Replacing my Antec Neopower 480 PSU

[FlasHBurN]

So after my Antec Neopower 480 failing once, and getting a replacement from Antec I decided that I should just get a new PSU. The question is, what should I get?

My rig:
Asus A8N-SLI Premium
Opteron 165 @ 2.4ghz
2GB Patriot Ram
ATI X1900XTX w/ AC Accelero X2
Raptor 74GB
Maxtor 300GB
DVDRW

I don't ever plan on going Crossfire, so I don't need some monster 600w+ PSU.

I am mainly looking for something reliable(duh), somewhat quiet, and able to exhaust air better than my Neopower. I would also like it to the same sort of modular cable management that the Neopower has.

 

[Bobthelost]

The enermax liberty range is rather nice. Seasonics are the most famous for low noise, but they don't have modular cabling.

 

[Luckyboy1]

This...

http://www.case-mod.com/store/silversto...w-modular-sli-power-supply-p-1785.html

per a find pointed out to me by mystupidmouth or...


http://www.magnum-pc.com/product.asp?pf_id=OCZ52012U&dept_id=05-002

and yes, it has two dedicated +12 volt rails and then some extra +12 volt leads common. Super quiet and don't drop it or it will break your foot from the weight of the transformer!

Big time edit!...

On that OCZ, a five year warranty where they don't wait for the power supply to get back to them. they simply get your tracking number from your ground shipment and I think it's second day air right back to you and in most cases, your rMA get's to you before your part gets to them if it ever came to that.

 

[Centoros]

Well, I use an Antec TP2550. It's quiet, performs well and has two fans to exhaust the air. It doesn't have modular cables though but the price was right. I've had it running solid for about 7-8 months now and it has held up good.

 

[FlasHBurN]

Seriously considering the Enermax Liberty 500w or the OCZ Modstream 520w PSUs.

 

[Luckyboy1]

That Enermax unit is a fine one as well. I was trying to remember it, but my old timers disease kept it just out of reach! However, for quiet and stout power, you simply can't beat that OCZ unit. Do NOT get a Modstream as they are like 1/4 - 1/3 less capable than a Powerstream.

 

[FlasHBurN]

Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
That Enermax unit is a fine one as well. I was trying to remember it, but my old timers disease kept it just out of reach! However, for quiet and stout power, you simply can't beat that OCZ unit. Do NOT get a Modstream as they are like 1/4 - 1/3 less capable than a Powerstream.

Only reason I am not interested in the Powerstream is it doesn't have modular cables. So should I just get the Enermax Liberty then?

 

[Bobthelost]

I don't know where lucky's info on the modstream being less capable than the powerstream comes from, the datasheets show a different power distrubution, but only a few amps difference on the 12V rail, definitly not 25%-33%. Or what the source for saying that the OCZ is known for quietness, SPCR is pretty much the best source and that they have never published a review of an OCZ PSU should set off some alarms.

But i'm more than willing to be shown wrong.

You can't really go wrong with the liberty, run a search for PSU threads and it's one of the PSUs that's always recomended.

 

[pelikan]

OCZ employees have stated that the modstream is not as high-quality a psu as the powerstream.

 

[Jeff7]

Mandatory plug for Seasonic, and their efficient power supplies.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: pelikan
OCZ employees have stated that the modstream is not as high-quality a psu as the powerstream.

Ah, fair enough. Link'd be nice if you've got one to hand.

 

[Luckyboy1]

The 520 amp OCZ Powerstream has two, highly shielded and dedicated high power +12 volt lines that are marked one for video card and one for hard drive. Don't let the second one being marked hard drive fool you, it is for dual cards as well. They have both the molex and the new type of end for the SATA drives both. It also has a bunch more +12 volt power in a common bundle to run your fans and whatnot on. So yes, it is as dual card ready at least as they come these days. Heavy gauge wires all in good bundles and the shielding done is very hard core and advanced, not just in the dedicated +12 volt lines, but all around and into the guts of the unit.

As far as advanced power circuit detection goes, I bet we all wonder what that means as our power supplies fry and take stuff with them. I once droped by accident a screw that landed and lodged between a contact on the mommaboard and a contact on the video card. I tried powering up, but the power supply would have none of it. I finally found and removed the screw and all was well afterwards!

It comes in a nice, chromed case and a stupid green light and has good quality pots for changing voltages and you won't have to use them for compensating, the unit is very good and calibrated for that from the factory. It just allows a bit more tweaking room.

Even under full load it is so quiet with its two, variable speed fans run automatically by demand, that it is whisper quiet. It is really a fine and modern unit. It's connectors are native to the newer boards, but has an adaptor to make it work with my ABIT IC-7-MAX3.

 

[FlasHBurN]

I appreciate the info about the Powerstream, but I don't need dual +12 volt since I never plan on running SLI/Crossfire. It would definitely be overkill for me.
Not to mention after going modular I can't go back!

