Why You Should Not buy anything less than 80 Plus Certified PSU...

[Destiny]

I first want to thank everyone on this forum for giving great advice and why everyone else should listen to people when they tell you not to buy a cheap PSU. Sometimes just because a PSU costs $75 still doesn't indicate it's a quailty PSU... the 80 Plus Certification makes a difference... as demonstrated in this test by another Forum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCwgK_fvZ6I&feature=player_embedded

This PSU was $75 and it went up in smokes during the warm-up phase of the testing at a load of 420Watts (The PSU is rated at 500watts). Unless you like sparks, fireworks, and smoke... go by a cheapy PSU that is not 80 Plus Certified. I'm so glad I took someone's advice from this forum. I ended getting one that someone recommended.

 

[0roo0roo]

i just wonder if they measured the m/b connector and stuff, would it have taken stuff down with it.

 

[fffblackmage]

I don't think the 80 Plus certification is an indicator of quality. While I won't be buying another PSU without the 80 Plus cert., there are plenty of 80 Plus certified PSUs by brands I've never heard of and would not buy from.

 

[Modelworks]

Don't use that as a means to determine quality. That only determines how efficient it is, it says nothing about the actual parts used or the quality.
It is like UL labs. Most PSU have been approved by them, but that only means it won't burn down the house when it fails.

 

[Henry Chinaski]

The higher efficiency, the better, but it's not the most important aspect in a PSU.
You can find on the market high quality PSUs that are not 80Plus certified, and horrible PSUs that meets the 80Plus Gold certification.
Keep in mind that, as other people have said before, efficiency≠quality.

 

[HOOfan 1]

In actuality, some companies make their PSUs even worse just to meet 80 plus certification.

 

[MJinZ]

Generally speaking, an 80 Plus silver or GOld supply is guaranteed to be quality.

It is a function of the fact that either cheap crappy power supplies can not attain these levels of efficiency and that manufacturers will not market high efficiency units built cheaply and for cheap $$$, even if it were possible.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Sometimes just because a PSU costs $75 still doesn't indicate it's a quailty PSU... the 80 Plus Certification makes a difference.

No the 80+ certification has nothing to do with quality!!
JonnyGuru has even stated here and on his site jonnyGURU.com that 80+ is no indication of quality.

Now the following is my opinion -- *0+ certified PSU`s are hand picked and submitted by a company to have there PSU tested by the 80+ people. As a company you pay a fee to have your PSU tested. After your PSU is tested there is nothing at all to keep you from changing items inside the computer such as using a cheaper brand of capacitors...etc..

Please do not be fooled into believeing that a PSU thats rated 80+ has anything to do with the quality of a PSU!!!

 

[Rifter]

does not indicate quality.

 

[Destiny]

In actuality, some companies make their PSUs even worse just to meet 80 plus certification.

Generally speaking, an 80 Plus silver or GOld supply is guaranteed to be quality.

It is a function of the fact that either cheap crappy power supplies can not attain these levels of efficiency and that manufacturers will not market high efficiency units built cheaply and for cheap $$$, even if it were possible.

No the 80+ certification has nothing to do with quality!!
JonnyGuru has even stated here and on his site jonnyGURU.com that 80+ is no indication of quality.

Now the following is my opinion -- *0+ certified PSU`s are hand picked and submitted by a company to have there PSU tested by the 80+ people. As a company you pay a fee to have your PSU tested. After your PSU is tested there is nothing at all to keep you from changing items inside the computer such as using a cheaper brand of capacitors...etc..

Please do not be fooled into believeing that a PSU thats rated 80+ has anything to do with the quality of a PSU!!!

Wow... thanks for the advice everyone!... I learn something new here everyday!:awe:

 

[JEDIYoda]

Generally speaking, an 80 Plus silver or GOld supply is guaranteed to be quality.

It is a function of the fact that either cheap crappy power supplies can not attain these levels of efficiency and that manufacturers will not market high efficiency units built cheaply and for cheap $$$, even if it were possible.

No it`s not guaranteed to be quality!!
It`s guaranteed to meet the 80+ certification.
To be 80+ certified has nothing to do with quality.

Even JonnyGURU has stated many times that being 80+ certified is NO guarantee of quality!!

 

[jonnyGURU]

Just going to reiterate what's already been said here....

80 Plus is NOT a sign of quality. 80 Plus PSU's aren't even indicitive of what you buy at the store. Some PSU's have their main transformers grounded to parts of the housing which increases their electrical field, but would make the PSU fail an EMI test. Some PSU's are submitted with much shorter cables than what you would buy at the store (yes, 1 or 2" can make up about 1 to 2% in efficiency).

Also, a lof of these PSU's are meeting 80 Plus efficiency by using LLC Resonant topology and DC to DC on the non-primary rails. The end result is a PSU that's efficient, but doesn't have as good of ripple suppresion or voltage regulation as an older, more simple, albiet less efficient double forward conversion unit.

