What do you look for in PSU's?

[newbie628]

Now I have read many articles on "how to pick the right PSU for your system". The problem is, I don't think me or anyone on this planet would follow such a guide 100%. So the question I want to ask(to help me decide what to purchase next) is not about a specific brand or a certain wattage, instead, how about...

What were the top 3 key factors that made you pick your current PSU over the...I don't know...10,000 other ones? (price, wattage, features...?)

 

[Doclife]

1. The PSU must meet my power requirements. I will not buy a 300W PSU if my system required say 320W. Similarly, I will not buy a 1000W PSU if my system only required say 400W.
2. The PSU must be quiet under load. I definitely don't want a hair dryer sitting next to me, especially when I'm on the computer for an extended period of time.
3. The PSU must be certified as 80+ efficiency. Higher efficiency means less heat generated, and less noise (fan not ramping up).
4. The PSU must reliable.

 

[tomoyo]

Top 3 are pretty simple for me
1) Quietness
2) Stable and solid power with good components
3) High Efficiency, doesn't have to be 80+ certified, but must be around 80 estimated or higher.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

My top three:
1) reputable brand
2) features
3) Enough power to operate @ 50% load, so there's room for expansion.

 

[AmberClad]

#1 Reliability above all.
#2 Silence. A PSU might work great, but if it's excessively loud, that's going to get old, real fast, especially if your rig works part-time as an HTPC.
#3 Either sleeving or modular cables, for both convenience and airflow.

---

#4 Efficiency. Good bonus to have, but the benefits aren't apparent in everyday use.
#5 Appearance. Ideally, it wouldn't look horribly gaudy like the SuperTalent Atomic Juice. But if all the other requirements are met, then I would still tolerate a somewhat flashy-looking PSU.
#6 Price.

 

[Modelworks]

#1 Price , If I can't afford it, doesn't matter how good it is.
#2 Wattage , If it doesn't provide enough power , no reason to purchase it
#3 Brand , The best I can get that passes #1 and #2

 

[JEDIYoda]

quality and workmanship above all else!!
Doesn`t matter if it is quiet. There are many great quiet PSU`...yet just because it`s quiet doesn`t mean it is a good PSU!!
Also vice a verse!!
Money is no object!!
Also efficiency doesn`t really matter. mainly because the quality and workmanship of PSU`s that I buy for out weighs purchasing a 80plus certified PSU!!
80plus doesn`t mean you are getting a quality well built PSU!!
I never scrimp on the most important piece of hardware for the computer!!

 

[Exterous]

How do you guys figure out the wattage you will need? I have used the various PSU calc out there but I'm told they can be off by a fair bit

 

[MarcVenice]

Exterous, just name the components you plan on having in your PC and ask. General thumb of rule is that single cpu's (not cores !!! ) and single gpu PC's won't need more then 500w of power, hell, often 400w will do the job quite easily. So just ask, and people can give you some decent advice.

 

[Scottae]

my Measurement is "whatever PCPower&Cooling is doing is good" they make spectacular PSU's nothing fancy just quality components, and Build Quality and under rated specs. Practical testing and Stringent Quality control. I couldnt afford the 1000W PCPandC so I got the 1000W single rail Silverstone which was still really really good...I just needed to Power a 226w Pelt from the PSU and Single rails are the only ones that could do that.

 

[Goldfish4209]

In no particular order:

1. Brand.

2. Reviews. If AT liked it, then it probably won't crap out on me in 15 minutes.

3. Affordability.

4. 12v rails. This depends on the power supply in question, but I generally don't like a legion of tiny rails or one big 100A rail.

 

[Exterous]

Originally posted by: MarcVenice
Exterous, just name the components you plan on having in your PC and ask. General thumb of rule is that single cpu's (not cores !!! ) and single gpu PC's won't need more then 500w of power, hell, often 400w will do the job quite easily. So just ask, and people can give you some decent advice.

Thanks, just didn't want to be a bother

 

[Puffnstuff]

Well I never skimp on my ps's however this last time I wanted quality, reliability and amperage above all else. I've run 550w+ enermax's for the last several years but this time I stepped up the their galaxy line and I chose the 850w unit. I'd never spent that much before on a ps but considering the cost of the other components in my system why would I cheap out on the one thing that binds them all together. Not all ps's are equal and amperage is more important than wattage especially when some manufacturers cheat on their ratings to make them more appealing. Just make yourself a list based on what is the most important to you and your budget and then check the reviews on those units to narrow them down. Enermax, seasonic, pc power & cooling are a few companies to keep in mind during your search. Tomshardware regularly does ps testing and if pretty fair with their findings.

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: Doclife

3. The PSU must be certified as 80+ efficiency. Higher efficiency means less heat generated, and less noise (fan not ramping up).

Although I appreciate what 80 Plus offers and their list is a good guide line, one must pay to have their PSU 80 Plus certified.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Doclife - 3. The PSU must be certified as 80+ efficiency. Higher efficiency means less heat generated, and less noise (fan not ramping up).

Does higher efficiency mean less generated heat? and less noise?

What does efficiency have to do with less noise?
In reality it does not have anything to do with less noise!

Although 80 plus is a fine company not all PSU manufacturers care to pay for a certification that essentially means very little@!!

I could go off on a rant about people who actually believe that because something is certified 80plus that you are getting a well built top notch quality PSU!

But I will not......hehee

Peace!!

 

[Doclife]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda

Doclife - 3. The PSU must be certified as 80+ efficiency. Higher efficiency means less heat generated, and less noise (fan not ramping up).

Does higher efficiency mean less generated heat? and less noise?