 

[Luckyboy1]

Well, it is set up so it works either way. It doesn't restrict you with lightweight dedicated rails and having a dedicated rail for your hard drive certainly won't hurt.

 

[Jules]

SilverStone ST60F FTW!

 

[bob4432]

just out of curiosity, what caused your antec 480 to fail? was it the capacitor issue?

 

[FlasHBurN]

Originally posted by: bob4432
just out of curiosity, what caused your antec 480 to fail? was it the capacitor issue?

No clue, one day my computer wouldn't turn on again. I ripped out the PSU, tried it on another machine (that was less demanding), and it seemed to work fine. I've had issues like this in the past with it, but it would usually start working again after a couple of minutes.

The new one seems to be working okay though.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
SilverStone ST60F FTW!

This was Zepper's find.
Enhance makes the Strider series for Silverstone. Enhance is considered one of the top 7 builders of switching power supplies in the world. They are VG good units. Better than Fortron but not quite a Zippy/Emacs or Etasis. Oh!! Etasis makes the 300 watt passive PSU for Silverstone and the Zeus series.

Here's the $99 ST60F but with the Enhance name. It's the exact same unit. Both are 73-76% efficiant.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-EN0560G

...Galvanized

 

[FlasHBurN]

Originally posted by: GalvanizedYankee

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth
SilverStone ST60F FTW!

This was Zepper's find.
Enhance makes the Strider series for Silverstone. Enhance is considered one of the top 7 builders of switching power supplies in the world. They are VG good units. Better than Fortron but not quite a Zippy/Emacs or Etasis. Oh!! Etasis makes the 300 watt passive PSU for Silverstone and the Zeus series.

Here's the $99 ST60F but with the Enhance name. It's the exact same unit. Both are 73-76% efficiant.

http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=PS-EN0560G

...Galvanized

Ouch, cheapest shipping is over $14 for me.

Any reason I should choose the Enermax over the Enhance? They are both about the same price shipped.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

So what if shipping is $14. The PSU is heavy. Mine with 4 Zalman 80mm slim fans and two tubes of Ceramique was $11.76 shipping.

The same PSU at Newegg, in Silverstone box is $160+tax+shipping. You do the math.

My little office is in an unheated, deep 4car garage. My fort and I love it, but next winter I'll plug my 12V electric vest into the newer build. I'll have 75watts of upper body heat
That's why I want this mega PSU. No SLI/Cross Fire for me.

Read some of the reviews on the 600 watt Strider. jonnyguru, in his testing, had voltage fluctuations as a flat line on his O-scope. Read the short review at http://www.jonnyguru.com/ It's the first review on the right. Just scroll down abit.
With the daily hype of this fine unit, on this board, they will go fast.

...Galvanized

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Enermax is a fine unit, that is consumer grade. Combined 12V is 32A.

Enhance is a better built(internally)commercial/industrial unit. Combined 12V is 42A with 45A peak. OK...and they are the same price.

There is nothing wrong with the Enermax but the Enhance is the better of the two.


...Galvanized

EDIT: The only fly in the oinkment would be the Enhance is 180mm deep. The Standard ATX is 140mm deep. That's 1.6". It should clear the opticals in a standard ATX case.

 

[FlasHBurN]

What about the poor efficiency of the Strider? It seems the Enermax is much more efficient. One thing I don't like about the Enermax is that the fan seems to be positioned on the top of the PSU, but I am guessing you could just flip it over.

I'm pretty sure the depth will not be an issue for the Akasa case I plan on getting.

 

[Bobthelost]

73% efficency isn't the greatest in the world, but it's not terrible either.

Oh and the fan is on the bottom the picture was taken with the PSU upside down

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: FlasHBurN
What about the poor efficiency of the Strider? It seems the Enermax is much more efficient. One thing I don't like about the Enermax is that the fan seems to be positioned on the top of the PSU, but I am guessing you could just flip it over.

I'm pretty sure the depth will not be an issue for the Akasa case I plan on getting.

i wouldnt worry about it

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Dang I just got up. 4:30AM here.
Then get the Enermax Liberty, it's a good'en. If you want efficiant go to http://www.80plus.org/ and you will find more Enhance units listed there than Seasonic.
If you want a semi-modular Seasonic, the M12 series will be out in a month or two.

Both my Zippy/Emacs are 70% efficiant. So what! They are rated in the top three for build quality and longevity. Last year Zippy/Emacs warrenty complaint world wide was <<1% and most run 24-7 full tilt on servers. The Zippy HG-2 6400P is not modular, 400 watt, 12V@30A on a single rail and costs $89+ship. Hell of a good buy.
The Enermax Liberty is rated at 500 watt but is only 32A when the 12V lines are combined.


...Galvanized