RaidMax PSUs, "max" rating versus continuous, and PSU quality?

[VirtualLarry]

Yesterday, Newegg had a ShellShocker on some RaidMax 735W (max) PSUs. They are modular, and 80Plus Bronze, with APFC. Has four eggs after a number of reviews.

I was mixed on actually ordering these. I had been trained to avoid RaidMax altogether.

However, these seemed like they might actually be of passing quality, assuming that you didn't get a dud from the factory.

Another positive, is that they have four PCI-E power cables, which generally means, that it has at least some grunt to it.

There were a few reviews of people with two video cards. One guy said he had a pair of Titan X cards, and it ran them fine. Another person, said his 600W system wouldn't run with this PSU.

So, I'm guessing that this might be an OK 500W PSU, but it's certainly not a 735W PSU.

I didn't actually get them to run in my own systems, I have some 80Plus Gold Antec Edge 750W PSUs for that. (SeaSonic made.)

I was thinking of giving one of these to a friend of mine, that currently has a Core2Quad rig, 8GB of DDR2, and a GTX460 2GB card. He has had issues with his rig, and I suspect, either PSU or RAM. If I replaced his PSU, then it might help us track down the issue. And I am hopeful that this PSU will be fine with that kind of load on it. (~350W maybe?)

The PSU is UL-listed, and has some built-in protection features.

Is this a bad idea? Is this one of the few RaidMax that isn't awful, or is it a foolish idea to even consider a RaidMax PSU (even a UL-listed Bronze one with 4 PCI-E power connectors)?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152047

PS. Friend's current PSU is a 600W (label) PSU, with two PCI-E power cables (GTX460 2GB requires two), of some unknown brand. (One that I don't recognize, and I've heard of quite a few.)

 

[Deders]

I personally wouldn't trust it, but then I'm very picky about PSU's.

According to Toms Hardware, the AP series from RaidMax use Andyson innards. Andyson have a reputation for making PSU's that range from both good to awful.

 

[theAnimal]

The 80Plus certification means that it had to be able to go to 100% load so that is something. The 12V line is only rated for 636W so I'd call it a 650W PSU. Since there are no professional reviews for it, I'd still stay away, no telling how good or bad the voltage regulation and ripple/noise are without that. Of course it still sounds better than the one being used, but I'd go with a known quality PSU.

 

[Torn Mind]

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=482

The unit is basically discontinued now and replaced by the Scorpio series.

But it seems that Raidmax has indeed woken up and moved up to passable units nowadays, and are no longer "Logisys tier".

 

[VirtualLarry]

http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story6&reid=482

The unit is basically discontinued now and replaced by the Scorpio series.

But it seems that Raidmax has indeed woken up and moved up to passable units nowadays, and are no longer "Logisys tier".

Thanks for the info. Looks, not great, but not horrible, either. Failing the 80Plus Bronze didn't seem so great either, but it is what it is, I guess.

I have several left BNIB, I guess I can put them into "bling bling" customer builds (due to LED fan).

No complains thus far from the person I installed one for a Christmas present back in 2015.

Edit: But at least, it seems that they are above the "explodable" PSU range. For $50 each, they had better be.

 

[XavierMace]

For $50, you should be getting a higher quality power supply. I spent $70 and got an 80 plus Gold Seasonic. If you can't afford an extra $20 on a power supply to get a good one, you have bigger problems than needing a new power supply.

 

[LFaWolf]

Even if you are building it for others, it will save you the trouble down the road for having to fix or return it. Black Friday is just around the corner. I think there will great deals abound. Last year I got an EVGA G2 750 for $40 after rebate ($60 before) + tax. I would avoid Raidmax like the plague. No way I risk all the components for the low quality PSU.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I stay away from RaidMax / CoolMax / PowMax / Diablotek.
At least get a Corsair CX PSU - they're almost always on sale for a decent price (with a small MIR).

 

[Torn Mind]

Thanks for the info. Looks, not great, but not horrible, either. Failing the 80Plus Bronze didn't seem so great either, but it is what it is, I guess.

