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Should I order a spare power supply?

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Yes, a crappy PSU from a year ago is still a crappy PSU today, and will be a crappy PSU a year from now. The Corsair you linked back in September of last year is still available and is a much better option for not much more money.
 
Are crappy PSU's actually crappy in the real world (AOL, email, web surfing), or are they only crappy in the fanatic world of online forums filled with obsessive gamer fanatics?
 
You've been trying to convince yourself it's good enough for over a year. You asked for advise, received it and keep trying to rephrase the same question in hopes you'll get the answer you're wanting to hear. If saving $10 is that important to you that it has delayed this decision for 13 months, then just buy the ebay PSU and let this thread die.
 
I don't so rebates.
Rebates are for suckers.

So, it's $40 vs. $20.
100% difference.

You buying a Civic for $40k?
Didn't think so.
 
No, I also wouldn't compare $20 to $20,000 because that's stupid.

You also said the ebay PSU is $30, the corsair is $40 BEFORE rebate... It's $10 difference, and even if it was $15 or $20 (which it isn't) and it's taken you 13+ months to part with that extra $10-$20 then you should just go buy the ebay one... I'm not really sure what kind of answer you're looing for here.
 
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Cheap poor quality power supplies are really for people who do not really understand about computers, and the quality level of power supply that is needed, for long term, reliable operation.

It's like buying new dishes at home, made out of paper, because they are cheaper.
You need proper china or whatever dishes, otherwise they will break/wear-out, very quickly.

The poor output voltage accuracy/stability/ripple may even contribute to breaking stuff earlier than necessary in your computer, such as HDDs, DVD-RW etc.

If you are buying VERY cheap stuff, it is best to make sure that you do not cheap out, in ways which will make your computer potentially unstable/unreliable/bad.

Anyway it's your money, and your choice.

EDIT: Some people have to make do with the cheap PSUs for various reasons. By making sure they use massively less than the rated load, not using the computer that much, not using high current graphics cards, and changing the capacitors in them with a soldering iron (if the capacitors break). They have coped.

But I would still say, get a proper power supply.
 
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GoodEnough said:
Fair enough, but is this PS necessarily junk?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300W-Hipro-...-/330841232345?pt=PCA_UPS&hash=item4d07ac93d9
Click to expand...

Old thread saying it is a bad make, here:

Old thread about this make on our forum

I doubt they have improved much over the years.

Sometimes some experts on these forums say that a particular power supply is really made by Seasonic, which is a very good maker of power supplies.

The ebay advert mentions SeaSonic, but I assume it means compatible with, rather than made by/for or something.
 
I'm not a Gamer. Spend the $40 for a name brand unit. Corsair, Seasonic, Antec, etc.

A little research here on Anandtech or Toms Hardware will enlighten you. And it would only take a little time. (I run an Antec TruePower.)
 
no psu is better then cheap psu...

cuz no psu, u cant cause further damage then u already have done.
While a cheap PSU has the potential to take out your entire system if it goes bad.

i never understood why people always cheap out on the PSU.
The PSU is a critical component inside a PC, and should be paired appropriately to the budget.
 
Cheap power supplies can be good. Most are not. Even for facebook/gaming. Especially from ebay. The term "Fire Hazard" is sometimes used, and it's not an exaggeration. There are power supplies on ebay that can kill your computer in minutes, just from hooking it up and turning it on. There are power supplies on ebay that are so poorly designed and built that when they fail (which they inevitably will) they will catch on fire. There are power supplies with fake safety certificates, and power supplies which are straight-up counterfeits. Almost all "ebay Shenzhen specials" have false wattage ratings, 50-200% higher than their output capabilities.


You can buy a quality power supply from a reputable for $25. Even crappy units from major brands are more reliable than the garbage on ebay. Trying to save $5 in this case is false economy of the most short-sighted sort.
 
CM Phaedrus said:
You can buy a quality power supply from a reputable for $25. Even crappy units from major brands are more reliable than the garbage on ebay. Trying to save $5 in this case is false economy of the most short-sighted sort.
Click to expand...

This. 100%.

Staples carries the Antec VP-450 for $51.99 in-store. Use the 15% off coupon, good until 11/2 (tomorrow), to get it for $44.19 + tax OTD. Well worth it.
 
it all boils down to how much your components are worth.

have a Pentium D with a cheap 775 mb with 4gb ddr2 with 80gb hd with hd4650 running on a cheap ultra lsv. if that psu blow and takes some component with it - so be it.

also have a i7-3770k with asus z77ws mb with 16gb ddr3 with ssd with 680trisl running on a corsair ax series (seasonic). not taking any chances here.

how much do you value your dell 570? only you can answer that.
 
