Best Budget Modular PSU?

Feb 18, 2018
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Hello everyone, so im building my first PC and I'm stuck with finding a good PSU. I'll have the following config: a gtx 1060 6gb SSC, i5 7500, 16 DDR4 Ram, 1TB HDD, 250 SSD, Asrock b250m mobo and all will go in NZXT s340. I need a good psu now under £60 & prefer semi modular 500w+.

I found 2 which seems to meet my budget & requirements:
Cooler Master G550 80+ Bronze, Semi Modular.
EVGA 600 BQ, 80+ BRONZE 600W, Semi Modular.

Both seems to have mixed review. Could someone tell me which one of this is better. And also if there's any other modular PSU available in uk under £60. I need one that will last long without giving any trouble. If I've to i can go up to £70! Thank you.
 
Solution
Any of the g2+, Corsair mentioned and all of the Seasonic mentioned are DC/DC newer designs that are more efficient, run cooler and have better outputs than the older group regulated workhorses like the Seasonic S/M12-II series. The M12-II is still a very good psu, but it's an old design and not Haswell compliant unless it's the EVO version.

Bronze, Gold, etc are efficiency certifications by a 3rd party, 80+, and thats all. They are not standards at all and are in no way a qualification of quality. The Seasonic M12-II mentioned is Bronze, so rates at least 82/85/82% efficiency at 20/50/100% loads but is a better built, better quality psu than many Golds, like the Evga Supernova G1 series or NEX etc. A Bronze psu full of nippon-chemicon...

fry178

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Dec 14, 2015
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You never want to go cheap on a psu.
Nothing will work without it.
I personally prefer any gold rated units, as they usually tend to have better components.

The evga is ok, but see if you can find any used/opem box of the g/g1/g2 or better the g3 from evga on amazon.
 
Feb 18, 2018
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I've been thinking about that so I'll listen to you and make it to £80 now :p. Buying used psu is a good idea? They could have been used for long time? And also what do you think of Corsair 550 W RM550x 80+ Gold Full Modular (£72)? That looks better than what I've listed before. Thanks
 

Karadjgne

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Feb 18, 2018
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450w maybe fine for now but what if i plan upgrade my gpu in the near future. Do you think it will serve me well in the future? And also my gtx 1060 is SuperSuper Clocked. I think I've seen somewhere that it is recommended to use 500w psu with other similar config.
 

fry178

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used isnt a problem with amazon, just send it back within return window..

go with something around 50-550w, even enough for a 1080.
you wanna have about 40-50% load on a psu when cpu/gpu are under "100%" load, as psus tend to be most efficient around that number.

output isnt everything, clean/stable power would be much better, even if its 100-150w less.
one reason i wouldnt recommend the CX series for a pc with a gpu (for gaming), as they are good units, just not consistent in build quality,
same with the B3 series from evga (stay away from those).

and the corsair RMs are on the same level as the G2.
so i would prefer the seasonic, then the G3 and the RMx, but you can go with whatever is cheaper.

platinum seasonic is only 6 breuos more ;-)
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/sYyxFT/seasonic-focus-plus-platinum-550w-80-platinum-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-ssr-550px

gold one
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/bkp323/seasonic-focus-plus-gold-550w-80-gold-certified-fully-modular-atx-power-supply-ssr-550fx


a bit older article, still i recommend reading last page (link)
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/power-supply-oem-manufacturer,2913-12.html

 
Feb 18, 2018
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Thank you for taking your time and replying. I'm completely not gonno think of getting that evga or cooler master. However, i waa planning to go with the rm550x. I discovered seasonic are better quality and then came across this SeaSonic M2II 520 Bronze. What do you guys think? Its under 70 as well. I'll get this or the rm550x. Thank you again to both of you.
 

Karadjgne

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Any of the g2+, Corsair mentioned and all of the Seasonic mentioned are DC/DC newer designs that are more efficient, run cooler and have better outputs than the older group regulated workhorses like the Seasonic S/M12-II series. The M12-II is still a very good psu, but it's an old design and not Haswell compliant unless it's the EVO version.

Bronze, Gold, etc are efficiency certifications by a 3rd party, 80+, and thats all. They are not standards at all and are in no way a qualification of quality. The Seasonic M12-II mentioned is Bronze, so rates at least 82/85/82% efficiency at 20/50/100% loads but is a better built, better quality psu than many Golds, like the Evga Supernova G1 series or NEX etc. A Bronze psu full of nippon-chemicon and rubycon caps would be a far better value and buy than a Gold rated psu full of capXon caps. Golds just have a little more circuitry.

If planning to upgrade to a stronger gpu later, then by all means go up in psu size, but with that cpu you could run a gtx1080 and not break a sweat on a decent 550w psu. Take recommended psu size with a grain of salt. There's many psu levels of quality and the recommendation has to cover most. 500w would be an el-cheapo piece of junk. You can easily run a 1060-6 on a good 400w like Seasonic has.
Requirements
Minimum of a 400 Watt power supply.
One available 8-pin PCI-E power dongle
Total Power Draw : 120 Watts

Evga SSC 1060-6

Add 75w for the pc, 100w for the cpu and your Total system power draw is somewhat around 300w with everything maxed out. Heavy gaming averages @70% of total, so look at @225w hard gaming. That puts you right at 50% bracket for most efficient, best thermal ratio, highest average outputs on any decent 450w psu. Even with a 1080 you'd be gaming @300w-350w, which is fine for a 550w psu.

I'd go with the Corsair RMx, it's better than the Seasonic Focus, on par with the more expensive Focus Plus.
 
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fry178

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i dont see this having more than ~200w, so 400w should be fine,
but no room for upgrades..
I would get one that has at least 2 pcx plugs, just in case of an upgrade like 1080.
my rig peaks out around 260w for 3770/32gb oc/4 drives/fans/pump/1080@2ghz/32 in moni/10w led light and 2.1 thx system.
add ~50w if cpu and gpu under full load.

 
Feb 18, 2018
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@Karadjgne @fry178. Thank you very much. I definitely have a better knowledge about psu then what i knew before posting this. Looking at the points you guys made and the limited budget & requirements I've, I'll go with the Corsair RMx. I'm glad that i asked this here, i was almost gonno buy the cooler master GM550. I think now I'll have a decent psu which should serve me well. Thanks again.