Have a weird PSU and need advice: Orion 685W silent Gamer's Choice 80+ Bronze

TorterraX · Jul 18, 2016

Hey guys!

I'm building a new PC, but already have a PSU from when I started to get into the PC building world a few years ago that is working. The thing is, I can't find any review or anything about it on the web and am a bit worried that it might be a bad PSU and might screw over my build, especially since I often hear/read people say to not skimp on PSU quality

For starters, the PSU's brand is Orion, which I didn't hear a lot about and can't find much about either. It's an Orion 685W silent Gamer's Choice 80+ Bronze. The seller suggested this PSU when I was looking to power my new GTX 560 Ti a few years ago, and said it was good. I got it for about 70$ CAD, and looking back I find that weird that a 685W 80+ Bronze could be qualified ''good'' for such a low price. I hope to be surprised though.

http://www.ezselection.ca/orion-power-supply-685w.html
http://www.wintroniccomputers.com/328-4367/power-supplies/orion/orion-685w-80-plus-efficiency-silent-dual-12cm-fan-power-supply

That's the one. Seems pretty sketchy.

Here's the build that I will (most probably) be making:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($410.98 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.00)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus Z170 PRO GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($203.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($85.82 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (Purchased For $90.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $60.00)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon RX 480 8GB Video Card ($349.98 @ NCIX)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($29.97 @ DirectCanada)
Other: Orion 685W Silent 80+ Bronze (Purchased For $59.00)
Total: $1426.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-18 20:18 EDT-0400

So, should I swap it out? Or go with it for now and see how it goes? So far I've never had problems with it while running games, though that's not a guarantee.
If I have to change it, what would you guys suggest? (I'd like a modular one too)

Thanks a lot!
TorterraX

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

TorterraX :

Hey guys!

I'm building a new PC, but already have a PSU from when I started to get into the PC building world a few years ago that is working. The thing is, I can't find any review or anything about it on the web and am a bit worried that it might be a bad PSU and might screw over my build, especially since I often hear/read people say to not skimp on PSU quality

For starters, the PSU's brand is Orion, which I didn't hear a lot about and can't find much about either. It's an Orion 685W silent Gamer's Choice 80+ Bronze. The seller suggested this PSU when I was looking to power my new GTX 560 Ti a few years ago, and said it was good. I got it for about 70$ CAD, and looking back I find that weird that a 685W 80+ Bronze could be qualified ''good'' for such a low price. I hope to be surprised though.

http://www.ezselection.ca/orion-power-supply-685w.html
http://www.wintroniccomputers.com/328-4367/power-supplies/orion/orion-685w-80-plus-efficiency-silent-dual-12cm-fan-power-supply

That's the one. Seems pretty sketchy.

Here's the build that I will (most probably) be making:
PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($410.98 @ Newegg Canada)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.00)
Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 High-Density Polysynthetic Silver 3.5g Thermal Paste ($6.99 @ NCIX)
Motherboard: Asus Z170 PRO GAMING ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($203.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws V Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2400 Memory ($85.82 @ DirectCanada)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (Purchased For $90.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $60.00)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon RX 480 8GB Video Card ($349.98 @ NCIX)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Case Fan: Corsair Air Series AF120 Quiet Edition (2-Pack) 39.9 CFM 120mm Fans ($29.97 @ DirectCanada)
Other: Orion 685W Silent 80+ Bronze (Purchased For $59.00)
Total: $1426.71
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-18 20:18 EDT-0400

So, should I swap it out? Or go with it for now and see how it goes? So far I've never had problems with it while running games, though that's not a guarantee.
If I have to change it, what would you guys suggest? (I'd like a modular one too)

Thanks a lot!
TorterraX

Very dodgy power supply.
No major reputable manufacturer I know of makes 685w units, and on top of that the brand is completely unrecognizable and has 0 reputation. I do remember seeing them on some sites, but they always retailed for very cheap compared with other units, meaning they probably used budget components.
Get rid of it and pick up something like the EVGA G2 650w.
I'll edit your build and get back to you.

ThatVietGuy · Jul 18, 2016

It's a Tier 5 PSU - http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Run away.

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

ThatVietGuy :

Haha, guess I was right!

TorterraX · Jul 18, 2016

ThatVietGuy :

Chugalug_ :

Hahaha yeah well ok, I'll keep a fire extinguisher on my desk until I change my PC then XD
What would you guys suggest I switch too? Any good (and hopefully budget so I don't have to sell my soul as well as my house) modular PSU you could suggest?

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

What is your primary use for the computer? Is it for gaming, rendering, editing?

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

TorterraX :

I would suggest the EVGA 750w G2, high quality unit, and allows you to go 1070 SLI in the future if you want.
By the way i've put a 1070 in your build.

Do you need the i7 for any specific purpose? Or can I go for an i5 6500 which will have similar performance for 60% of the price?

Dark Lord of Tech · Jul 18, 2016

That TIER LIST IS A JOKE , it's not a good power supply , most Orions are made by HEC.

Get a new PSU.

