PSU recommendation 550W

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cshaun

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Currently looking at these and finding it difficult to compare. They're all pretty much the same price locally. I've looked at the "PSU tier list 2.0" and read reviews. What I'm after is something very quiet, efficient and of great quality. So given they're all the same price which would you recommend?


  • ■ EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W
    ■ CORSAIR RM Series RM550
    ■ Seasonic G-550 F3
    ■ Corsair CS550M
    ■ Cooler Master V550S
 
Solution
Dark Lord of Tech
EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W is a new Seasonic platform and a real good one , but not based on the G series.

In this order:

EVGA SuperNOVA GS 550W
[strike]CORSAIR RM Series RM550[/strike]
Seasonic G-550 F3
[strike]Corsair CS550M[/strike]
Cooler Master V550S
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Sakkura

Sakkura

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Aug 22, 2011
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The EVGA GS uses a new Seasonic platform that seems to be derived from the Seasonic G series. It actually has worse voltage regulation, but it's a high quality design regardless. As is the Seasonic G of course. The Cooler Master VS, while "only" an Enhance unit, is still high quality. DC-DC VRMs and good capacitors.

The Corsair units are lower quality designs from CWT (RM) and Great Wall (CS).
 
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cshaun

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Warranty seems to be the same for all of them. 5 years.
(Interesting how EVGA SuperNOVA 650 G1 650W has a 10 year warranty but from I've read is to be stayed away from. Again same price.)
 
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cshaun

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Thanks. Had it more or less in the order I was thinking. But really was struggling picking a clear winner. Difficult to compare noise for example between them. Plus have personal positive experience with Corsair PSU, while not having owned any of the other brands, so probably pushed that higher up in my mind. (Also annoyingly EVGA and Seasonic not from a local store I trust - so little hesitant from a returns / warranty perspective.)

Also confusing the matter is often the 650W variant is the same price or even sometimes slightly cheaper. e.g. CM V650S is few dollars cheaper than V550S. Tempted to go for bigger is better - but unlikely to run dual video cards, so figure 550W is probably better suited?
 
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cshaun

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You think it's better to get 650W if slightly cheaper or the same price? Was my thinking before, but now I'm not so sure. Getting closer to ideal (i.e. higher efficiency) is perhaps better. If you can safely rule out ever needing the additional capacity.

I think my maximum peak power draw would be 500W (assuming I get a new top end video card at some point).

Current build is ~100-400W according to http://nz.pcpartpicker.com/p/bBg3rH.
 
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4745454b

4745454b

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This is a bit tricky. Your "average" system with a 77-125W CPU and a 150-250W GPU will need anywhere from 250-350W. Stock of course, I never list OC figures because that's hard to pin down. This means a good gold 450W or a bronze 500W PSU is all you need. No harm in buying a 550W gold rated unit as that allows 300W GPUs to be used. Usually I suggest PSUs in this range as they will power most of the systems out there and should be cheaper then the larger units. But if a good larger unit is on sale for some unknown reason and more so if it's rated gold as the efficiency curve is "flatter", then going over this average figure should be fine. I wouldn't go over it by lots, but buying a 650W on sale when you were looking at a 550W that fit isn't a deal breaker. Even if the 550W was more efficient, the 650W is still saving you money because it was cheaper.
 
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cshaun

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Went with the Cooler Master V650S. Primarily because the supplier for the EVGA and Seasonic units is a much smaller company, and think returns / RMA might be a hassle. Fingers crossed it was a good decision.
 
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