What does efficiency have to do with less noise?
In reality it does not have anything to do with less noise!

Although 80 plus is a fine company not all PSU manufacturers care to pay for a certification that essentially means very little@!!

I could go off on a rant about people who actually believe that because something is certified 80plus that you are getting a well built top notch quality PSU!

But I will not......hehee

Peace!!

What does efficiency have to do with noise ? Fan in PSU is usually thermally controlled, meaning it will spin faster when higher temperature is detected. Faster spinning fan will make more noise. Higher efficiency means less heat is generated thus, the fan will not have to spin faster.

Being 80+ certified does not mean that the PSU has to be expensive. You can buy a high quality 500W PSU that is 80+ certified for $30 (after $30 rebate, free shipping) TODAY !!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371006


It only take common sense to be a smart shopper and to buy quality components at low prices.

 

[newbie628]

In almost all of your responses, BRAND and EFFICIENCY seem to be the top 2 factors. But here are the questions:

1) As you know, most PSU brands are not true PSU manufactures. they buy from someone else and put their own labels on the PSU's. Not saying that they will go for less quality components on purpose, but chances are, they have little control over what is produced. So should I just trust a brand blindly just because "they have been trustworthy up until now" and they should be "innocent until proven guilty"?

2) I think efficiency really is a tricky way for PSU manufactures to market their PSU's. As a user, what difference does it make if your PSU is 82% vs. 80%? More importantly, how do you know your 82% PSU is in fact 82%? I agree with Doclife that silence and temperature are probably the more visible factors for us users, and it is related directly with efficiency. But the question remains, how much quieter and cooler can an 82% PSU be compare to an 80% PSU?

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: newbie628
In almost all of your responses, BRAND and EFFICIENCY seem to be the top 2 factors. But here are the questions:

1) As you know, most PSU brands are not true PSU manufactures. they buy from someone else and put their own labels on the PSU's. Not saying that they will go for less quality components on purpose, but chances are, they have little control over what is produced.

Generalization. Certainly not always true. A good number of the "re-label" companies actually have as much, if not more, input on the finished product that the actual OEM.

Originally posted by: newbie628
2) I think efficiency really is a tricky way for PSU manufactures to market their PSU's. As a user, what difference does it make if your PSU is 82% vs. 80%? More importantly, how do you know your 82% PSU is in fact 82%? I agree with Doclife that silence and temperature are probably the more visible factors for us users, and it is related directly with efficiency. But the question remains, how much quieter and cooler can an 82% PSU be compare to an 80% PSU?

It depends on the PSU. Take the FSP Epsilon for example. Probably one of the most efficient units out there. But they FAIL at high wattage, have excessive ripple and noise and crossload at the drop of a hat. There are also a lot of complaints about them being noisy. MUCH noisier than the Corsair PSU's, for example.

This is not an apples to apples thing.

• Not ALL re-labeled PSU's are merely "re-labeled."
• Not ALL 80 Plus power supplies are the best quality.
• Not ALL 80 Plus power supplies are quiet.

 

[newbie628]

to JonnyGURU,
Thanks for the input. It cleared things up for me a little.

But my question wasn't about the input on the finished product, it was more about control. Whether it's control of the design or the production line, I just felt like OEM brands don't get enough of that. I don't mind purchasing an OEM PSU at all because I understand most of them are OEM!

Okay, so about efficient PSU not being quiet or cool, does it mean that manufactures can actually sacrifice those factors to achieve higher efficiency on paper?

 

[Sheninat0r]

a) reliable, stable
b) quiet

 

[jonnyGURU]

Originally posted by: newbie628
to JonnyGURU,
Thanks for the input. It cleared things up for me a little.

But my question wasn't about the input on the finished product, it was more about control. Whether it's control of the design or the production line, I just felt like OEM brands don't get enough of that. I don't mind purchasing an OEM PSU at all because I understand most of them are OEM!

What did you think I was referring to? A lot of times, the company that's marketing the product has a lot of control. Custom cooling, custom fan controllers, custom wiring harnesses or modular interfaces, specifying particular components used... the list goes on and on.

Yeah, a lot of times, like in the case of the Antec Earth Watts or Trio it's just a matter of slapping an Antec label on a Seasonic. But other times it's not, like the Antec True Power Quattro is much more than an Enahance ENP-6610 with an Antec label on it.

Originally posted by: newbie628
Okay, so about efficient PSU not being quiet or cool, does it mean that manufactures can actually sacrifice those factors to achieve higher efficiency on paper?

No. The power supply has to be efficient to begin with. The fan and fan controller they use is above and beyond this. If you start with an efficient platform, that doesn't automatically make it something that is going to last forever because the components can still succome to heat, load, etc. regardless of efficiency. Some PSU manufacturers might up the fan a little bit to ensure longevity. Maybe they feel they can run a slower fan because they're using higher temperature rated caps. Case and point: Both the Hiper Type R 580W and Aerocool ZeroDBA are essentially the same Andyson platform, but the Aerocool had all of the Fuhjyyu's replaced with Teapos before they slowed the fan down to the point where it doesn't even spin. Of course, the matter could be as simple as who the fan is sourced from and how good the guy is that programmed the IC for the fan controller. There's a lot of variables but efficiency=quiet is just not true. The Corsair is quieter than the Zalman and the OCZ yet the Zalman and OCZ are more efficient. The Aerocool is quieter than the three of them and it's less efficient than all of them!

The power supply is only as good as the sum of it's parts and the people behind bringing the product to life. Some get by with just slapping a label on someone else's product. Some work harder than that.