TorterraX · Jul 18, 2016

Chugalug_ :

Primary use is gaming

Initially I had planned to get an i5-6600k, but then I got told to go with a CPU that supports hyperthreading because the lack of it would hurt eventually and I would last my PC longer without upgrading that way. Which is perfect because I'm kind of on a permanent budget, at least for now, reason why I didn't go for a 1070 too

I'll probably get the 1060 when it gets out and I can see benchmarks

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

TorterraX :

Chugalug_ :

Primary use is gaming

Initially I had planned to get an i5-6600k, but then I got told to go with a CPU that supports hyperthreading because the lack of it would hurt eventually and I would last my PC longer without upgrading that way. Which is perfect because I'm kind of on a permanent budget, at least for now, reason why I didn't go for a 1070 too

I'll probably get the 1060 when it gets out and I can see benchmarks

At the moment hyperthreading does not necessarily futureproof your PC, as it is not fully utilized in DX11 applications.
Unless you are getting the 6700k this argument is somewhat invalid, as on a limited budget it is not worth getting an i7 6700, as this sacrifices the amount of GPU power you can get.
It will have very similar performance in gaming application, and the i5 will still last you years.
Better to wait for the i7 k upgrade when you have the necessary funds!

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

The ASRock H170A-X1/3.1 is a great deal atm on NCIX for $74.95, so i've added that, EDIT: After re-reading your original post, I see that you got the Cryorig H7 for $45, great deal!

Here is your build.
PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/tJggwV
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/tJggwV/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($249.98 @ DirectCanada)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.00)
Motherboard: ASRock H170A-X1/3.1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($74.98 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($82.98 @ Newegg Canada)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($59.99 @ Canada Computers)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($566.40 @ shopRBC)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.98 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1419.30
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-18 21:11 EDT-0400

TorterraX · Jul 18, 2016

Chugalug_ :

TorterraX :

At the moment hyperthreading does not necessarily futureproof your PC, as it is not fully utilized in DX11 applications.
Unless you are getting the 6700k this argument is somewhat invalid, as on a limited budget it is not worth getting an i7 6700, as this sacrifices the amount of GPU power you can get.
It will have very similar performance in gaming application, and the i5 will still last you years.
Better to wait for the i7 k upgrade when you have the necessary funds!

But won't hyperthreading help with DX12? I read quite a bit about that, just like in this article:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3039552/hardware/tested-how-many-cpu-cores-you-really-need-for-directx-12-gaming.html

''I’d say for the vast majority of gamers, the sweet spot lies somewhere between a quad-core with Hyper-Threading and a six-core on the Intel side of the aisle. A Skylake Core i5-6600K will be fine for DirectX 11 games and probably the vast majority of the early DirectX 12 games, but the lack of Hyper-Threading will eventually hurt.''

The less I have to upgrade, the happier my wallet is

But again, I'm no expert so I might be wrong.

Chugalug_ · Jul 18, 2016

TorterraX :

Chugalug_ :

But won't hyperthreading help with DX12? I read quite a bit about that, just like in this article:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/3039552/hardware/tested-how-many-cpu-cores-you-really-need-for-directx-12-gaming.html

''I’d say for the vast majority of gamers, the sweet spot lies somewhere between a quad-core with Hyper-Threading and a six-core on the Intel side of the aisle. A Skylake Core i5-6600K will be fine for DirectX 11 games and probably the vast majority of the early DirectX 12 games, but the lack of Hyper-Threading will eventually hurt.''

The less I have to upgrade, the happier my wallet is

But again, I'm no expert so I might be wrong.

See, the thing is that while something like an i7 6700k would indeed be optimal, it is not considered a smart choice in your price range.
Much like how 1440p 144hz G-Sync is considered the sweet spot for gaming at the moment, this talks of the best options for the best gaming experience today while also giving your PC a good life expectancy.
It is not in everyone's price range just because it is the 'sweet spot'. It annoys me that people use this term so freely when it really only applies to what is the best value for money without being unjustified.

It is not recommended to buy a CPU which will be much more powerful than your graphics card.
In your case, you are sacrificing half your graphics power for a CPU which will not be utilized until another one or two years down the track, at which point you may be considering an upgrade anyway.

Given your current situation, it would be silly to get an i7.
If you want hyperthreading down the line, simply buy the Skylake refresh i7 down the line when your budget allows it.

TorterraX · Jul 19, 2016

Chugalug_ :

TorterraX :

See, the thing is that while something like an i7 6700k would indeed be optimal, it is not considered a smart choice in your price range.
Much like how 1440p 144hz G-Sync is considered the sweet spot for gaming at the moment, this talks of the best options for the best gaming experience today while also giving your PC a good life expectancy.
It is not in everyone's price range just because it is the 'sweet spot'. It annoys me that people use this term so freely when it really only applies to what is the best value for money without being unjustified.

It is not recommended to buy a CPU which will be much more powerful than your graphics card.
In your case, you are sacrificing half your graphics power for a CPU which will not be utilized until another one or two years down the track, at which point you may be considering an upgrade anyway.

