Tagan any good for PSUs

[GamerAT240]

Hi,
I'm in the UK and lookin for very reliable PSUs, my system is :

Windows XP Home SP2
Athlon 2800+ running as 3200+ [ FSB 200 ]
1024 Gig Geil DDR400 running at 400 [2x256 + 1x512] in Dual Channel Mode
Abit NF7
Galaxy GeForce 6800 GT
Maxtor 80Gig Hard Drive
Internal Teac CDRW
Freecom USB2.0 External DVDRW
Creative Soundblaster Live 5.1

I currently have a Mercury 400W PSU, and my USB2.0 doesn't work 100% reliable unless I UNDERCLOCK the CPU to FSB of 266Mhz (I know it is currently running OC'd at 400 instead of 333, but the USB2.0 problem exists the same at 333, only 266 sorts it out).

I was thinking its the PSUs fault, and so want to replace it (unless anyone else could think of why underclocking CPU would fix it, SP2 installed, NF7 drivers on etc). I haven't heard Tagan mentioned much compared to Antec/Enermax for good quality, but in a UK magazine it was mentioned that Tagan were good.

Here is the link - its a flash site so the PSU is as follows:
http://www.tagan.com/main.htm
Click Products -> TG480-UO1 480W ->Specification

I'm not an expert, but I think the specs seem good:
+3.3V - 28A
+5V - 48A
+12V - 28A
+5VSB - 2.5A

Your advice would be very much appreciated, want to get this Mercury replaced soon.

Thanks again.:beer:

 

[CraigRT]

I think it's a lot better than the crappy Mercury PS... my supplier carries their stuff, and its nothing but trash from what I've seen.
the Tagan isn't too bad.

 

[biostud]

I didn't fare well in Toms hardware stress test

 

[GamerAT240]

Thanks for the info, but if I'm gonna spend around £55 ($110) I want very good, not just better than what I have.

biostud : Do you have a link?, I searched on Toms site and couldn't find much with Tagan in it.
Through google I did find this though : http://www.pcreview.co.uk/printthread-4310.php
Which shows little fluctuations under stress, but the reviewer doesn't say what he classifies as 'stress'.

I'm alittle confused, I thought the higher the Amps on the voltage rail, the less fluctuations and therefore the better the quality of the power?, and this Tagan has pretty high Amps on the rails.

Other alternatives are :

http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=04451
with specs here : http://www.antec.com/specs/sl450_spe_EU.html
Although its Antec, the Amps on the rails are much lower than the Tagans.

http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=07484
withs specs here : http://www.antec.com/specs/true480_spe_EU.html
This one has decent bit lower on the +5V, and only alittle higher on +3.3V

http://www.antec.com/uk/productDetails.php?ProdID=07431
withs specs here : http://www.antec.com/specs/true430_spe_EU.html

I can also get a Hiper 525W, but not sure about the Hiper brand ?

Once again, onfo appreciated,
Cheers

 

[flamingspinach]

Have fun.

-fs

 

[ts3433]

See if you can get Fortron/FSP Group (used by Sparkle, OCZ, Zippy/Emacs, and PCP&C), Seasonic (used by PCP&C), or TTGI (I think this was a manufacturer someone recommended; it might be the company Enermax uses) PSUs where you are.

The link FS posted above is pretty good, too--maybe I should give that an place on my copy-paste list for links.

 

[Mem]

I make this simple,Tagan PSUs rock!!!!!!

They are up there with Antec,Enermax etc.......btw forgot to say they also come with 3 year warranty.

 

[Mem]

Tagan 480w and Antec TruePower 480w review.,note the quality on the Tagan heatsinks,note this review is quite old.


Newer review.

 

[GamerAT240]

Thanks, I am quite tempted by the Tagan.

Though I can get the top OCZ here : http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/OCZ.html
A OCZ PowerStream 420W. Would this be a Fortron ?
I presume its the same as this one : http://www.ocztechnology.com/p...werstream_power_supply
with specs of
+3.3V - 28A
+5V - 30A
+12V - 30A
+5VSB - 2.0A
The +5V is well under the Tagan, but the +12V alittle more. Problem is this OCZ PSU is quite expensive for me, and would I ever use the PowerFlex feature? I presume this is for getting it closer to the consistancy level you want?

Finally I could get a Enermax 430W PSU here : http://www.dabs.com/uk/channel...iew.htm?quicklinx=3GTC
but only if it was unbelievable because it has a longish wait period.

So I am thinking between the Tagan and OCZ, thanks for the info again.

ps - what rail would USB2.0 draw from? (excuse me if this makes no sense, I'm not that up with PSU finer details)

 

[Mem]

Finally I could get a Enermax 430W PSU here : http://www.dabs.com/uk/channel...iew.htm?quicklinx=3GTC
but only if it was unbelievable because it has a longish wait period.

So I am thinking between the Tagan and OCZ, thanks for the info again.

They will all run your PC just fine,so choose which you think is best value for money etc..bottom line is they are all good quality PSUs.

 

[GamerAT240]

Thanks,
I noticed the Enermax has only 18A on the +12V rail ? How come they are so reliable to such clean power since this is so low ? Or is that 18A across 2 +12V rails, 18A on each ?

 

[biostud]

Tagan failure under stress

Tagan's weaknesses are not new to us. A total of five power supplies suddenly failed in the labs during the past year. A newly designed and rubberized casing is unlikely to improve the reliability of the devices.