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What PSU to choose?

S

scaryclownsarefun

Member
I am looking at a athlon 64 system with a a64 3000 + K8N Neo platinum combiniation. i am going to be using a softmodded 9800SE for a graphics card, and i was wondering how much power i need.

Also, i am going to be using a very nice watercooling rig that me and my friend are working on so i am planning to oc just about everything in this system.

One last thing, what is a good power supply to use? i don't want to spend to much, but i don't want to limit my overclock.
 
Originally posted by: prometheusxls
Look for good efficincy (65-70%+) and good amperage on the 12v and 5v lines. Something in the 400W range is probably good.
Click to expand...

also look for good brand names.. Antec, Enermax, OCZ, Seasonic, Fortron ect...
 
OCZ Powerstream 420Watt PSU (or 470)

Second choice: Enermax 420 and up any of em are good

Third: Antec True Power

The rest are good and all but these are IMO the choices.

-Kevin
 
ok the OCZ powerstream is about $85, the enermax one is $75, and the antec truepower is about $70 for a 430W model. All of those look like good buys, and the antec has good a good price, good efficiency, and is anandtech reccomended, so i am thinking that is the best of those 3, but i was thinking more like -$50 buys... what do you guys think about the Thermaltake W0011+PFC Silent Purepower 480W referbrished from newegg? its only $49...
 
While I haven't used the Thermaltake PS my guess is that the fan is probably loud. (Every fan I have used by Thermaltake has been HORRIBLY loud.)

One thing you should consider is getting a power supply with "Active PFC".
This type of power supply will be much more efficient and stable (especially important if you are overclocking)
They will also run cooler and consume much less energy than their Passive PFC counterparts.

Here is a link to a SilentPC Review favorite ps from Seasonic: Seasonic SUPER TORNADO-400W $89.50
Here's an Enermax w/Active PFC: ENERMAX Noisetaker AX Series 420W $85.00
Here's a Zalman w/Active PFC: ZALMAN Noise-free 400W $88.75

I know you are looking to save a few bucks, but IMHO your power supply is definately not the place.
 
Originally posted by: scaryclownsarefun
ok the OCZ powerstream is about $85, the enermax one is $75, and the antec truepower is about $70 for a 430W model. All of those look like good buys, and the antec has good a good price, good efficiency, and is anandtech reccomended, so i am thinking that is the best of those 3, but i was thinking more like -$50 buys... what do you guys think about the Thermaltake W0011+PFC Silent Purepower 480W referbrished from newegg? its only $49...
Click to expand...

I am not a big fan of refurb PSUs, they are even worse than refurb Motherbaords.
 
Originally posted by: xbassman
While I haven't used the Thermaltake PS my guess is that the fan is probably loud. (Every fan I have used by Thermaltake has been HORRIBLY loud.)

One thing you should consider is getting a power supply with "Active PFC".
This type of power supply will be much more efficient and stable (especially important if you are overclocking)
They will also run cooler and consume much less energy than their Passive PFC counterparts.

Here is a link to a SilentPC Review favorite ps from Seasonic: Seasonic SUPER TORNADO-400W $89.50
Here's an Enermax w/Active PFC: ENERMAX Noisetaker AX Series 420W $85.00
Here's a Zalman w/Active PFC: ZALMAN Noise-free 400W $88.75

I know you are looking to save a few bucks, but IMHO your power supply is definately not the place.
Click to expand...

One more vote for the seasonic. The review was very favorable. 🙂 If you have the $ that is.

I am currently using this one: Coolmax 400W = $40 shipped it has decent efficency, great cooling, and 18A on the 12V and can take 100-132 VAC (imporant if your lines aren't stable). Its decent for the money especially if you aren't doing anything extreme that requires massive power. e.g. Large raid array, water cooling, etc... The only reason I mention it is because my rig is substantially similar to your. So it may be good for you too. HTH.
 
Wow, the seasonic does have good efficency (up to 80%), but this thermaltake has the standard 65% average efficiency, i'm not sure if the "up to" and "average" ratings are linear. i checked an this thermaltake does have active PFC, as well as being labled the "silent purepower" so i doubt the noise will be a problem. but i am not sure about it, as it is a referbrished part... can you guys check it out for me?
Referb: http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE
New: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-153-010&depa=0
 
Originally posted by: xbassman
Well, Personally I don't trust any specs put out by Thermaltake. (they exagerate continuously)
Most of em are wrong.

Here's another one to consider.....
The Zalman I listed above is a rebadged Fortron power supply.
Check out this one: Fortron 400W w/Active PFC

Here's a link to a review that includes this unit: http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=1841&p=1
Click to expand...

Agreed, I'd stay away from Thermaltake. However active PFC isn't really that big of deal; it isn't necessarily anymore efficient and doesn?t have any affect on the DC side of things so you can forget about increased stability.

Forton/Sparkle, Seasonic, PC Power & Cooling, Tagan, Zalman, Antec are normally the brands I look at.
 
And why dont we just take our cash and throw it out the f***ing window; the man is trying to save money. scaryclowns, are you running the pump off the PSU or from the outside? How many HDD's and optical drives are you planning on having? If you're going for one or two HDD's and a pump with a wall socket, 400watts is overkill. The thermaltakes are good PSU's, although they are SLIGHTLY louder than the antec's I have used. Active PFC means jacks*** beyond paying $15-20 more, do you pay your own electric bill? I doubt the fraction of a dollar more a month will put your family in the poor house. Save your cash and get a 420watt thermaltake ~$40 or if you really want to be sure, a 400watt Antec for $53. Why are you spending that much money for a neo2 platinum? Do you need all those extra features? Grab a EPoX 8KDA3J or if you dont need gigabit ethernet a chaintech VNF3-250, there's your PSU paid for right there. Also, do you have the 9800SE or are you planning on buying it? Grab a 9800Pro if you're water cooling, put a water block on it, and happy overclocking. The 9800Pro is already a high-end mid range card, its only gonna go lower, so get it while its still good and cheap.
 
i have solar power so efficiency is a pretty big consern for me, but i also want to be able to play good games, now and in the future, i found a K8N neo platinum referbrished from newegg for $79, so i was considering that, but i'm not sure. i want to cut down the cost of this system as much as possible, so referbrished parts seem very appealing to me. that fortron psu looks good, but what difforences am i going to see going from a 400W fortron to a 480W thermaltake. as i said before, i am going to be watercooling so the default fans are going to be taken out.
 
ooh, i just found out that if i get this thermaltake 480W, my friend's little brother will trade me his antec true blue 480W for it. he has a thermaltake case, and it has special features that get unlocked by it.
 
I have the 400w Fortron, good power supply but fan is loud. Had to replace it with a Panaflo M1. Then again opinions vary.
 
SPI (Sparkle) are great for the $...

why not just get a decent PSU with a good warranty and be done with it?

that way if there are problems down the road... warranty.
 
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