UaVaj said:
it all boils down to how much your components are worth.

have a Pentium D with a cheap 775 mb with 4gb ddr2 with 80gb hd with hd4650 running on a cheap ultra lsv. if that psu blow and takes some component with it - so be it.

also have a i7-3770k with asus z77ws mb with 16gb ddr3 with ssd with 680trisl running on a corsair ax series (seasonic). not taking any chances here.

how much do you value your dell 570? only you can answer that.
Click to expand...


And I think this advice ^ is equally short sighted and misguided.

Why buy and use a power supply that potentially can end up failing prematurely and kill other parts of your computer just to save $5-$10? Even if the ps doesn't kill any other part of the computer, you then have to buy another power supply and go through replacing it again. Now, what did that save you, having bought two pieces of junk when spending $10 more initially would save you from having to buy twice and repair twice?

And who's to say their computer isn't worth something?

Personally, I never understand the compulsion to buy as cheaply as possible, which never ends well, esp. in computer components....esp. power supplies. Having to replace a failed ps once is enough of a drag. Having to buy twice to replace a junk power supply you just bought is stupid economy....and no economy at all. You'll end up spending more in the end.
 
VirtualLarry said:
This. 100%.

Staples carries the Antec VP-450 for $51.99 in-store. Use the 15% off coupon, good until 11/2 (tomorrow), to get it for $44.19 + tax OTD. Well worth it.
Click to expand...

Or just buy it for $35 from Amazon or Newegg
 
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The thing with the cheap PSUs, especially when bought on ebay, is that they may not have the following:

Active power factor correction - Passive PFC is cheap, but much less effective, leaving to a more problematic load characteristic for the grid.
Conformity testing - fake conformity testing stickers can be found abound upon cheap power supplies. Without conformity testing these devices may pose a fire or electrical hazard.
Stable output voltages under all load conditions - This may lead to instability when idling the PC, or when using the power supply at higher loads. This may also induce interesting wear patterns on hardware.
Correct wattage labels - especially 500-600W PSUs used to relabeled 300W power supplies. Occasionally the over-current limiter is removed, and the PSU just blows up when you pull a supposedly specified load. Fire hazard.

I would probably recommend be quiet System Power or Enermax Triathlor PSU's in the 300-350W bracket. They support Haswell's C6 states, ErP Lot 6 "PC-off" efficiency requirements and are from brands that have a reputation to uphold.
They are also reasonably efficient, which means they run cool and silent.

As a spare PSU is one that is going to be used in any case, you might as well make it one, that will give you a good experience when you have to install it.

To get to your 40k Civic example: Would you buy a new car that looks almost like a Civic for 10k from ebay? You'd only have to do without airbags, and it's been declared a Civic for registration purposes by the seller....
 
Who still has spare PS's in 2013 !?!?

Buy quality the first time around and don't worry.
 
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Blain said:
Who still has spare PS's in 2013 !?!?

Buy quality the first time around and don't worry.
Click to expand...

Quality doesn't guarantee it won't fail. I had a Seasonic unit that failed just a while ago... good thing I had my 4 years used Corsair VP450 as backup, it worked great.
 
I have two desktops - each has a PSU with enough power to work for the other. If one goes down, I don't want to have to make a quick decision on a replacement, nor do I want to waste money on one that will just sit there for 'who knows how long.'

Continuing this 'spare' mindset, why wouldn't you just build another $700 rig and let it sit there just as a backup?
 
Meghan54 said:
And I think this advice ^ is equally short sighted and misguided.

Why buy and use a power supply that potentially can end up failing prematurely and kill other parts of your computer just to save $5-$10? Even if the ps doesn't kill any other part of the computer, you then have to buy another power supply and go through replacing it again. Now, what did that save you, having bought two pieces of junk when spending $10 more initially would save you from having to buy twice and repair twice?

And who's to say their computer isn't worth something?

Personally, I never understand the compulsion to buy as cheaply as possible, which never ends well, esp. in computer components....esp. power supplies. Having to replace a failed ps once is enough of a drag. Having to buy twice to replace a junk power supply you just bought is stupid economy....and no economy at all. You'll end up spending more in the end.
Click to expand...

if any of you paid any attention. computer in question is worth ~$200. if that. and asking for a backup psu.

---

my example.

first pc is worth what? ~$75 if that. no point in having a $40 psu in there. much less a $40 backup psu. reality is. any psu will do. as long as it is properly rated and works.

second pc is worth north of $1500+. a quality $100 psu is just.

---

sometimes you folks are giving advice to yourself. much less giving any advice to the original poster.

to add insult to injury. you have the nerve to call out sound advice when given.
 
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