I have several left BNIB, I guess I can put them into "bling bling" customer builds (due to LED fan).

No complains thus far from the person I installed one for a Christmas present back in 2015.

Edit: But at least, it seems that they are above the "explodable" PSU range. For $50 each, they had better be.

Yeah, they'll work. But if your are spending $50 on a PSU, you had better need that kind of wattage or really want that aesthetic touch. It is better to sacrifice wattage and looks for "flat line" power delivery and some extra protection circuitry.

It also did poorly in the 12V crossload test.

As for voltage regulation, the gap doesn't concern as much as how close the 5v rail is to the ATX maximum or how the 12v rail is really close the minimum allowed of 11.4 volts.

 

[LFaWolf]

I got this for $55 just a couple of months ago. If you are patient and shop around you will get good deals.
https://smile.amazon.com/EVGA-Modul...F8&qid=1477929498&sr=1-1&keywords=EVGA+750+GQ

 

[Torn Mind]

For $50, you should be getting a higher quality power supply. I spent $70 and got an 80 plus Gold Seasonic. If you can't afford an extra $20 on a power supply to get a good one, you have bigger problems than needing a new power supply.

$70 is the magic number.

But for him, he just needs to stick with FSP or EVGA for the low end. Wally World even has the EVGA 400(mediocre) and 430 for sale.
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=436
http://www.jonnyguru.com/modules.php?name=NDReviews&op=Story&reid=431

I personally can barely care about super tight voltage regulation any more and for ripple, it is a "who cares if it sucks at 400 watts" when the computer will never cross 200 watts.

--------------------------------------------------
Oh, and Larry, do keep us up to date when the Raidmax's warranty ends. Some Newegg reviewers had an unhappy coincidence in which their PSU failed just after expiration of the warranty.

 

[VirtualLarry]

At least get a Corsair CX PSU

Honestly, I'm not really certain that those are any better.

(Those are $15 PSUs.)

Edit: Mostly going by the failure accounts floating around the 'net. I suppose that they would be OK for budget builds, and just going by brand-name alone, if the PC in question was going to draw under 350W total, I suppose a CX 430 would be a better choice than any other $20-30 PSU.

But I try to stick to $40-and-up PSUs.

Antec VP-450 (no AFPC, no 80Plus cert), ThermalTake TR2-430 (no 80Plus, but according to the package, "bullet-proof protections, and a 5-year warranty), CX 430 (if I'm really in a pinch), or an EVGA plain 80Plus (now called "80Plus white"), 430 / 500 / 600W model. (Often on sale on BestBuy's ebay site, occasionally on sale at Newegg).

 

[VirtualLarry]

Wally World even has the EVGA

Yeah, I've been using EVGA 500W and 600W PSUs that I was able to pick up on sale for builds.

 

[Torn Mind]

The CX430 sold like hot cakes and hence, more stories to tell. Of course, CWT "build quality", like soldering and resistance to shocks, is/was not top notch, so it is conceivable some DOAs occurred. But if you need clean output over other things, the CX430 is the best contender in the budget PSU range. Something like G3258 boxes could be more sensitive than the alternatives.

Also, I have no idea, but Corsair has given updates to the CX430 since its original release. They released a V2 and now it is 80 Plus Bronze certified after the V2.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

I have quite a few CX PSUs in various builds for the family (430, 430V2, 500, 500V2, 600, etc.)
No problems so far. CWT is certainly middle-of-the-road, but pretty dependable and generally well within ATX specs.

 

[lehtv]

The only problem with CX series is longevity. With sleeve bearing fans and Chinese capacitors, you're not really looking at a long lasting power supply. A few years beyond the 3 year warranty and it's time to upgrade. I tend to prefer units with ball bearing or at least rifle bearing fans and Japanese or at least Teapo-branded capacitors, even for budget units where possible. This ensures that outside of manufacturing flaws, you're looking at typically 5 year warranty and likely 10 year operation.