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Why can't you order on the net? Well, then in that case you have no other choice. Actually, you do, drive over a little extra to some other computer store and buy it there.

 

[Lenine]

Well, I can't order on the net as I have no CC... and no post office closeby. I've got burned on duty before from american places so that sucks too. I could pay by paypal, but I dont have any money unless someone wants to buy some hundreds of thousands of Everquest platinum on Karana


And I have no car so I can't really go anywhere, the closest town would be a long walk or bus ride which i dont have time for. Any decent PS will be 70+ $ CDN (generic is 45) and when you add on tax e.t.c. it becomes a pain.


But anyway, that doesn't really matter thanks for your replies.

 

[Budman]

Question on Generic Power Splies

I have a question too, what are power splies?:evil:

 

[Lenine]

i r gud spellor . I KNOW antec and enermax would be good for me, I'm just wondering hat are the chances a generic would screw me up, and if it did what would happen.


Also has anyone ever used a startech 300 W power supply on a p4?? Its 80$ canadian, while the generic is 40$ and is 350W.

 

[Lenine]

help please i want to buy this tomorow

 

[nick1985]

generic power supplies CAN mess up your system


this is your fair warning

 

[Lenine]

Ok has anyone heard anything about the startech?

 

[Insidious]

I'm not familiar with that brand, but I really don't think you have to worry about breaking your components with a generic PSU.

The most likely signs of problems would be failure of your system to boot (heavy loading as drives spin up, etc....) or unexplained

lockups/crashes if the PSU isn't up to the task. Frankly, since you say you have no other option..... what is it you are trying to decide?

-Sid

(I'm betting it will work fine, just might not have as long a lifetime as a better quality PSU. Unless you are running an awful lot of fans and drives,
350W PSU ....even a cheapie...... should do you allright.)

edit: cheapie PSUs generally do not have very good surge protection...... get a decent power strip with a good surge suppressor (insurance)

 

[bozo1]

All these FUD spewers. Generic supplies will not mess up your system. There are millions of PC's out there with generic supplies happily computing away.

The problem with some and by no means all generic supplies are things you may or may not come across - their power ratings not up to what they advertise, lifespan of the product may or may not be lower than more better known brands, etc.

I've built literally dozens of machines over the years, most of them using generic powersupplies, and less than 5 have ever died or given me trouble. And guess what, 3 of those were 'name brand' ones.

That being said, I only used name brand supplies these days simply because they don't cost THAT much more that no-name units and I like some of the features that most cheaper supplies don't have. (temp controlled fans, etc.)

 

[xSauronx]

hell
i got a liteon server 300w psu from directron.com
check hot deals, the link is there somewhere, close to the front page, great psu for just 20 dollars, cannot be beat for that price

 

[Lenine]

thanks for the replies guys, I think I will just pickup a generic P/S.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Just to be on the safe side if you feel worried you could try and get a 400w supply.