Furthermore, a number of the units that are rated at "peak" are often only tested at continuous power by 80 Plus. Sure, this is exposed right away in the test report if you know what to look for. When the model number is "PSU 650W" and 80 Plus only tests up to 500W, you know something's up.

Bottom line, if you want to know if a PSU is good or not, read a review that actually tests the limits of the PSU and does an autopsy, or at least an internal look, of the PSU. Sites like HardOCP, Hardware Secrets and Xbit Labs, for example. If you can't find a competent review of a power supply you're interested in, there may be a reason for that and you might want to consider a different unit.

 

[SunnyD]

Just going to reiterate what's already been said here....

80 Plus is NOT a sign of quality. 80 Plus PSU's aren't even indicitive of what you buy at the store. Some PSU's have their main transformers grounded to parts of the housing which increases their electrical field, but would make the PSU fail an EMI test. Some PSU's are submitted with much shorter cables than what you would buy at the store (yes, 1 or 2" can make up about 1 to 2% in efficiency).

Also, a lof of these PSU's are meeting 80 Plus efficiency by using LLC Resonant topology and DC to DC on the non-primary rails. The end result is a PSU that's efficient, but doesn't have as good of ripple suppresion or voltage regulation as an older, more simple, albiet less efficient double forward conversion unit.

Furthermore, a number of the units that are rated at "peak" are often only tested at continuous power by 80 Plus. Sure, this is exposed right away in the test report if you know what to look for. When the model number is "PSU 650W" and 80 Plus only tests up to 500W, you know something's up.

Bottom line, if you want to know if a PSU is good or not, read a review that actually tests the limits of the PSU and does an autopsy, or at least an internal look, of the PSU. Sites like HardOCP, Hardware Secrets and Xbit Labs, for example. If you can't find a competent review of a power supply you're interested in, there may be a reason for that and you might want to consider a different unit.

This. Nothing else to even consider other than what Jonny wrote.

In addition... ANY given electronic (or mechanical) component can be built with a single component that's defective that may not manifest itself until after testing. Weak joints on a resistor for example or a bad solder joint, they're fine until they get bumped around in shipping, then bam - you plug it in and dead electronics.

80+ is not an indication of quality. It's an indication of efficiency. You can make junk efficient, but lack of quality will manifest itself sooner or later.

 

[NguyenAdam]

Ahhh man this shows how little I know about computers in general... Too much information to handle!!! Arghh

 

[Rifter]

Ahhh man this shows how little I know about computers in general... Too much information to handle!!! Arghh

You will learn alot if you hang around here thats for sure.

 

[Destiny]

Yep... thanks to JohnnyGuru my PSU knowledge just skyrocketed...
that also answered a lingering thought on head why the hell some PSU manufacturers make short cables. When I was PSU hunting I kept reading customer reviews after reviews complaining about short cables or cables not being long enough and I'm thinking in my head did they only want them installed only in mini-atx cases?!

 

[NguyenAdam]

When it comes to the specifics I am really clueless. RAM speeds, overclocking, cooling, etc... I only know how to look the memory and speed of the products... >.>

 

[hellotyler]

so how DO you pick a quality psu ? what do you look for ?

 

[jonnyGURU]

so how DO you pick a quality psu ? what do you look for ?

Bottom line, if you want to know if a PSU is good or not, read a review that actually tests the limits of the PSU and does an autopsy, or at least an internal look, of the PSU. Sites like HardOCP, Hardware Secrets and Xbit Labs, for example. If you can't find a competent review of a power supply you're interested in, there may be a reason for that and you might want to consider a different unit.

 

[faxon]

Hey Jonny you forgot to tag your own site on that list, jonnyguru.com is still one of my favorite sites for PSU reviews ;-)

 

[jonnyGURU]

Hey Jonny you forgot to tag your own site on that list, jonnyguru.com is still one of my favorite sites for PSU reviews ;-)

I know. I was waiting for someone else to chime in. I hate to shamelessly self-promote.

 

[faxon]

I know. I was waiting for someone else to chime in. I hate to shamelessly self-promote.

fair enough XD. working at frys i get tons of opportunities to educate the stupid masses on how important a good PSU is, always direct them to this forum and your site (as well as hardOCP) for that all important expert knowledge. keep it up man

 

[faxon]

I know. I was waiting for someone else to chime in. I hate to shamelessly self-promote.

fair enough XD. working at frys i get tons of opportunities to educate the stupid masses on how important a good PSU is, always direct them to this forum and your site (as well as hardOCP) for that all important expert knowledge. keep it up man

 

[tomoyo]

fair enough XD. working at frys i get tons of opportunities to educate the stupid masses on how important a good PSU is, always direct them to this forum and your site (as well as hardOCP) for that all important expert knowledge. keep it up man

Whoa wait a guy who works in frys that actually reads up on tech? I'm in shock. Also that's the frys I visit most, I have to say hello sometime. Which department are you in?

 

[tomoyo]

I know. I was waiting for someone else to chime in. I hate to shamelessly self-promote.

Don't forget jonnyguru.com now has both jonny and oklahomawolf writing reviews. You get to enjoy two styles of writing for the price of one