Need help deciding on power supply please.

Kev79 · Mar 10, 2014

I'm thinking of getting a Zalman ZM-1 MicroATX mini tower (only because someone recommended it to me in a build) and something which was also recommended was a 430W semi-modular PSU, but the price of that PSU has gone up and I can't find an affordable one (on a $600 budget), so I'm wondering... is anyone else using the same or similar tower with a non-modular PSU, and if so, does it reduce the airflow, or are there any other significant disadvantages? Is getting the semi-modular PSU going to make much of a difference? Or maybe I should get a different tower altogether, such as a mid tower, and just go with a non-modular PSU? If it helps at all to know what my build might look like, I will gladly post it. Decisions, decisions!

I did find this article ( http://www.tomshardware.com/news/power-supplies-psu,8016.html ) that has me leaning toward a non-modular, in which case, I have no idea what tower to get, or if I should just stick with the one that was recommended. There is a good deal right now on a Corsair non-modular 430w 80+ bronze for $19.99 after rebate. Any thoughts? Much appreciated. Thanks!

HillBillyAsian · Mar 10, 2014

if you're hurting for money why not get a decent combo like
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Elite-350-CMP/dp/B003O2KEPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394505969&sr=8-1&keywords=coolermaster+350

newegg also has it cheaper but its sold out.

Deuce65 · Mar 10, 2014

CX430 is a garbage PSU; I wouldn't take one for free. You don't say what is in your system so I don't know how much power you need, but know that in addition to being a garbage PSU, while it may be rated for and labeled as a 430 watt PSU, it doesn't actually put out 430 watts, more like upper 300s. What exactly is in your system, we can probably recommend something.

Kev79 · Mar 10, 2014

Deuce65 :

Thanks for replying. The PSU was recommended to me, and I was told it would be plenty for the 750 Ti; I don't know enough about the parts to know what is good or garbage. Anyway, here's the possible build (and again, I'm working with a $600 budget, OS included):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130 3.4GHz Dual-Core Processor ($118.97 @ OutletPC)
Motherboard: Asus H81M-E Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($58.99 @ Mac Mall)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix Sport XT 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($57.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: PNY GeForce GTX 750 Ti 2GB Video Card ($149.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Zalman ZM-T1 MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($27.99 @ Mwave)
Power Supply: Corsair Builder 430W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX Power Supply ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer ($16.98 @ OutletPC)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) ($89.98 @ OutletPC)
Total: $610.87
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-03-10 23:13 EDT-0400)

Kev79 · Mar 10, 2014

HillBillyAsian :

That would still be me paying more than what I currently have now in my build. Something to consider though, I appreciate the feedback.

HillBillyAsian · Mar 10, 2014

for the same price you can build a amd based computer

http://pcpartpicker.com/p/37MpA or
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/37MCG if you feel that the corsair model isnt fit for what you want.

Kev79 · Mar 10, 2014

HillBillyAsian :

Yeah, those are definitely some options. Thanks for the suggestions. I was under the impression (from doing a lot of research and from what others have told me) that I might be better off going with Intel, based on what I will be doing on the computer (not a hardcore gamer, I don't even know anything about overclocking and all that!). I mean, you'd laugh at the small selection of games (none that are newer) that I currently own for the pc. Sure, I might like to try a few newer games at some point, but it's not a necessity to me. I'd much rather pick up some decent cheap games (even if they are somewhat older games), rather than pay big bucks for the brand new titles. One game in particular that I can definitely see myself getting and playing though, is World of Warcraft. I've always wanted to try it out and heard a lot of good things about it; just never got around to it.

HillBillyAsian · Mar 10, 2014

Kev79 :

the amd solution i gave you is better than the intel one you had for the price range. it offers you ALOT more actually. since the intel unit you went with is just a dual core and the amd is a 6 core, which will help you in more threaded operations like lets say you like to edit video or play around on photoshop. Intel though does have stronger performance single core wise, but in all honesty nothing that you would notice or would bother you. You can overclock both but the amd way is just way more bang for the buck in this price range.

Kev79 · Mar 11, 2014

Deuce65 :

After seeing the build, is there a different PSU you would recommend? I haven't had anyone else look at the build and mention anything about the PSU. Is it really that bad? And if so, why?

Kev79 · Mar 11, 2014

HillBillyAsian :

I don't care about overclocking, I just want something that will be good for everyday computer stuff obviously, and be able to handle some games I throw at it. If the Intel will do the job, then I'm fine with sticking to that, because I've gone back and forth enough already as it is to up and change the entire build at this point.

I've done a lot of research on all the main components, with the exception of a few that I had to swap in place of other parts that ended up going up in price too much, and I'm happy with what I got, I just need to find a good power supply and figure out if this is the case I want. I'd be hesitant going with that case/psu combo you mentioned because who knows what kind of quality the psu is inside of it, ya' know

HillBillyAsian · Mar 11, 2014

Kev79 :

just go with the antec vp450 or stick with the corsair. what he said is true about it not going to 430 watts, but in reality almost no psu outputs the wattage stated on it. for instance. the corsair has a 32A single rail (which is really good) so 32A x 12V = 384W. now we dont include the other bits because though important it's not what we are looking for. for the antec its a 2 12V rail system at 18A apeice, so 12 x 18 x 2 = 432W but the rails are split between the main parts of your computer.