Given your current situation, it would be silly to get an i7.
If you want hyperthreading down the line, simply buy the Skylake refresh i7 down the line when your budget allows it.

Ok, I get it. So it would be better, performance-wise, to get an i5 but a 1070, right?
Would you suggest investing a little more to get a 6600k with a Z170 mobo to have OCing available, or just stick with the 6500?

Chugalug_ · Jul 19, 2016

TorterraX :

Chugalug_ :

TorterraX :

See, the thing is that while something like an i7 6700k would indeed be optimal, it is not considered a smart choice in your price range.
Much like how 1440p 144hz G-Sync is considered the sweet spot for gaming at the moment, this talks of the best options for the best gaming experience today while also giving your PC a good life expectancy.
It is not in everyone's price range just because it is the 'sweet spot'. It annoys me that people use this term so freely when it really only applies to what is the best value for money without being unjustified.

It is not recommended to buy a CPU which will be much more powerful than your graphics card.
In your case, you are sacrificing half your graphics power for a CPU which will not be utilized until another one or two years down the track, at which point you may be considering an upgrade anyway.

Given your current situation, it would be silly to get an i7.
If you want hyperthreading down the line, simply buy the Skylake refresh i7 down the line when your budget allows it.

Ok, I get it. So it would be better, performance-wise, to get an i5 but a 1070, right?
Would you suggest investing a little more to get a 6600k with a Z170 mobo to have OCing available, or just stick with the 6500?

If you're up for a bit of overclocking, it is definitely worth it.
Typically you want to aim for something like a solid 4.5GHz on air cooling with a cooler like the Cryorig H7.
Here is the edited build:
PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/wF9MZ8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/wF9MZ8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($304.55 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.00)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170A-X1/3.1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.98 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($87.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($61.93 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($566.40 @ shopRBC)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.98 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1495.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-19 09:48 EDT-0400

TorterraX · Jul 19, 2016

Chugalug_ :

TorterraX :

Chugalug_ :

Ok, I get it. So it would be better, performance-wise, to get an i5 but a 1070, right?
Would you suggest investing a little more to get a 6600k with a Z170 mobo to have OCing available, or just stick with the 6500?

If you're up for a bit of overclocking, it is definitely worth it.
Typically you want to aim for something like a solid 4.5GHz on air cooling with a cooler like the Cryorig H7.
Here is the edited build:
PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/wF9MZ8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/wF9MZ8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($304.55 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.00)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170A-X1/3.1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.98 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($87.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($61.93 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($566.40 @ shopRBC)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.98 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1495.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-19 09:48 EDT-0400

Thanks a lot for all the help dude!

Last thing, I initially wanted to buy an ASUS Z170 pro gaming mobo; do you know if its features arr worth the extra 100$ or so?

Chugalug_ · Jul 19, 2016

TorterraX :

Chugalug_ :

TorterraX :

If you're up for a bit of overclocking, it is definitely worth it.
Typically you want to aim for something like a solid 4.5GHz on air cooling with a cooler like the Cryorig H7.
Here is the edited build:
PCPartPicker part list: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/wF9MZ8
Price breakdown by merchant: http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/wF9MZ8/by_merchant/

CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($304.55 @ Vuugo)
CPU Cooler: CRYORIG H7 49.0 CFM CPU Cooler ($45.00)
Motherboard: ASRock Z170A-X1/3.1 ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($89.98 @ NCIX)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4-2133 Memory ($87.99 @ NCIX)
Storage: Sandisk SSD PLUS 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.00)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($61.93 @ Vuugo)
Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1070 8GB G1 Gaming Video Card ($566.40 @ shopRBC)
Case: Fractal Design Define S w/Window ATX Mid Tower Case ($109.99 @ NCIX)
Power Supply: EVGA 750W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($139.98 @ DirectCanada)
Total: $1495.82
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2016-07-19 09:48 EDT-0400

Thanks a lot for all the help dude!

Last thing, I initially wanted to buy an ASUS Z170 pro gaming mobo; do you know if its features arr worth the extra 100$ or so?

Not a chance.
If you want more connectors on your rear I/O a good choice is the Z170X Gaming 3 by Gigabyte, goes for a lower price at $159, but has good features for the money, and you are less likely to encounter some of the issues a few users of the Z170 Pro Gaming have had, although in my experience it's been perfectly fine in client builds.

Search

Have a weird PSU and need advice: Orion 685W silent Gamer's Choice 80+ Bronze

TorterraX

Distinguished

Chugalug_

Chugalug_

Titan

ThatVietGuy

Titan

Chugalug_

Titan

TorterraX

Distinguished

Chugalug_

Titan

Chugalug_

Titan

Dark Lord of Tech

Retired Moderator

TorterraX

Distinguished

Chugalug_

Titan

Chugalug_

Titan

TorterraX

Distinguished

Chugalug_

Titan

TorterraX

Distinguished

Chugalug_

Titan

TorterraX

Distinguished

Chugalug_

Titan

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Share this page