So the choice is your you can go with whatever you like at that price range. Sure corsair skimped out on caps on their lower tier psu's but its still more than enough to power you build for a few years, most likely of which youll be at the time building another new computer anyway right? cheers

HillBillyAsian · Mar 11, 2014

Kev79 :

HillBillyAsian :

I don't care about overclocking, I just want something that will be good for everyday computer stuff obviously, and be able to handle some games I throw at it. If the Intel will do the job, then I'm fine with sticking to that, because I've gone back and forth enough already as it is to up and change the entire build at this point.

I've done a lot of research on all the main components, with the exception of a few that I had to swap in place of other parts that ended up going up in price too much, and I'm happy with what I got, I just need to find a good power supply and figure out if this is the case I want. I'd be hesitant going with that case/psu combo you mentioned because who knows what kind of quality the psu is inside of it, ya' know

as for the psu and case combo i mentioned, its a 500W coolermaster psu, and its a decent one (i have the case and psu also in my gfs build) it has been running for 2 years now with no hickups and 2 mobo changes so yea.

HillBillyAsian · Mar 11, 2014

Kev79 :

HillBillyAsian :

I don't care about overclocking, I just want something that will be good for everyday computer stuff obviously, and be able to handle some games I throw at it. If the Intel will do the job, then I'm fine with sticking to that, because I've gone back and forth enough already as it is to up and change the entire build at this point.

I've done a lot of research on all the main components, with the exception of a few that I had to swap in place of other parts that ended up going up in price too much, and I'm happy with what I got, I just need to find a good power supply and figure out if this is the case I want. I'd be hesitant going with that case/psu combo you mentioned because who knows what kind of quality the psu is inside of it, ya' know

so why limit yourself with a dual core cpu? why not get the best for your money now? but hey its your choice on what you want to do. the dual core is enough to get by, but when you run into multithreaded games you might have cpu bottlenecking issues.

Deuce65 · Mar 11, 2014

Kev79 :

Well it isn't a great PSU but for 40 dollars you can get an EVGA 500B at NCIX; it is a much better PSU than the corsair.
Also, someone suggested a AMD build, I would second that.

Without going into too many technical details, essentially what makes a bad PSU bad is a few things.
1. Overrated. With this, you take say a perfectly good 300 watt PSU and label it for say 500 watts.
2. Cheap components. crappy capacitors (the things that hold and supply the electrical supply), bad fans, cheap soldering jobs, you name it. Problems like this lead to poor performance at best (more in a second), to faults (units dying and needing replacments often, so that 20 dollar bargain costs you 60 dollars over two years) to outright dangerous, components overheating, possible fires, damaged components, etc.
3. The PSU is supposed to deliver power at various levels. Computer components are delicate things and require power in very specific amounts. Good PSUs give the components what they need. Bad PSUs give whatever. So the component wants 3 volts and with a good psu it gets 3 volts, with a bad psu maybe it gets 3.5. Then you are left wondering why your nice computer dies a year later.

I realize that the benefits of a quality PSU aren't as glamorous or as obvious as other components, like a better CPU or whatever, but remember that a crappy PSU is the one component that literally destroy your other components.

Kev79 · Mar 11, 2014

Deuce65 :

Kev79 :

Well it isn't a great PSU but for 40 dollars you can get an EVGA 500B at NCIX; it is a much better PSU than the corsair.
Also, someone suggested a AMD build, I would second that.

Without going into too many technical details, essentially what makes a bad PSU bad is a few things.
1. Overrated. With this, you take say a perfectly good 300 watt PSU and label it for say 500 watts.
2. Cheap components. crappy capacitors (the things that hold and supply the electrical supply), bad fans, cheap soldering jobs, you name it. Problems like this lead to poor performance at best (more in a second), to faults (units dying and needing replacments often, so that 20 dollar bargain costs you 60 dollars over two years) to outright dangerous, components overheating, possible fires, damaged components, etc.
3. The PSU is supposed to deliver power at various levels. Computer components are delicate things and require power in very specific amounts. Good PSUs give the components what they need. Bad PSUs give whatever. So the component wants 3 volts and with a good psu it gets 3 volts, with a bad psu maybe it gets 3.5. Then you are left wondering why your nice computer dies a year later.

I realize that the benefits of a quality PSU aren't as glamorous or as obvious as other components, like a better CPU or whatever, but remember that a crappy PSU is the one component that literally destroy your other components.

Okay, well that definitely makes sense. I will definitely consider looking into a different psu. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it. Just trying to cover all areas before I start purchasing parts here.

Deuce65 · Mar 11, 2014

Is it that bad? No, it isn't that bad. You asked what the difference was between a good and bad PSU. That is definitely a cheap PSU. I don't think it is cheap enough that it will burn your house down or anything, I didn't mean to suggest that, sorry if it came across that way.
So basically it is at the lowest tier that is still safe and won't actually start a fire probably. If at all possible though I would spring a few extra bucks and get a better quality one like the EVGA one.

Incidentally, since that price you quoted is for a mail in rebate. Corsair is the only company that I have dealt with that consistently rejects my rebate claims. So take that for whatever it is worth.

Kev79 · Mar 11, 2014

Deuce65 :

haha, no it's all good, I was just being sarcastic about the starting a fire part. Sorry. But no, I think you're right. The more and more I'm looking into it, it makes more sense and I am going to go with a different psu. It's just so overwhelming, because there's so many choices and different people telling me different things. And whenever you're an indecisive person like me, it makes it that much harder to decide! haha

Need help deciding on power supply please.

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